Smoke-Water and a Smoke-Isolated Butenolide Improve Germination and Seedling Vigour of Eragrostis tef (Zucc.) Trotter under High Temperature and Low Osmotic Potential

The seeds of Eragrostis tef are often exposed to high temperatures and low water availability during unfavourable climatic conditions. This affects germination and seedling stand establishment of the crop. Smoke is currently widely studied for its stimulatory role in seed germination. The effect of smoke-water and a smoke-isolated butenolide was investigated on E. tef seed germination and seedling growth at different temperatures, light conditions and osmotic potentials. Treating E. tef seeds with smoke-water and butenolide increased the percentage germination relative to the control at all tested temperatures. These treatments significantly improved seedling length and the vigour index at 25, 30, 35 and 40 and 30/15 °C. Smoke-water and butenolide increased percentage imbibition from high to low osmotic potential. In comparison with the control, smoke-water- and butenolide-treated seeds of E. tef showed higher percentage germination with decreasing osmotic potential. Smoke-water treatment exhibited significantly longer and more vigorous seedlings than the control between 0 and −0.30 MPa osmotic potential. The findings of this study suggest the possibility of using smoke treatments for minimizing E. tef seedling losses at elevated temperatures and water stress.     

Effect of Storage Conditions on Germination in Wheat

The percentage germination was determined for storage of wheat at four grain moisture contents (15, 18, 21 and 24 %), four temperature levels (4, 15, 25 and 40°C) and three levels of mechanical damage (0, 15 and 30 %). The effect of each level of moisture was investigated using three replicates for each temperature and each level of mechanical damage. During storage, at 0.25, 0.5 and 1 % dry matter loss (DML), germination tests were carried out on samples taken from each of the above treatments. The percentage germination was compared statistically amongst treatments. The analysis showed significant differences among most of the treatments. The percentage germination decreased very slowly at a low moisture level (15 %), low temperature (4°C) and low level of damage (0 %), while it decreased rapidly at a high moisture level (24 %), high temperature (40°C) and high level of damage (30 %). For example, the percentage germination was 41 % when the wheat was stored at 4°C, 15 % mechanical damage and 24 % moisture content after a storage time of 36.5 days, while the percentage germination was 88.3 % when the wheat was stored at 4°C, 15 % mechanical damage and 15 % moisture content after a storage time of 104 days.     

Carbon and Nitrogen Transport during Grain Filling in Rice Under High-temperature Conditions

Rice ( Oryza sativa cv. Koshihikari) seedlings were grown in a sandy dune soil in pots with a basal dressing of N (0.5 g N), P and K. Two N treatments were applied, a +N treatment in which a top dressing of ¹⁵N-labeled 0.5 g N was supplied on July 20 and a −N treatment in which no additional fertilizer was supplied. During the grain-filling stage from August 6 to 13, plants were subjected to one of three temperature treatments; controlled low temperature, LT (day/night 28/23 °C), controlled high temperature, HT (35/30 °C) and uncontrolled glasshouse temperature, UT (day/night averages, 38/26 °C). All plants were then exposed to ¹³CO₂ for 1 h on August 11 in a growth chamber at 25 °C. On August 13, all plants were harvested and the ¹³C and ¹⁵N abundances and starch and sugar concentrations in the ears, shoots and roots were determined. The ¹³C content of the ear was lower in UT than in LT irrespective of the +N or −N treatment. The translocation of ¹⁵N to the ears was also slightly depressed in UT compared with LT. Under high-temperature conditions (HT and UT), the starch content per plant was reduced for −N, but for +N, it was not significantly different among the temperature treatments. A high accumulation of sucrose was observed in all plant parts under UT conditions. It is suggested that extreme high day temperatures during the grain-filling period may reduce starch synthesis in the grains and, especially so under N-deficient conditions. High temperatures also induce an accumulation of sucrose and a decrease in carbon and nitrogen transport from the shoots to the ears via the phloem.     

