Reduction In Germination Research Articles

Mutation induction in aromatic Joha rice of Assam for improvement of morpho-agronomic traits through M1 to M3 generation

Purpose The popular Joha rice cultivar Kon Joha, cultivated throughout the state, was used to induce mutations. Kon Joha is short-grain aromatic rice with excellent cooking quality. The cultivar is tall and late maturing with an average yield of less than 2 tons ha−1 and is susceptible to lodging Materials and methods The investigation through M1 to M3 generation aimed at improving the morpho-agronomic traits of the popular Joha rice cultivar Kon Joha. The experiments were carried out during the Sali season (winter rice) from 2017 to 2019 at Instruction-cum-Research (ICR) Farm of Assam Agricultural University, Jorhat (Assam). Dry uniform seeds of Kon Joha were subject to irradiation with 100–400 Gy of gamma rays from a 60Co source. The M1 generation used a randomized complete block design with four replications during Sali 2017. A total of 5998 M1 plant progenies were subject to screening in the M2 during Sali 2018. The M3 included 662 morpho-agronomic variants raised in the plant rows during Sali 2019, and 66 mutants were confirmed. Results The M1 of Kon Joha registered a reduction in germination, seedling height, pollen/spikelet fertility and plant survival at 400 Gy. All the traits showed highly significant differences among the doses in the M2 generation. The shift in trait means was in both directions as influenced by the genotype and mutagen dose. The 66 mutants exhibited significant differences for all traits in the M3 generation. Fifty mutants were shorter than the parent Kon Joha. The GCV and PCV estimates were high (>20%) for grain yield, biological yield, productive tillers, filled grains, and average panicle weight. All the traits except panicle length exhibited high heritability coupled with high genetic advance, suggesting the predominance of additive gene action and the effectiveness of simple selection. Grain yield showed a significant positive correlation with plant height, panicle length, filled grains, spikelet fertility, the average panicle weight and harvest index in the mutant population. Conclusions Thus, mutation induction in Kon Joha proved useful in inducing desirable changes in plant architectural traits. The study further emphasized the short stature high yielding mutants with strong aroma for wide-scale testing in the state.

Seed dormancy loss from dry after-ripening is associated with increasing gibberellin hormone levels in Arabidopsis thaliana.

The seeds of many plants are dormant and unable to germinate at maturity, but gain the ability to germinate through after-ripening during dry storage. The hormone abscisic acid (ABA) stimulates seed dormancy, whereas gibberellin A (GA) stimulates dormancy loss and germination. To determine whether dry after-ripening alters the potential to accumulate ABA and GA, hormone levels were measured during an after-ripening time course in dry and imbibing ungerminated seeds of wildtype Landsberg erecta (Ler) and of the highly dormant GA-insensitive mutant sleepy1-2 (sly1-2). The elevated sly1-2 dormancy was associated with lower rather than higher ABA levels. Ler germination increased with 2-4 weeks of after-ripening whereas sly1-2 required 21 months to after-ripen. Increasing germination capacity with after-ripening was associated with increasing GA4 levels in imbibing sly1-2 and wild-type Ler seeds. During the same 12 hr imbibition period, after-ripening also resulted in increased ABA levels. The decreased ABA levels with after-ripening in other studies occurred later in imbibition, just before germination. This suggests a model where GA acts first, stimulating germination before ABA levels decline, and ABA acts as the final checkpoint preventing germination until processes essential to survival, like DNA repair and activation of respiration, are completed. Overexpression of the GA receptor GID1b (GA INSENSITIVE DWARF1b) was associated with increased germination of sly1-2 but decreased germination of wildtype Ler. This reduction of Ler germination was not associated with increased ABA levels. Apparently, GID1b is a positive regulator of germination in one context, but a negative regulator in the other.

