Toxic Effect of Nickel (Ni) on Growth and Metabolism in Germinating Seeds of Sunflower (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Helianthus annuus</Emphasis> L.)

To assess the toxic effect of nickel (Ni) on the growth and some key metabolic processes in sunflower, varying levels of Ni as Ni(NO₃)₂ up to 60 mg L⁻¹ were applied once to sunflower cultivars SF-187 and Hysun-33 at sowing time in sand culture. An increase in Ni in the growth medium adversely affected growth parameters, sugar concentration (both reducing and non-reducing), as well as the activities of α-amylase and protease. It also slowed down mobilization of stored proteins and amino acids in the germinating seeds. However, an increase in the activities of α-amylase and protease was observed over time from 24 to 120 h after sowing. Cultivar Hysun-33 showed better performance than SF-187 in the presence of excess Ni. Overall, Ni-induced reduction in germination of sunflower seed appeared to be due to disturbance in biochemical metabolism as the availability of sugars for the synthesis of metabolic energy as well as necessary amino acids for the synthesis of proteins and enzymes essential for the growing embryo are generally reduced due to suppression in α-amylase and protease activities.     

Cadmium stress affects seed germination and seedling growth in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Sorghum bicolor</Emphasis> (L.) Moench by changing the activities of hydrolyzing enzymes

Seed germination, one of the most important phases in the life cycle of a plant, is highly responsive to existing environment. Hydrolyzing enzymes play a major role in the mobilization of food reserves by hydrolyzing carbohydrates, proteins and fats. This paper reports on the effect of Cd toxicity on seed germination and the activities of hydrolyzing enzymes, like acid phosphatases (ACPs), proteases and α-amylases in Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench. The metal uptake by embryonic axes and seeds was quantified. We found that sorghum could tolerate up to 0.5 mM Cd. At concentrations above 3.0 mM, seed germination was adversely affected with a complete cessation of seedling growth. All investigated hydrolyzing enzymes exhibited a significant decrease in activity with increasing Cd concentrations. The isozyme profiles indicated the loss of one or two isozymes of ACP, induction of a new isozyme for total protease (at 3.0 mM Cd) and a decline in the intensity of α-amylase isozymes. SEM studies revealed that Cd affected a change in root hair density. SEM investigations also confirmed the assay results of the inhibition of starch mobilization from endosperm. This suggested an inhibition of the hydrolysis of reserve carbohydrates and translocation of hydrolyzed sugars, ultimately resulting in decreased germination and disruption of seedling growth. Because sorghum is an important dryland crop, its response to the presence of Cd in agro-ecosystems and Cd-induced phytotoxicity during seed germination and seedling growth needs critical investigation.     

Effect of in vivo administered plant growth hormones on the development of amylase and protease during germination of indian bean (Dolichos lablab L. var. lignosus) seeds

The plant growth hormones — BA, GA₃ or IAA (alone or in combination) in single dose were injected into the centre of intact imbibed seed, germinated in the presence of water and monitored for root length, shoot length, and activities of α-amylase and proteases during a 10-day germination period of Indian bean seeds. A significant increase was noticed in the root length and shoot length compared to the respective controls. Injection of BA, GA₃ or IAA alone resulted in a significant increase in the activity of α-amylase. The increase in the activities of proteases (acidic, neutral and alkaline) was not affected with either BA or GA₃ during the early stage of germination, but the fall in their activities in the later stages of germination was suppressed. However, in vivo administration of IAA alone or in combination with BA or GA₃ resulted in faster and higher development of α-amylase and protease(s) activities. These results indicated that more than one hormone is necessary for inducing the development of α-amylase and proteases at early stages, and also responsible for maintaining the higher activities in the later stages of germination.     