Seed Composition, Seedling Emergence and Early Seedling Vigour of Red Kidney Bean Seed Produced at Elevated Temperature and Carbon Dioxide

Understanding the influence of growth temperature and carbon dioxide (CO₂) on seed quality in terms of seed composition, subsequent seedling emergence and early seedling vigour is important under present and future climates. The objective of this study was to determine the combined effects of elevated temperature and CO₂ during seed-filling of parent plants on seed composition, subsequent seedling emergence and seedling vigour of red kidney bean ( Phaseolus vulgaris ). Plants of cultivar 'Montcalm', were grown at daytime maximum/nighttime minimum sinusoidal temperature regimes of 28/18 and 34/24 °C at ambient CO₂ (350 μmol mol⁻¹) and at elevated CO₂ (700 μmol mol⁻¹) from emergence to maturity. Seed size and seed composition at maturity and subsequent per cent emergence, early seedling vigour (rate of development) and seedling dry matter production were measured. Elevated CO₂ did not influence seed composition, emergence, or seedling vigour of seeds produced either at 28/18 or 34/24 °C. Seed produced at 34/24 °C had smaller seed size, decreased glucose concentration, but significantly increased concentrations of sucrose and raffinose compared to 28/18 °C. Elevated growth temperatures during seed production decreased the subsequent per cent emergence and seedling vigour of the seeds and seedling dry matter production of seed produced either at ambient or elevated CO₂.     

Effects of Temperature on the Alkaloid Content of Seeds of Lupinus angustifolius Cultivars

Three experiments were conducted to investigate the effects of high temperatures during seed filling on the alkaloid content of narrow-leaf lupin cultivars. Six cultivars of Lupinus angustifolius were grown in field experiments under different weather conditions in four subsequent years. A high content of alkaloids was found in the seeds harvested in 2006, in which the growing season was characterized by high ambient temperatures during seed filling. A second experiment was performed in the green house at different temperatures (10, 20 and 30 °C) using one cultivar in 2006. This experiment confirmed the results of the field experiments as higher temperatures resulted in a higher alkaloid content of the seeds. In a third temperature stress experiment, three cultivars were grown under long day conditions at day/night temperatures of 30 °C/16 °C and 20 °C/16 °C in growth chambers in comparison with an outdoor control at mean temperatures of 15.5 °C. Like in the other experiments, the seed alkaloid content increased with rising temperature. From these results, it may be concluded that the seed alkaloid content is strongly influenced by the temperature during initiation of flowering up to pod ripening. This has to be taken into account e.g. in trials for cultivar release in which the alkaloid content is a knock-out criterion.     

壮瑶药野甘草种子萌发特性研究

研究壮瑶药植物野甘草种子萌发特性,为野甘草育种以及规范化种植提供科学依据。以野甘草种子为材料,测定不同温度和光照条件下种子发芽率,及聚乙二醇(PEG-6000)、赤霉素(GA)、硝酸钾浸种对种子萌发的影响。结果表明：（1）野甘草种子在20℃和35℃恒温条件下不萌发,25℃、30℃、15/25℃变温、20/30℃变温和25/35℃变温条件的发芽率分别为78%、43%、73%、94%和75%;（2）野甘草种子在全黑暗条件下不萌发,由黑暗转入光照后,种子正常萌发;（3）浓度为1%~5% PEG-6000、1~100 mg/L GA和1~5 mmol/L KNO₃浸种后,野甘草种子发芽率均显著高于蒸馏水对照处理,分别为86%~90%、93%~95%和87%~88%。野甘草种子为需光性种子,适宜发芽温度为20/30℃变温,PEG-6000(1%~5%)、GA(1~100 mg/L)和KNO₃(0.01~5 mg/L)浸种可促进野甘草种子萌发。     