Effect of culture filtrates of Alternaria alternata on seed germination and seedling growth of sesame

Sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) is a major oilseed crop in Pakistan, possessing high nutritional and pharmacological properties. Sesame is highly susceptible to pathogenic fungi such as Alternaria alternata. In the present study, metabolites extracted from culture filtrates of Alternaria alternata using hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate, and petroleum ether solvents were evaluated for activity on seed germination and seedling health of sesame. Seeds treated with solvent-extracted metabolites from culture filtrates of A. alternata showed low germination as compared to control. Maximum reduction in germination was reported in seeds treated with petroleum ether culture filtrate followed by ethyl acetate, hexane, and chloroform. Shoot length and root length were also reduced in seeds treated with petroleum ether culture filtrate followed by ethyl acetate, hexane, and chloroform. Seedling treated with solvent-extracted metabolites from culture filtrates of A. alternata showed various symptoms including chlorosis, necrosis, discoloration, and wilting. From the present study, it is concluded that A. alternata contains certain metabolites which can reduce seed germination and are destructive for seedling stage of sesame. This is a baseline study to evaluate highly active metabolites which can be managed further to decrease sesame yield loss.

Herbicidal potential of meadow sage (Salvia pratensis L.) against velvetleaf (Abutilon theophrasti Med.) and common corn-cockle (Agrostemma githago L.)

Medicinal and aromatic plants with allelopathic effect are a potential source of natural herbicides. The experiment was conducted in order to assess herbicidal potential of meadow sage (Salvia pratensis L.) on germination and growth of weed species velvetleaf (Abutilon theophrasti Med.) and common corn-cockle (Agrostemma githago L.). Water extracts from S. pratensis dry biomass in different concentrations were evaluated under controlled laboratory conditions in Petri dish bioassay. Herbicidal effect of S. pratensis extracts depended on the extract concentration and weed species. In general, higher concentrations of water extract showed greater negative effect on germination and growth parameters of weed seedlings. A. githago had greater sensitivity to S. pratensis extracts with reductions in germination and seedlings growth up to 100% in treatments with 7.5% and 10% extract concentrations. A. theophrasti germination was not affected by water extracts, however, substantial reductions of root and shoot length as well as fresh weight of seedlings were recorded. S. pratensis proved as promising plant species for further studies.

Damage potential of the broad bean beetle (Bruchus rufimanus Boh.) on seed quality and yield of faba beans (Vicia faba L.)

The broad bean beetle (Bruchus rufimanus Boh.) is a serious pest of faba bean (Vicia faba L.) that threatens seed production in times of an increased demand for faba bean seeds due to the expansion of faba bean cropping area over the last decade. Three organic and three conventional field trials a year were conducted from 2019 to 2021 in three environmental different regions in Northern, Central and Southern Germany to test different control strategies and to investigate the bruchids' damage potential on seed quality and yield. The field trials show that organic cropping systems are more susceptible than conventional ones while no tested control strategy delivered satisfying and between years and test sites steady results. Neither yield nor thousand seed weight was influenced by bruchid infestation. However, germination of harvested seeds was highly linked with bruchid infestation, although the degree of correlation varied between years and cropping systems because of different climatic conditions during flowering and different high infestation pressures with fungal pathogens. Germination reduction by bruchid infestation occurs less as a result of damage to the embryo, but mainly as a result of increased susceptibility to fungal pathogens due to injured seed coats. In the trial period, infestation caused by pre-year's bruchids overwintering in stored faba beans was significantly lower than by bruchids migrating into the fields during flowering and the different infestation patterns had fundamentally different consequences for germination and therefore seed quality. Therefore, not the absence of living bruchids in the seeds is crucial for seed quality, but an as low as possible bruchid impairment of any kind.