Effect of nano-TiO2 on strength of naturally aged seeds and growth of spinach

The effects of nano-TiO₂ (rutile) and non-nano-TiO₂ on the germination and growth of naturally aged spinach seeds were studied by measuring the germination rate and the germination and vigor indexes of aged spinach seeds. An increase of these factors was observed at 0.25–4‰ nano-TiO₂ treatment. During the growth stage, the plant dry weight was increased, as was the chlorophyll formation, the ribulosebisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase activity, and the photosynthetic rate. The best results were found at 2.5‰ nano-TiO₂. The effects of non-nano-TiO₂ are not significant. It is shown that the physiological effects are related to the nanometer-size particles, but the mechanism by which nano-TiO₂ improves the growth of spinach seeds still needs further study.     

Protoplast Formation of the Coccolithophorid <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pleurochrysis haptonemofera</Emphasis> in Hypoosmotic K<Superscript>+</Superscript> Solution: Shedding of the Coccosphere and Regrowth of the Protoplast in Normal Medium

Both coccolith-bearing cells (C-cells) and naked cells (N-cells) of the coccolithophorid Pleurochrysis haptonemofera can grow in salinities of more than 7‰ (about 20% of a “normal” sea water salinity [35‰]), with the highest growth rates in salinities of more than 14‰. Microscopic observations of cells suspended in 100 mM NaCl (7‰) showed that, while N-cells were swelling uniformly all over the cell surface, C-cells were bulging the plasma membrane from the hole of the coccosphere at the apical (flagellar) pole of the cell. Effects of several cations and anions on the morphological change of C-cells under hypoosmotic pressure were investigated. When 100 mM K⁺ was used, protoplasts were released from the coccosphere completely in almost all the cells. This phenomenon was shown with K⁺ most effectively. The protoplasts could grow in the fresh medium and form the first coccolith within 9 h.     

Selenium-mediated differential response of β-glucosidase and β-galactosidase of germinatingTrigonella foenum-graecum

β-Glucosidase and β-galactosidase activity profile tested in different seeds during 24 h germination revealed reasonably high levels of activity inVigna radiata, Cicer arietinum, andTrigonella foenum-graecum. In all seeds tested, β-galactosidase activity was, in general, higher than that of β-glucosidase.T. foenum-graecum seedlings exhibited maximal total and specific activities for both the enzymes during 72 h germination. Se supplementation as Na₂SeO₃ up to 0.75 ppm was found to be beneficial to growth and revealed selective enhancement of β-galactosidase activity by 40% at 0.5 ppm Se. The activities of both the enzymes drastically decreased at 1.0 ppm level of Se supplementation. On the contrary, addition of Na₂SeO₃ in vitro up to 1 ppm to the enzyme extracts did not influence these activities. Hydrolytic rates of β-glucosidase in both control and Se-supplemented groups were enhanced by 20% with 0.05M glycerol in the medium and 30% at 0.1M glycerol. The rates were marginally higher in Se-supplemented seedlings than the controls, irrespective of added glycerol in the medium. In contrast, hydrolysis by β-galactosidase showed a trend of decrease in Se-supplemented seedlings compared to the control, when glycerol was present in the medium. Addition of Se in vitro in the assay medium showed no difference in the hydrolytic rate by β-galactosidase when compared to control, while the activity of β-glucosidase declined by 50%. Se-grown seedlings showed an enhancement of transglucosidation rate by 40% in the presence of 0.1M glycerol. The study reveals a differential response to Se among the β-galactosidase and β-glucosidase ofT. foenumgraecum with increase in the levels of β-galactosidase activity.     

多裂骆驼蓬提取物对黄瓜种子萌发和幼苗生理特性的影响

通过室内培养和盆栽土培试验研究了多裂骆驼蓬提取物对黄瓜种子萌发和幼苗生长及生理特性的影响。结果表明,多裂骆驼蓬总生物碱提取液、水溶性生物碱提取液和脂溶性生物碱提取液浸种均抑制黄瓜种子萌发过程中淀粉酶、蛋白酶和脂肪酶活性,种子活力和萌发速率降低,呼吸速率减慢;幼苗生长过程中根系活力、硝酸还原酶活性升高,叶绿素含量增加,超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）和过氧化物酶（POD）活性提高。说明用多裂骆驼蓬提取液浸种能够促进黄瓜幼苗生长,有利于培育壮苗。     

Moisture Loss as a Prerequisite for Seedling Growth in Soybean Seeds (Glycine max L. Merr.)