Interaction of Salinity and Temperature on the Germination of Sorghum

Laboratory studies were conducted to investigate the effect of salinity × temperature interactions on the germination of sorghum. Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench. Sorghum seeds were sown in petri dishes with saline solutions of varying concentrations (electrical conductivities of 0.01, 6.4, 12.2, 17.4, 22.6, 27.2, 32.1, and 37.2 dSm^-1) prepared with NaCl. The germination responses of the seeds were determined over a wide range of temperatures (15, 20, 25, 30, 35 and 40 °C) for a period of 8 days. Salinity × temperature interactions were highly significant at each counting date. Although, increased salinity resulted in decreased germination percentages, the detrimental effect of salinity was generally less severe at higher temperatures. Germination rate index, computed from germination counts taken every 2 days, was influenced by salinity and temperature in a similar pattern as final germination. Seed germination was more tolerant to salinity at germination temperatures of 30–40 °C than at 15–25 °C.     

Effects of Thermal and Salt Treatments during Imbibition on Germination and Seedling Growth of Sorghum at 42/19 °C

This investigation tested the influence of thermal treatment of seeds at various stages of imbibition on the germination percentage, speed and growth response of seeds and seedlings. Seeds of sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L Moench) were treated in 2, 4 or 6 g NaCl l^?1 solutions and exposed for 2 h to 45 °C during the first, second or third days of imbibition. Thereafter, the seeds were dried and germinated at 42/19 °C (day/night temperature). Salt treatments did not improve the final germination percentage but increased germination speed over untreated seeds. The higher the salt concentration used, the greater the dry weights of plumules and radicles. Thermal treatment on the third day of imbibition yielded higher germination percentages than untreated seeds, while thermal treatment on the second day gave faster germination. Both the second and third day thermal treatments gave superior germination indices and higher plumule‐to‐radicle ratios. It is concluded that thermal treatment may assist in acclimating seeds to heat stress.     

The Effect of Exposure to Ascending/Descending Imbibition Temperatures in Saline Solutions on Shoot and Root Growth Allocation in Germinating Sorghum Seed

Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) seeds were examined to determine the influence of exposure to ascending and descending imbibition temperature regimes on plumule and radicle axes behaviour of seed after treatment. Treatments included soaking in distilled water, 4.5 % NaCl or 4.5 % KCl for 3 days at three ascending or descending temperatures ranging from 11 to 21 °C. Root growth was enhanced by descending temperatures (21, 16 and 11 °C) over the 3‐day period, whereas ascending temperatures (11, 16 and 21 °C) increased growth differences between shoots and roots. Shoot–root growth was affected by imbibition temperature to a greater extent than germination. However, seed soaking treatments in NaCl or KCl did not improve root or shoot growth, but did improve germination rates.     

Soil Temperature and Planting Depth Effects on Tef Emergence

Tef [ Eragrostis tef (Zucc.) Trotter] is an annual C4 grass crop that originated in Ethiopia. It has potential as a grain crop in the Great Plains because of its tolerance to drought and high temperatures. In Ethiopia, tef seed is typically broadcast on the soil surface and lightly incorporated. Shallow planting depths are used because the seed is very small and emergence can be limited by soil crusting. If planting equipment is to be used, planting depth may be important for successful tef production. The objective of this study was to identify optimal depths and soil temperatures to aid in developing tef planting recommendations for the central Plains. Tef was planted at five depths (0, 0.6, 1.3, 2.5 and 5.0 cm) in pots filled with a silt loam soil, and pots were placed in growth chambers at four temperature regimes (day/night: 15/19 °C; 19/23 °C; 23/27 °C and 27/31 °C). No plants emerged from the 5.0-cm depth, so this depth was not included in the analysis. Emergence was greatest for planting depths of 0.6 and 1.3 cm and lower at 0 and 2.5 cm depths. Temperature did not affect final emergence, measured 21 days after planting (DAP), but did influence emergence rates during the first 9 DAP. Plant dry matter production increased as planting depth increased, but plant dry matter per pot was not different among planting depths greater than 0.9 cm, suggesting that compensation between plants across different plant densities began early in the plants' life cycles. Our results show that tef seed can emerge from depths between 0.6 and 1.3 cm and that soil temperatures below 19 °C can slow emergence but should not affect final stands.     