Cold Atmospheric plasma treatments trigger changes in sun-dried tomatoes mycobiota by modifying the spore surface structure and hydrophobicity

The contamination of sun-dried tomatoes during processing can have a decisive impact on the quality of the finished product. In this study we investigated how Cold Atmospheric Plasma (CAP) under high surface power density (SPD) values can reduce fungal contamination in sun-dried tomatoes. In the application of this innovative processing method, the established “regime” for air plasma chemistry was the transition regime or NOx regime. First, we isolated and identified the mycobiota present on the tomatoes surfaces by mean of the analysis of the ITS region. The analysis revealed 32 different species, with A. niger , A. tubingensis, A. chevalieri , A. flavus, and A. alternata being the most abundant. Then, to reduce the fungal population, CAP-NOx was applied for 5, 10, 20 and 30 min on the surface of dried tomatoes. After incubation for 10 days, we observed that the antifungal effect was species and dose-dependent. In vitro investigation on the most abundant species revealed that A. chevalieri PSJ144 was the most sensitive species (almost 90%) immediately after 5 min of CAP treatment. With the increase of the exposure time up to 30 min, a strong reduction (p ≤ 0.05) of spore germination of A. alternata PSJ77 and A. tubingensis PSJ100 was observed (98 and 92%, respectively). However, spores of A. niger PSJ38 and A. flavus PSJ30 showed the highest resistance to the treatment. Moreover, the reparameterized Weibull function allowed to obtain useful information about germination kinetics as a function of time of CAP-NOx treatment, revealing that the resistance of the spores was: A. chevalieri < A. alternata < A. tubingensis < A . flavus < A. niger . In situ analyses confirmed a significant effect on natural fungal contamination by CAP-NOx treatment (76.5% of reduction), likely due to cell membrane rupture and cell death caused by plasma radicals. In addition, Pearson correlation analysis showed that spore resistance was highly correlated (p = 0.98) with their hydrophobicity. In a nutshell, our results clearly indicate that CAP-NOx treatment is an effective technique to reduce fungal contamination in sun-dried tomatoes. Among non-thermal processing methods, CAP shows promising perspectives of application in the tomato industry, to mitigate the effects of energy price rises. • A. niger , A. tubingensis, were most abundant species in dried tomatoes. • CAP reduced the fungal contamination on the dried tomatoes by 76.5%. • A. niger and A. flavus spores were more resistant ones to CAP. • A. chevalieri spores were inactivated after 0.1 min of CAP-NOx. • Spore hydrophobicity was correlated with the spore resistant to CAP.

An alternative risk assessment framework for tropical soil multi-metal contamination using arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are a key group of soil organisms involved in several ecosystem services, but they had not been explored in retrospective ecological risk assessment (ERA) schemes, partially due to a lack of experimental protocols. We aimed to perform a site-specific test to assess the effects of multiple metal contaminated soil (Zn, Cu, Cd, and Pb) on several ecotypes of AMF and evaluate the conceptual fitness of the performed AMF test to include in the TRIAD approach of ERA schemes. The results demonstrated that increasing metal contaminated soil proportions that inhibited 50 % (IC50) of spore germination varied from 28 to >80. Ecotypes such as Claroideoglomus etunicatum (IC50 > 80) and Racocetra gregaria (IC50 > 80) experienced 50 % reduction in spore germination at metals concentrations of 10,776.3 for Zn, 1015.2 Cu, 65.5 Cd, 140.2 mg dm−3 Pb, that are 3 times higher than those for Acaulospora mellea CMM101 (IC50 28 [16.2–39.8]) (3441.7 Zn, 333.9 Cu, 17.8 Cd, 56.5 mg dm−3 Pb). In the evaluation of the suitability of the AMF ecotoxicological test to ERA, both spore germination and germinative tube growth were best evaluated and thus suitable in the following descending order: Tier III, Tier II, and Tier I. Variable effects of multiple-metal contamination on the ecotypes indicates how AMF community is affected in its pre-symbiotic structures. The ecotoxicological test allowed the selection of two species with the greatest sensitivity (Ambispora appendicula and Rhizophagus clarus CMM103) to the metal matrix, with the potential to best fit ERA objectives. The site-specific ecotoxicological test with AMF ex-situ proved adequate as an alternative test for Tiers II and III of TRIAD ERA schemes for metal contaminated areas. Data generated through test results, such as the inhibition concentrations (ICs), could be incorporated into ERAs risk indexes, increasing its ecological relevance, and reducing overall uncertainties.