Rosenberg, L. A. and Rinne, R. W. 1986. Moisture loss as a prerequisitefor seedling growth in soybeanseeds (Glycine max L. Merr.).—J.exp. Bot. 37: 1663–1674. As soybean seeds [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] develop, they undergoa change in seed moisture. When excised prematurely from thepod and planted, seeds do not exhibit seedling growth until63 d after flowering (DAF) when the seed moisture has fallenbelow 60%. In contrast, seed germination (radicle protrusion)can occur when seeds as young as 35 DAF (68–79% moisture)are excised, but this germination docs not lead to comparableseedling growth frequencies unless seeds are first given a moistureloss treatment to artificially reduce their moisture below 60%.A moisture loss treatment applied at 35 DAF thus enables seedto undergo the transition from germination (cell expansion)to seedling growth (cell division and expansion) to the extentthat treated immature seed have a vigour index comparable toseeds matured on the plant (100%). The pattern of protein synthesisin vivo was examined in 35 DAF seed using [³⁵S]-methionine incorporation.When moisture loss treatment was applied for 24 h to 35 DAFseeds, seeds synthesized several new polypeptides when comparedwith untreated seeds at the same developmental stage. The sameseed samples showed 0% seedling growth in the absence of moistureloss treatment and 80% seedling growth when the treatment hadbeen applied. Moisture loss from soybean seeds appears to bea prerequisite for the synthesis of new proteins which may bepart of the metabolic process or processes that allow the soybeanseed to undergo the transition from seed germination to seedlinggrowth. Key words: Moisture loss, germination/growth, soybean     

壳寡糖对辣椒种子萌发及幼苗抗氧化酶活性影响研究

壳寡糖是甲壳素的重要衍生物,具有良好的生物学活性,可调节植物生长,使农作物和水果蔬菜增产丰收,因而在农业上的应用日渐增多,在农业上的应用,包括促进种子萌发和植物生长。本文选取辣椒种子为研究对象,探讨了不同浓度壳寡糖对辣椒种子萌发的影响,研究结果表明一定浓度的壳寡糖可以促进种子萌发,以0.10mg/L浓度的壳寡糖效果最显著;不同浓度壳寡糖浸种处理能激活辣椒幼苗抗氧化酶活性。     

干旱胁迫对鹿角杜鹃种子萌发和幼苗生理特性的影响

为探明鹿角杜鹃种子萌发和幼苗生长期的耐旱性,以鹿角杜鹃干种子和90d苗龄幼苗为材料,采用聚乙二醇(PEG-6000)模拟不同程度的干旱胁迫,研究干旱胁迫对其种子萌发、早期幼苗生长及幼苗的细胞膜透性、MDA含量、有机渗透调节物质和抗氧化酶活性的影响,并对种子萌发率、早期幼苗生长量与PEG胁迫浓度间进行了回归分析。结果表明:(1)5%~25%PEG胁迫范围内,随着干旱胁迫程度的增加,鹿角杜鹃种子的发芽启动时间推迟,发芽持续时间延长,发芽率、发芽势、发芽指数、活力指数和幼苗生长量显著降低;重度干旱胁迫(25%PEG)下,鹿角杜鹃种子完全未萌发。(2)发芽率、发芽势、发芽指数、活力指数以及幼苗生长量的变化均与干旱胁迫程度呈极显著负相关关系,回归分析求得鹿角杜鹃种子萌发的半致死PEG干旱胁迫浓度为15.68%、半致矮PEG干旱胁迫浓度为15.37%。(3)随着PEG胁迫浓度的增加,鹿角杜鹃幼苗叶片SOD活性呈先升后降的趋势,但各胁迫处理仍显著高于CK(0%PEG);细胞膜透性、MDA、脯氨酸、可溶性糖含量、POD和CAT活性则在中度(15%~20%PEG)和重度胁迫下显著升高,与干旱胁迫程度呈极显著正相关关系。研究表明,干旱胁迫显著抑制了鹿角杜鹃种子萌发和早期幼苗生长,使其细胞膜受到损伤,同时鹿角杜鹃可通过体内渗透调节物质和抗氧化酶活性的增加来适应干旱环境,使得自身受抑制、损伤程度降到最低。     

