Effect of algalization on seed germination of vegetable crops

Soaking seeds of cucumber and pumpkin with an extract of Westiellopsis prolifica, an N₂-fixing cyanobacterium, promoted germination and their subsequent growth and development. An extract of Lyngbya sp., a non-N₂-fixing cyanobacterium, had no significant effect.The authors are with the Algal Physiology Laboratory, Department of Botany, Berhampur University, Berhampur-760007, Orissa, India.