Resilience of soybean cultivars to drought stress during flowering and early-seed setting stages

Drought stress during the reproductive stage and declining soybean yield potential raise concerns about yield loss and economic return. In this study, ten cultivars were characterized for 20 traits to identify reproductive stage (R1–R6) drought-tolerant soybean. Drought stress resulted in a marked reduction (17%) in pollen germination. The reduced stomatal conductance coupled with high canopy temperature resulted in reduced seed number (45%) and seed weight (35%). Drought stress followed by rehydration increased the hundred seed weight at the compensation of seed number. Further, soybean oil decreased, protein increased, and cultivars responded differently under drought compared to control. In general, cultivars with high tolerance scores for yield displayed lower tolerance scores for quality content and vice versa. Among ten cultivars, LS5009XS and G4620RX showed maximum stress tolerance scores for seed number and seed weight. The observed variability in leaf reflectance properties and their relationship with physiological or yield components suggested that leaf-level sensing information can be used for differentiating drought-sensitive soybean cultivars from tolerant ones. The study led to the identification of drought-resilient cultivars/promising traits which can be exploited in breeding to develop multi-stress tolerant cultivars.

Study on the Ecotoxic Effects of Uranium and Heavy Metal Elements in Soils of a Uranium Mining Area in Northern Guangdong

To investigate the heavy metal contamination of soil in a uranium mining area in northern Guangdong, a physicochemical evaluation method was used to evaluate the contaminated soil near the pit and tailings pond of the uranium mining area, determine its heavy metal content and evaluate its ecological risk using the Nemerow integrated contamination index, ground accumulation index and potential ecological risk index. The results show that the average content of nine heavy metal elements in the soil of the uranium mining area exceeds the background value of red soil in Guangdong Province. Three pollution evaluation indices all indicate that Cd, As and U have serious pollution and high ecological risk, while the remaining elements are weakly polluted and the potential ecological risk of the six sampling sites all show very strong risk. On this basis, soil ecotoxicity was evaluated using ostracods (Cypridopsis vidua and Heterocypris sp.), Vibrio fischeri and Vicia faba L. Higher concentrations of heavy metals at individual sites (T1, T2, P2) resulted in higher mortality of ostracods, higher inhibition of Vibrio fischeri luminescence and a significant reduction in germination and pigmentation of broad beans. The results of the biotoxicity evaluation were consistent with the results of the physicochemical evaluation, allowing for a more direct and comprehensive evaluation of the ecotoxic effects of uranium and heavy metals in the mine soils.

Influence of herbicide Granstar Pro 75, w.g., in vitro conditions on the seed growth of Amarantus retroflexus L.