A smoke-derived butenolide improves early growth of tomato seedlings

3-Methyl-2H-furo[2,3-c]pyran-2-one is an active compound isolated from plant-derived smoke water. It has a stimulatory role during seed germination similar to that of smoke or aqueous extracts of smoke. The present study was undertaken to gain insight into the physiological events involved in seed germination and seedling development and which are affected by butenolide using tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) cultivar “Heinz 1370” seeds. No stimulatory role on the seed germination of tomato was recorded following the use of the butenolide, however, post-germinative growth of tomato seedlings was significantly improved over the control (P ≤ 0.05). The emergence of the radicle and elongation of the hypocotyls and radicles were accelerated in seeds imbibed with butenolide at 10⁻⁷ M. Flow cytometry studies showed that in butenolide-treated seeds the ratio of cells with replicated DNA was increased. Seedling vigour and weight were significantly increased by the butenolide (P ≤ 0.05). An inverse correlation was observed between the weight of cotyledons and the weight of the hypocotyls and radicle during seedling development. This is an indication that the butenolide is implicated in mobilization and utilization of stored reserve materials in developing tomato seedlings.     

The Effects of Priming and 'Natural' Differences in Quality amongst Onion Seed Lots on the Response of the Rate of Germination to Temperature and the Identification of the Characteristics under Genotypic Control

Ellis, R. H. and Butcher, P. D. 1988. The effects of primingand ‘natural’ differences in quality amongst onionseed lots on the response of the rate of germination to temperatureand the identification of the characteristics under genotypiccontrol —J. exp. Bot. 39: 935–950. A screening procedure was applied to define the response ofthe rate of seed germination to sub-and supra-optimal temperaturesfor different lots or sub-lots of two onion (Allium cepa L.)cultivars.Three sub-lots of the cultivar White Lisbon were derived froma control lot by osmotic priming (–1.4 MPa, 20 °C.7 d) alone, by priming and drying and by priming, drying andsubsequently storing the seeds for 7 weeks at 2–5 °C.The major effect of priming was to reduce the thermal time forgermination at both sub- and supra-optimal temperatures. Primingalone also altered the distribution of thermal times at sub-optimaltemperatures. A new equation is presented to describe this variation.In contrast, priming had no consistent effect on base temperature(T_b and little effect on the distribution of ceiling temperatures[T_e(G)]. For the control lot of White Lisbon T_b was 4°C,whilst the best common estimate of T_b for all four sub-lotswas 3.5°C. The mean estimate of T_c(50) for the control,primed and primed and dried sub-lots was 35.5°C.Comparisonof three lots of the cultivar Senshyu Semi Globe Yellow of widely-differingviability showed substantial differences in the thermal timefor germination at sub-optimal temperatures, but no significantdifferences in T_b (P>0.10), the common estimate being 4°C.There was a significant negative correlation between probitpercentage viability and the logarithm of the thermal time for50% germination at sub-optimal temperatures amongst the threelots (P<0.05). The work suggests that base temperature forgermination is a genotypic characteristic which is unaffectedby differences in seed quality. It also shows that the effectof priming, quantified as a reduction in thermal time requirementsfor germination, varies amongst the seeds within a lot. Key words: -Onion, seed germination rate, temperature, priming     

Laboratory spawning cues in Menidia beryllina,and M. peninsulae (Pisces,Atherinidae) with notes on survival and growth of larvae at different salinities