温度对西藏5种野生豆科牧草种子萌发的影响研究

为探明毛果胡卢巴、劲直黄芪、天蓝苜蓿、镰荚棘豆和窄叶野豌豆5种野生豆科牧草种子萌发的适宜温度以提高其萌发率,研究了0/10℃ 、5/15℃ 、10/20℃ 、15/25℃ 、20/30℃ 、25/35℃ 、30/40℃等7种发芽温度对西藏5种野生豆科牧草种子萌发的影响.结果表明,5种野生豆科牧草种子在0/10℃条件下均无萌发;发芽率、发芽势、发芽指数和活力指数等指标随昼夜温度的升高呈先上升后下降趋势;毛果胡卢巴、劲直黄芪、天蓝苜蓿、镰荚棘豆和窄叶野豌豆牧草在适宜温度范围内种子萌发时滞最短,依次为2,2,2,3,4d;毛果胡卢巴和镰荚棘豆种子萌发最适温度为15/25℃,发芽率分别高达95%和812.5%;劲直黄芪、天蓝苜蓿、窄叶野豌豆种子萌发最适温度为20/30℃,发芽率依次为85%、912.5%和65%.     

Seed treatments to overcome salt and drought stress during germination in sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.)

The treated seeds (control, KNO₃ and hydropriming) of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) cultivar Sanbro were evaluated at germination and seedling growth for tolerance to salt (NaCl) and drought conditions induced by PEG-6000 at the same water potentials of 0.0, −0.3, −0.6, −0.9 and −1.2 MPa. Electrical conductivity (EC) values of the NaCl solutions were 0.0, 6.5, 12.7, 18.4 and 23.5 dS m⁻¹, respectively. The objective of the study was to determine factors responsible for germination and early seedling growth due to salt toxicity or osmotic effect and to optimize the best priming treatment for these stress conditions.

Results revealed that germination delayed in both solutions, having variable germination with different priming treatments. Germination, root and shoot length were higher but mean germination time and abnormal germination percentage were lower in NaCl than PEG at the same water potential. Seeds were able to germinate at all concentrations of NaCl but no seed germination was observed at −1.2 MPa of PEG treatments. NaCl had less inhibitor effect on seedling growth than the germination. It was concluded that inhibition of germination at the same water potential of NaCl and PEG resulted from osmotic effect rather than salt toxicity. Hydropriming increased germination and seedling growth under salt and drought stresses.     

PEG浸老化种子对茎瘤芥幼苗叶片抗氧化系统的影响

以茎瘤芥老化种子为材料,使用不同浓度PEG 6000(0％、5％、10％、15％、20％、25％、30％、35％),以不同的处理时间(4、8、12h)浸种处理茎瘤芥老化种子,研究PEG 6000浸老化种子对茎瘤芥幼苗叶片抗氧化生理指标的影响.结果表明:30％ PEG 6000浸种处理老化种子8h,其幼苗叶片过氧化氢酶活性、过氧化物酶活性均增幅最大,游离脯氨酸含量降幅最大,且均与对照呈极显著差异.     

Effect of temperature on gametophytic selection in a <Emphasis Type="Italic">Phalaenopsis</Emphasis> F<Subscript>1</Subscript> population

Gametophytic selection has potential to increase the efficiency of breeding for temperature tolerance. Here, we describe orchid seedlings after application of low and high temperatures during gametophytic development. In addition to phenotypic traits, amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) markers were used to determine the genetic variability in seedlings. Two hybrid Phalaenopsis were cross-pollinated and exposed to 30°C day/25°C night for 3 days for a warm pollination or 15°C day/10°C night for 7 days as a cold pollination treatment. The plants were returned to the greenhouse after pollination and green capsules were collected after 150 days. Protocorms obtained from these treatments were evaluated 72 days after initial plating for germination and size on a thermogradient table ranging from 10 to 30°C. Seedlings were then evaluated 1 year after initial plating. The mean number of roots per seedling (4.2) was greater for plantlets that derived from the cold pollination treatment compared to those from warm pollination (3.6). Weight of the seedlings, number of roots and the average root length were significantly affected by the interaction between pollination treatment and germination temperature. The weight, number of leaves, and average root length were significantly affected by the interaction between pollination treatment and incubator/growth chamber. The results indicated that seedlings derived from warm pollination were more vigorous under warm growing conditions and those derived from cold pollination were more vigorous under cold growing conditions. Genetic variation among 16 F₁ seedlings randomly selected from various temperature treatments was analyzed. A dendrogram based on 651 loci resulted in three major groups and one subgroup. The groups and subgroup revealed common selection pressure during the gametophytic stage. The AFLP data support genetic differentiation of Phalaenopsis hybrids pollinated under different temperatures.     