Goal. Investigate the herbistatic properties of the herbicide Granstar Pro 75, w.g., regarding its effect on the germination of Amaranthus retroflexus L. seeds, to ensure targeted and rational use in wheat crops, with maximum preservation of the crop and minimal environmental impact.&#x0D; Methods. Laboratory, visual, computational and comparative, mathematical and statistical.&#x0D; Results. It was established that after using the herbicide Granstar Pro 75, w.g., with consumption rates of 15.0 g/ ha, 20.0 g/ ha and 25.0 g/ ha in in vitro conditions there was inhibition of the germination of the seeds of common sedum. According to research data obtained under in vitro conditions in Petri dishes on filter paper, in all repetitions of the third and fourth versions of the experiment, where the herbicide Granstar Pro 75, w.g., with consumption rates of 20.0 g/ ha and 25.0 g/ ha, respectively, the level of reduction in the germination of seeds of common sedum was 100.0%. The level of reduction of the germination of the seeds of common styrica in all repetitions of the experiment variant in Petri dishes on filter paper, where the herbicide Granstar Pro 75, w.g., with a consumption rate of 15.0 g/ ha, compared to the control was 83.8%. At the same time, 30 days after treatment in vitro on filter paper and in the soil in the variants of experiments where the herbicide Granstar Pro 75, w.g., with consumption rates of 15.0 g/ ha, 20.0 g/ ha, and 25.0 g/ ha, there were no germinated seeds at all, the level of reduction in germination was 100.0%. The total level of reduction of the germination of the seeds of common sedum in the soil was the highest in the fourth variant of the experiment, where the herbicide Granstar Pro 75, w.g., with a consumption rate of 25.0 g/ ha — 76.8%. However, compared to the total indicator of the decrease in germination of seeds of the third variant of the experiment in the soil where the herbicide was applied with a consumption rate of 20.0 g/ ha, the specified indicator of the fourth variant of the experiment improved by 4.4%.&#x0D; Conclusions. According to the data of the research, it was found that the level of germination of the seeds of the common milkweed was reduced due to the use of the herbicide Granstar Pro 75, w.g., with consumption rates of 15.0 g/ ha, 20.0 g/ ha and 25.0 g/ ha, in vitro conditions in Petri dishes both on filter paper and in soil. At the same time, herbicidal properties were better manifested in the experiments that were performed in vitro on filter paper due to direct contact of the herbicide with the object of research, which ensured 100.0% control of the germination of the seeds of common sedum in the variants where the herbicide Granstar Pro 75, w.g., with consumption rates of 20.0 g/ ha and 25.0 g/ ha. The leading fact of the in vitro research is the establishment of a clear tendency to decrease the germination of the seeds of common sedum in the soil, which is observed on the 10th day after treatment with the herbicide, which gives grounds to record the indirect effect of the herbicide Granstar Pro 75, w.g., with consumption rates of 15.0 g/ ha, 20.0 g/ ha and 25.0 g/ ha, for seed germination. Accordingly, compliance with the regulations for the use of this drug, as well as other requirements for the introduction of herbicides, taking into account the presence of herbicidal properties, can help reduce the chemical load on the environment.

Pre-emergent bioherbicide potential of Schinus terebinthifolia Raddi essential oil nanoemulsion for Urochloabrizantha

Essential oils are natural products capable of being used as novel agrochemical products. In order to fill knowledge gaps, this work evaluates the bioherbicidal potential of Schinus terebinthifolia fruit essential oil (EOsST) emulsions on germination parameters of Lactuca sativa and Urochloa brizantha seeds. The hydrodynamic size distribution of the emulsions was evaluated by dynamic light scattering (DLS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Also, the chemical composition of EOsST was performed by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC-MS). DLS results suggest nanoemulsion (NE) particle sizes smaller than 735 nm and SEM images showed spherical and cuboid shapes. FTIR spectra indicate peaks at 1640 cm−1 and 1440 cm−1, referring to the benzene ring, and the C–H stretching band from 2970 cm−1–2870 cm−1 indicates the interaction between EOsST and TX-100. GC-MS reveals that the major compounds present on EOsST were α-pinene, germacrene-D, and β-pinene. U. brizantha seed germination was reduced at doses >2 mg mL−1 and completely inhibited at 32 mg mL−1. For L. sativa there was a reduction in germination which was dose-dependent and no dose caused total inhibition. Moreover, a decrease in photosynthetic pigments, flavonoids, phenolics, and total tannins was observed. Enzyme activity was altered, with reduction to catalase and peroxidase.

Uticaj fitopatogenih gljiva na parametre kvaliteta semena boranije u periodu 2018-2022