Synopsis Spawning patterns of inland silversides, Menidia beryllina, and tidewater silversides, Menidia peninsulae, were examined in the laboratory under several combinations of ‘tidal’ and diel light cycle cues. M. beryllina showed a high frequency of spawning throughout the day when held under constant conditions (24L: OD, current velocity 8 cm sec⁻¹) and when ‘tidal’ and diel light cycles were presented singly or in combination. In contrast, M. peninsulae demonstrated a high frequency of spawning only when presented a combination of ‘tidal’ and diel light cycle cues and spawned predominantly at night. Menidia beryllina embryos were euryhaline. Hatching ranged from 73 to 78% at salinities of 5,15 and 30‰ M. peninsulae embryos showed an inverse relationship between the percentage hatch and the incubation salinity, 90% at 5‰ and only 65% at 30‰ Survival and growth of larval M. beryllina from the day of hatching through 16 days old was optimal at 15‰ Although survival of M. peninsulae larvae was optimal at 30%, no trend was apparent in growth of larvae held for 16 days at 5, 15 or 30‰ salinity. Contribution No. 508 from the Gulf Breeze Environmental Research Laboratory     

Biochemical Changes in Seed of Pinus radiata D. Don during Stratification

Stratification at 0 °C accelerates subsequent germinationof seed of Pinus radiata D. Don when transferred to 25 °C;the effect of low temperature is on the megagametophyte, notthe embryo. Organic acids, sucrose, and organic phosphates accumulatein the seed during stratification but lipase and invertase havelow activities which do not increase during treatment at 0 °C.We conclude that this accumulation of metabolites underliesthe increase in rate of germination of stratified seed. Treatingseeds at 0 °C rather than 5 °C separates effects dueto stratification and growth.     

Sexual Reproduction and Early Plant Growth of the Wollemi Pine (Wollemia nobilis), a Rare and Threatened Australian Conifer

The two known populations of the recently discovered rare andthreatened Wollemi Pine (Wollemia nobilis Jones, Hill and Allen)consist of a small number of large multi-stemmed adult treesand small seedlings. Female and male cones are produced on adulttrees with pollen release occurring in spring (October–November).Seed cones mature 16–19 months later in late summer andautumn and appear to be produced annually. Approximately 10%of seed produced in two consecutive years was viable, 25% ofwhich was damaged by animals. Glasshouse studies showed thatseed germination at 25 °C (day)/16 °C (night) proceededslowly but steadily at approx. 4% per week until, after 6 months,88% of apparently viable seed had germinated with the remainderof the seed rotting. Growth of potted seedlings in this temperatureregime was continuous (after a lag period of 4–6 months)with the monopodial axis growing 0.05–0.25 m in the firstyear, 0.5–0.6 m in the second year and 0.25–0.35m in the third year, attaining a total height of 0.8–1.2m. Multiple orthotropic shoots developed on some plants at thisstage, some of which outgrew the primary shoot in height. Thediameter of the stem below the cotyledon (just above the soil)grew 3–7 mm in the first year, 10–14 mm in the secondand 15–20 mm in the third at which time it was 25–34mm. The average number of lateral branches produced was five–17in the first year, 25–36 in the second year and 24–30in the third year giving a total of 60–77. The establishmentof Wollemi Pine in the wild does not appear limited by the inherentviability of seed and potential for early growth of seedlings.Copyright 1999 Annals of Botany Company Wollemia nobilis, Wollemi Pine, Araucariaceae, conifer, rare and threatened plant, cone, seed, germination, seedling growth.     