The Influence of Fertilizer-based Seed Priming Treatments on Emergence and Seedling Growth of Sorghum bicolor and Pennisetum glaucum in Pot Trials under Greenhouse Conditions

The effect of priming sorghum and pearl millet seeds with fertilizers was investigated. Two experiments were conducted on M35–1 (sorghum) and ICMH 356 (pearl millet), and ICSV 745 (sorghum) and Barmer (pearl millet) seeds, respectively. Treatments included nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium-based treatments which showed that 7.5 g l⁻¹ of urea substantially enhanced the final germination percentage of seeds. The second experiment included 10 priming treatments with 7.5 g l⁻¹ urea mixed with other fertilizers. Results indicated that soaking seeds for 3 days in urea + one of several fertilizers including N, P or K-based nutrient compositions or micro elements significantly increased germination percentage and speed but did not affect seedling growth at 15 or 60 days after sowing. It is concluded that seed priming treatments with fertilizers may serve as an appropriate treatment for advancing germination of the species studied.     

Rapid and Synchronous Germination of Cicer Milkvetch (Astragalus cicer L.) Seed following Diurnal Temperature Priming

Experiments were conducted to determine if diurnal temperature variation could be used to prime cicer milkvetch ( Astragalus cicer L.) seed and thereby shorten the time for seed germination. For untreated cicer miikvetch seed at constant 20°C, 50% of the seeds germinated in 8.2 days and 90% of the seeds germinated in 10.5 days. In contrast, seed that was first primed for 7 days with a diurnal temperature variation (35 (8h)/5 (16h) °C) had values of 1.9 days and 3.3 days, respectively. A second experiment evaluated priming of seed in bulk to test if a procedure might be developed that could be scaled up to prime commercial quantities of seed. A bulk sample of seed was soaked in water for 5h at room temperature and then kept in a high humidity atmosphere during 7 days of priming at 35/5°C. Hydrated seed from the bulk sample had 50% germination in 2.7 days and 90% germination in 5.3 days. When the bulk sample was dried for 8 days at room temperature, the benefit of priming on shortening germination time was retained. It is likely that diurnal temperature priming could be adapted to large volumes of seed.     

The Effect of Short Warm Breaks during Chilling on Water Status, Intensity of Photosynthesis of Maize Seedlings and Final Grain Yield

The effects of short-term exposure of seedlings to suboptimal temperature (14 °C for 1 or 4 h in 24 h cycles) during chilling (5 °C for 12 days) on the water status and intensity of photosynthesis of tolerant (TG) and chilling-sensitive (SG) maize genotypes were studied. Daily warming for 1 or 4 h resulted in a decrease in the hydration of the seedlings to 31.1 % and 61.5 % (SG) and 14.8 % (TG) and 39.1 % (SG), respectively, in comparison with the continuously chilled control. During warming for 4 h, both genotypes absorbed water from soil in amounts that partly compensated for its loss through transpiration, after the plants had been moved to the lower temperature. A protective effect of shorter warming (1 h) on the hydration of the seedlings was a result of a strong, stomatal limitation of transpiration during the initial days of chilling. Warming for 1 or 4 h also increased the ability of TG stomata to close in reaction to water deficit in chilling conditions. The effect of increased temperature delayed the decrease of P_N in leaves and limited RGR inhibition of the seedling mass caused by chilling. Daily warming of plants at the seedling phase (14 and 20 °C for 1 or 4 h) reduced the unfavourable effect of chilling (5 °C for a period of 8 days) on the final yield, the filling of caryopses and their number in a cob after growth in natural conditions.     