Green beans are among the most essential legumes because of their nutritional value. However, the production of green beans in Serbia suffers major decline due to significantly reduced yields, as well as the sown areas. Diseases caused by phytopathogenic fungi not only reduce yield and have the negative impact on total germination and seed quality of green beans, but also some phytopathogenic fungi can produce mycotoxins, adversely affecting human health. In this paper, the quality parameters of two green bean varieties (GB1 and GB2) were monitored for quality traits over a period of five years on the territory of Smederevska Palanka. The energy germination and total germination were the highest in the first observed year and amounted to 63% and 88% for GB1, respectively. For GB2 the energy germination and total germination (2018) were 71% and 75%, respectively. A significant decline in total germination was determined in 2020. and amounted to 75% for GB1 and 67% for GB2( p&lt;0.05). The lowest energy germination and total germination were obtained in the last observed year (2022) in both genotypes and statistically increased infection with Alternaria sp. and Fusarium sp. The presence of Alternaria sp. was detected for GB1 and GB2 in the range of 2-3% (2018); Fusarium sp. was 3%. In the last observed year, the presence of other fungi was determined, apropos a higher percentage of diseased seeds with Alternaria sp. and Fusarium sp. (5-6%). Other phytopathogenic fungi were detected in both genotypes: Aspergillus sp. (1-3%), Penicillium sp. (1-4%), Rhizopus sp. (1-3%) and Rhizoctonia solani (2-3%). The moisture was 8.5-10.9 for both genotypes and did not differ statistically between varieties (p&gt;0.05). The impact of phytopathogenic fungi on green beans was reflected in the reduction of total germination, and therefore in seed quality and yield. The priority of future research is the application of biotreatments that will contribute to seed protection and improve total germination, and thus the yield in the field.

Pré-emergente indaziflam pode melhorar a germinação de sementes florestais na semeadura direta?

Pre-emergent herbicides can contribute to the control of weed competition in direct seeding restoration, however it is necessary to evaluate their effects on seeds of native tropical forest species. The aim of the study was to assess the potential impact of the herbicide indaziflam on the germination of 17 forest species. For this, a dosage of 180 mL of the product in 200L of water was compared to the control without herbicide. The degree of sensitivity of each species was calculated by a ratio between the percentage of germination with herbicide (GH) and the control without herbicide (GC) classifying them as: extremely sensitive (ES= (GH/GC) <0.25), sensitive (S=0.25< (GH/GC) <0.50), low sensitivity (LS=0.50< (GH/GC) <0.75), indifferent (I=0.75< (GH/GC) <1.0) and potentiated (P= (GH/GC) >1). The herbicide promoted a significant reduction in mean germination in 35% (n=6) of the species and 59% (n = 10) were sensitive or extremely sensitive to indaziflam, and only three did not germinate. On the other hand, 29.4% (n=5) showed low sensitivity or indifference to the herbicide, while seed germination was slightly increased by indaziflam to 11.7% (n=2). Pre-emergent indaziflam can be recommended in direct seeding restoration, as only 17.6% (n=3) of the species were inhibited by pre-emergent. However, the effect of indaziflam varies by species and requires further studies to support large-scale use in direct seeding.

Flash flaming is a valid seed enhancement for a diverse range of species and seed morphologies

Flash flaming has shown promise as a seed enhancement technology that improves the handling properties of bulky or irregularly shaped seed material, which in turn benefits logistical and ecological aspects of large-scale direct seeding. To date, only a small number of grass species, that possess similar morphological characteristics, have been tested. This paper describes the application of flash flaming to diaspores (i.e. the dispersal unit comprising the seed and any surrounding or attached tissues) of 19 diverse dryland species from the Amaranthaceae, Asteraceae, Chenopodiaceae and Poaceae critical to ecological restoration in the mining intensive Pilbara region of Western Australia. Flash flaming parameters for each species were tested to identify and maximise volume and mass reduction, reduce particle cohesiveness and maximise flow through a mechanical seeding device, whilst maximising germination. Flaming of all species resulted in reductions in batch volume and mass, and improvements to flow characteristics. For 17 species, flaming either benefited or did not impact on germinability. For two species in the Amaranthaceae, flaming with the settings tested here resulted in a reduction in germinability; however, flaming enabled the diaspores to pass through a mechanical seeding device enabling mechanical distribution which is critical if the species are to be used in large scale restoration.