Influence of changes in sea water salinity on the growth,photosynthetic pigment content,and cell size of the benthic alga <Emphasis Type="Italic">Attheya ussurensis</Emphasis> Stonik,Orlova et Crawford, 2006 (Bacillariophyta)

The study deals with the effect of changes in salinity from 32 to 4‰ (at an interval of 4‰) on the growth, chlorophyll a and carotenoid contents, and cell size of the benthic alga Attheya ussurensis (Bacillariophyta). A. ussurensis showed high tolerance to reduced salinity and ability to adapt to salinity changes from 16 to 12‰. In this salinity range, the cells restored their shapes, sizes, and physiological functions. The number of cells and photosynthetic pigment content were highest at a salinity reduction to 24‰. At 8‰, algal cells remained alive, but the process of cell division was inhibited; as a result, the number of cells was significantly lower than in the control, the cells did not restore their sizes and shapes and remained deformed until the end of the experiment. A drop in salinity to 4‰ caused a complete loss of cell viability of A. ussurensis within a day of exposure to this factor.     

哈茨木霉与绿色木霉对杉木种子萌发和幼苗生长的影响

以杉木种子为材料,研究不同浓度(0.003、0.03、0.3、3、30、300 mg·L^-1)哈茨木霉和绿色木霉溶液对杉木种子萌发和幼苗生长的影响.结果表明: 各浓度木霉溶液处理对杉木种子萌发和幼苗生长均有一定的促进作用,其促进效果随着处理浓度的增加均呈先升后降的趋势.与对照相比,0.03 mg·L^-1哈茨木霉和绿色木霉处理对提高杉木种子的发芽率、发芽势、发芽指数、活力指数、根长、苗高和鲜质量效果最佳,分别提高了57.6%、125.0%、51.0%、209.2%、114.3%、16.1%、24.6%和42.7%、76.7%、43.9%、185.4%、113.8%、8.6%、22.6%;0.3 mg·L^-1哈茨木霉和绿色木霉显著提高杉木幼苗超氧化物歧化酶和过氧化物酶活性,分别增加了157.6%、179.9%和127.5%、116.2%,而丙二醛含量降低了86.1%和72.4%. 0.03～0.3 mg·L^-1浓度的哈茨木霉和绿色木霉不仅能显著促进杉木种子的萌发和幼苗生长,而且能够提高其抗氧化酶活性,增强杉木幼苗的抗逆性.     

The Use of Abscisic Acid to Synchronize Carrot Seed Germination Prior to Fluid Drilling

Abscisic acid (ABA) was used as a reversible block to the progressof carrot seed germination in a practical seed treatment. Pre-treatingseeds with 10^–4M ABA solution at 15 °C for 12 d gave93% germination of viable seeds on subsequent transfer to waterbefore radicle lengths became too long for fluid drilling. Thiscompared with only 31 % without pre-treatment ABA pretreatment significantly increased the synchrony of carrotseed germination and did not affect final percentage germinationor early seedling growth rates. Seedling emergence from ABA-treatedgerminating seeds was earlier and more uniform than from untreatedgerminating seeds and seedlings from both these treatments emergedbefore those from ungerminated seeds Daucus carota L., carrot, germination, seed treatment, fluid drilling, abscisic acid, radicle extension     

Seed Germination and Radicle Growth of a Halophyte, Kalidium caspicum(Chenopodiaceae)

Effects of temperature, light, NaCl and polyethylene glycol(PEG)-6000 on seed germination and radicle growth in a halophyticshrub, Kalidium caspicum(L.) Ung.-Sternb. were investigated.When seeds were incubated in deionized water at constant temperaturesbetween 10 and 30°C, the percentage germination in the darkexceeded 75%; light suppressed seed germination at alternatingtemperatures. Incubating seeds with a hypersaline solution ofNaCl for 30 d had no adverse effect on their germinability.The percentage germination of seeds incubated with a –0.8MPa NaCl solution was 73, 80 and 54% at 10, 20 and 30°C,respectively, but all radicles died before their length exceeded5 mm. In contrast, when seeds were incubated with a –0.8MPa PEG solution at 20°C, 68% of seeds germinated, and 95%of the emerging radicles survived beyond 5 mm. The high sensitivityof small radicles of this species to salinity indicated thatsalt must be removed from the soil surface for seedling establishment.Copyright2000 Annals of Botany Company Chinese desert, radicle growth, germination, halophyte, Kalidium caspicum, salinity