Influence of Soil Temperature on Seedling Emergence and Early Growth of Peanut Cultivars in Field Conditions

Peanut or groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) sown in early spring often has poor seed germination and seedling development. The influence of soil temperature on seedling emergence and early growth of six peanut cultivars (Florida MDR98, Southern Runner, Georgia Green, SunOleic 97R, Florunner and C‐99R) was studied in natural field soil profiles in temperature‐gradient greenhouses. We evaluated the influence of a range of soil temperatures by sowing at eight dates between January 2001 and May 2002 in Gainesville, Florida. On each sowing date, two additional temperature treatments (ambient and ambient +4.5 °C air temperature) were evaluated by sowing on either end of each greenhouse and applying differential heating. In total, 16 different soil temperature treatments were evaluated. Each treatment was replicated four times in four different greenhouses. Mean soil temperature from sowing to final emergence in different treatments ranged from 15 to 32 °C. Sowing date, temperature treatment and cultivar had significant effect on seedling emergence and development (V₂ stage). For all cultivars, the lowest germination was observed at the earliest sowing date (coolest soil temperature). Among cultivars, Florida MDR98 was the most sensitive to reduced (cool) temperature with the lowest germination and smallest seedling size at 21 days after sowing, followed by Southern Runner. Georgia Green was the most cold‐tolerant with the highest germination, followed by SunOleic 97R. There were no significant differences among cultivars for base temperature, which averaged 11.7 and 9.8 °C for rate of emergence and rate of development to V₂ stage respectively. These results imply that cultivar choice and/or genetic improvement of peanut for cold tolerance during emergence and seedling development in regions where cooler soil temperatures persist and/or regions where early sowing is desirable.     

噻虫嗪种子处理防治水稻蓟马及其对秧苗生长的影响

研究噻虫嗪种衣剂的科学合理施用技术,旨在解决传统施药过程中劳动强度大的问题。2010—2012年,采用田间小区试验,探索噻虫嗪种子处理对水稻秧苗生长的影响及其对稻蓟马的防治效果。试验结果表明,以噻虫嗪不同剂型(70%WS、30%FS)对水稻种子进行包衣浸种或浸种包衣处理后,其抗寒能力明显增强;同时,该药剂对出苗率、成苗率以及对成苗后的水稻秧苗生长具有一定的促进作用。此外,25 g/L咯菌腈FS中加入30%噻虫嗪FS能有效控制稻蓟马为害,播后23~30天的卷尖率为2.00%~24.77%,明显低于不施药处理(41.33%~88.87%)。     

Effect of Temperature and Photoperiod on the Development of Lupinus albus L. in a Controlled Environment

An experiment to determine the effect of temperature and photoperiod on Lupinus albus under controlled environmental conditions was carried out, using the three Lupinus albus genotypes 'Tifwhite', 'Esta' and 'Kiev', and three temperature (10/20, 18/28 and 20 °C continuously) and two photoperiod (8 and 16 h daylength) regimes, in all combinations. Half of the seeds were vernalized for 21 days at 4 °C to alleviate the obligate vernalization requirement of Tifwhite. Although Esta and Kiev do not have obligate vernalization requirements, they were influenced by this vernalization period. Observations included the duration of the period from planting to seedling emergence, the duration of the period from planting to the beginning of flowering and the duration of flowering. The vernalization treatment accelerated plant development in all genotypes. The period from planting to emergence was shorter under the higher temperature regime. For all genotypes, the period from planting to flowering was shorter under the longer photoperiod, the same trend as would be expected for long-day plants. Duration of flowering periods were, in contrast to pre-flowering periods, shorter for all genotypes at cooler temperatures. The results of this study confirm that photoperiod does contribute to the growth period from planting to flowering in L. albus and that this species does behave as a long-day plant.