Rapid assessment of canola spoilage under sub-optimal storage condition using FTIR spectroscopy

The storage environment of grains and oilseeds influences their physico-chemical properties that determine shelf-life and nutritional quality. In case of oilseeds, and more specifically canola, analytical chemistry methods are commonly used to determine their quality which is characterized by fatty acid value (FAV) of samples. As wet chemistry methods are time consuming and require the use of chemicals, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy combined with multivariate data analysis was investigated for rapid assessment of canola quality as affected by sub-optimal storage. Moreover, in order to conduct the analysis on-site outside of a laboratory setting, the feasibility of using a portable instrument was studied. An FTIR spectrum of canola seeds stored at sub-optimal storage condition (35°C and 84% relative humidity) was obtained weekly for a period of five weeks. The quality degradation over this storage period was measured in terms of reduction in germination and FAV content. Principal components analysis (PCA) was applied on FTIR spectral data for dimensionality reduction and the first two principal components could successfully separate canola samples of different qualities (based on their respective storage durations). Quantitative analysis for prediction of FAV using partial least squares (PLS) regression method was done and models were built utilizing the entire spectral data as well by grouping the spectral into three spectral bands. A root mean square error of prediction (RMSEP) of 4.4% and R2=0.96, was achieved with the model built using the entire mid-infrared region. The spectral bands of 1000–1500 cm-1 and 2500–3000 cm-1 were also able to provide comparable results. Various combinations of spectral pre-processing of data were also explored. The results establish that portable FTIR instruments provide an accurate and rapid alternative to chemical analysis for predicting spoilage and determining canola quality.

Wastewater Use: A Debatable Scenario and their Impacts on Crop Production

About 90% of freshwater is used in agriculture for crop production and the world is already facing a scarcity of fresh water resources. Changing climate and rainfall pattern urge crops to demand more water while wastewater is excessively available and produce in huge amount which holds a maximum amount of organic matter and nutrients. Freshwater scarcity and demand for more food production urge farmers to use wastewater. Wastewater use has some pros and cons, in pros the addition of organic matter to soil bodies, while in cons are reduction in germination, growth, and yield. Wastewater helps farmers increment soil organic matter, total available macro and micronutrients. The negative effect is due to the addition of toxic material to soil bodies such as heavy metals, and it can't be reduced crop yield if it remains below the toxic limits. But the current scenario of wastewater uses and their positive and negative effects on the yield of crops are still under debate due many researchers showed that crop yield is reduced, and some mentioned that the crop yield increases or effects are insignificant. In this article, discussions are made about the impacts of wastewater irrigation and their correlation to seeds germination, plant growth and yield.

Differential effects of chloride salts on seed germination and seedling growth of Cistus monspeliensis: Towards revegetation of the Mediterranean salt-contaminated soils

Soil salinity is seriously threatening the Mediterranean basin, negatively affecting crops, and degrading natural habitats. However, limited information is available about chloride (Cl−) toxicity, the most common anion in seawater, on seed germination and seedling growth. In addition, seed emergence under individual and combined chloride salts has seldom been studied. In this research, the individual and combined effects of four chloride salts (KCl, CaCl2, MgCl2, and NaCl) on seed germination and seedling growth of Cistus monspeliensis, a Mediterranean shrub that regenerates through seeds, were investigated. Four concentrations of chloride salts (0, 40, 80, and 120 mM) were used. Germination rate (1/t50) was utilized in a halotime model to quantify the maximum concentration of Cl− (Cl−max) for germination at 20 °C under light. Germination decreased with increasing salt concentrations. The reduction in germination at 120 mM was higher in seeds treated with KCl and MgCl2, compared to the other salts, in both light and dark periods. In addition, the germination reduction at 120 mM was greater in dark periods than in light periods for seeds treated with CaCl2 and mixed salts. Germination velocity (GV) was maintained in all salts and concentrations except CaCl2, which decreased it. The lowest synchrony (0.13 ± 0.03) and the highest uncertainty (2.6 ± 0.25) were found in seeds stressed with 80 mM CaCl2. The mixed salts and NaCl improved GV and germination synchronization indicating that these salts have priming effects in enhancing germination speed in salty soils. The Cl−max value of ca. 491 mM for germination, obtained by treating seeds with different chloride salts, shows that C. monspeliensis can be a useful species for restoring chloride-dominated salty soils.

Comparison of Different Physical Methods and Preservatives for Control of Fusarium proliferatum Rot in Garlic

Dry rot is an emerging issue for garlic production worldwide and Fusarium proliferatum is its major causal agent. Since the disease is seed-transmitted, sowing healthy cloves is crucial. In this study, some disinfection strategies were tested on garlic seeds, including steam, dry heat, chemical disinfectants and gaseous ozone (O3). Steam reduced the Colony Forming Units·g−1 (CFUs·g−1) by up to 92% in garlic seeds, but, at the same time, it affected their germination (−36%). Similarly, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and peracetic acid (C2H4O3) reduced the CFUs·g−1 by up to 83%; however, these methods also severely impaired germination (−40%). Dry heat did not negatively impact germination, but fungal contamination was not significantly reduced. The most promising strategy was gaseous O3 treatment; it decreased CFUs·g−1 by up to 96%, without causing any reduction of germination. The treatments applied were partially effective because the fungus is predominantly located in the outer layer of the seed, although it is also found in the inner portions. Some of these treatments can contribute to garlic protection from seed-borne pathogens and possibly reduce the occurrence of garlic dry rot.

Investigation of the mycological infection of animal feeds in western Algeria

Contamination of livestock feed is a serious problem worldwide during storage. Fungal infection reduces nutritional quality of feed and affects the animal health, thus reducing the livestock profitability. The aim of this study was to investigate the mycoflora of 73 samples representing four raw cereals; (corn, barley, soybean and wheat bran) and three concentrate finished feed of (dairy cow, poultry and pellet). Isolation of internal and external mycoflora was carried out using dilution plate and direct plate methods. The result of the dilution technique revealed that Aspergillus, Penicillium, Fusarium and Alternaria were the most frequently occurring genera. The analyzed samples showed fungal contamination ranging from 18.84 × 103 CFU/g to 55.23 × 103 CFU/g. Comparing the different feed types, finished concentrates had greater fungal contamination compared to the raw ingredients. The most directed external mycoflora in corn, barley and soybean, using the direct plate technique were Aspergillus (100%, 85.66%, 75%) and Penicillium (83.33%, 50%, 50%) respectively. However, Atlernaria (83.33%, 57% and 75%) and Fusarium (66.33%, 71.33% and 50%) were the most predominant internal mycoflora genera. The overall percentage of fungal infection was higher in non-surface disinfected seeds compared to surface disinfected ones. Fungal infection affected quality of grain through reduction in germination. It seems that livestock feed is highly affected by fungi and special storage and conditioning are required to reduce the fungal infection and protect the animal and human health.

The alkaloids of Lupinus mutabilis Sweet. and its use in the weed control

Allelopathy is described as the positive or negative effect that one plant causes on the growing of another, which occurs through the reléase of chemical components to the environment. The 'tarwi', Lupinus mutabilis Sweet., is a native legume from the Andean region whose seeds have a high protein content, however, these have a bitter taste due to the presence of alkaloids, metabolites that have been reported as allelochemical components, whose uses in agriculture are being investigated. Laboratory experiments were conducted to determine the effect of 5 concentrations (0, 1.55, 3.10, 4.65 and 6.20 mg mL-1) of aqueous extract of tarwi alkaloids on the germination and growth of in vitro seedlings of three species of weeds; Amaranthus dubius, Bidens pilosa and Medicago polymorpha, in which the germination percentage, radicle and hypocotyl lengths of the seedlings were evaluated. An inversely proportional relationship between the concentrations and lengths evaluated for all species was considered, having A. dubius germination and M. polymorpha seedling growth as the most affected. The most significant reduction in germination and plant growth occurred at concentrations above 4.65 mg mL-1.