Community structure of bacteria and fungi responsible for rice straw decomposition in a paddy field estimated by PCR-RFLP analysis

Rice straw including leaf sheaths and blades put in nylon mesh bags was placed in the plow layer of a Japanese paddy field after harvest under upland conditions and after transplanting of rice seedlings under flooded conditions. In addition, rice straw that was decomposed under the upland conditions during the off-crop season in winter was placed again in soil at the time of transplanting. The materials were collected periodically to analyze the community structure of the bacteria and fungi responsible for rice straw decomposition by PCR-RFLP analysis. The PCR products with 27f and 1492r primers designed for bacterial 16S rDNA and with EF3 and EF4 primers designed for fungal 18S rDNA were digested with four restriction endonucleases (Hinf I, Sau3A I, Hae III, EeoR I). Bacterial communities in the decomposing rice straw were different from each other between upland and flooded conditions, between leaf sheaths and blades, and between straw samples with and without decomposition under upland conditions during the off-crop season. Fungal communities in the decomposing rice straw were also different between the leaf sheaths and blades under upland soil conditions. Score plots of bacterial and fungal communities in the principal component analysis were separated from the plot of the straw materials along with the duration of the placement, indicating the succession of bacterial and fungal communities in decomposing rice straw with time.     

Effects of seedbed properties on crop emergence: 1. Temporal effects of temperature and sowing depth in seedbeds with favourable properties

Abstract

Rapid and uniform crop establishment is a prerequisite for efficient crop production and minimal environmental impact. Experiments were carried out in shallow plastic boxes placed directly on the ground in the field for studies of the effects of seedbed properties on emergence of various crops. This paper presents an analysis of the time required for germination and emergence under near-optimal seedbed conditions. The crops studied were barley, oats, wheat, pea, rape seed, white mustard, sugar beet, red clover and timothy. The time required for germination generally increased with size of the seeds, presumably because larger seeds needed more water to initiate germination. This applied both when comparing different crops and different seed sizes of the same crop. However, considerable differences occurred between seed lots of the same crop and there were greater differences between seed lots of the same crop than between the three small grain crops studied. Growth rate of the seedlings generally increased with seed size, presumably because of increased energy content in the seed. Consequently, the most rapid emergence was obtained from small seeds at shallow sowing and from large seeds at deep sowing. The crops studied had a minimum temperature for germination and seedling growth close to 0 °C. Under optimal seedbed conditions, thermal time required for 50% germination of barley was typically about 65 °C days over this base temperature and for seedling growth about 6 °C days cm^?1. From 4 cm sowing depth, about 80 °C days were required for emergence but with considerable variations between seed lots. For rape seed or white mustard about 40 °C days were required for germination and about 8 °C days cm^?1 for the seedling growth.     

Zinc delivery to plants through seed coating with nano-zinc oxide particles

In India, zinc (Zn) has been recognized as the fourth most important yield-limiting nutrient after nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K). Supplementing the zinc (Zn) requirement of agricultural crops through water soluble zinc sulfate ZnSO₄ fertilizer is a costly management option whereas, utilization of ZnO (water insoluble and a cheaper material) as a source of Zn could be an alternative cost effective option to encourage farmers for wider adoption. In this present investigation, in order to supply the requisite amount of Zn to the plants, a protocol has been developed to coat the seeds of maize (Zea mays L.), soybean (Glycine max L.), pigeon pea (Cajanas cajan L.) and ladies finger (Abelmoschus esculentus L.) with microns scale (<3 µm) and nano-scale (<100 nm) ZnO powder at 25 mg Zn/g seed and at 50 mg Zn/g seed. Different Zn sources, ethyl alcohol, and crude pine oleoresin (POR) were used for coating of seeds. The germination test carried out with coated and uncoated seeds indicated better germination percentage (93–100%) due to ZnO coating as compared to uncoated seeds (80%). Pot culture experiment conducted with coated seeds also revealed that the crop growth with ZnO coated seeds were similar to that observed with soluble Zn treatment applied as zinc sulfate heptahydrate (ZnSO₄·7H₂O) (at 2.5 ppm Zn) which is evident from the periodic SPAD reading taken after 20, 25, 30 and 45 days after sowing. Application of Zn through different sources also enhanced the auxin indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) production in plant roots, which subsequently improved the overall growth. The most important advantage of seed coating with ZnO (both micron/nano-scale) is that it did not exert any osmotic potential at the time of germination of the seed, thus, the total requirement of Zn of the crop can be loaded with the seed effectively through nano-scale ZnO particle.     

种衣剂对低温处理下棉花胚根及幼苗外部形态和超微结构的影响

以棉种‘新陆中54号’为材料,用3种种衣剂(棉1、棉2、棉3)包衣棉种后播种于塑料营养盒内,25℃恒温培养,分别在第4天(棉种长出胚根)和第7天(棉株幼苗)均进行5、10、15、20℃共4个低温处理,与各低温下未包衣种子(对照,CK)进行比较,低温处理24h后,观察各处理棉花胚根、幼苗外部形态和超微结构的变化,以期通过模拟新疆早春"倒春寒"发生特点,考察种衣剂对提高棉花耐寒性的功效。结果表明:20℃下种衣剂处理与CK无差异,种子萌发正常,发芽率在92.24%~95.51%,3种种衣剂包衣处理胚根生长量为3.66~3.81cm,幼苗叶色浓绿,茎杆直立,胚根细胞中线粒体结构完整,叶肉细胞中线粒体、叶绿体结构规则;15℃低温下种衣剂处理棉种发芽率较CK提高4.45~6.98个百分点,胚根生长速度下降,但包衣处理生长量较CK提高25.27%~36.05%,幼苗叶色浓绿,棉苗直立,胚根细胞中线粒体内脊清晰,叶肉细胞中叶绿体、线粒体结构清晰,细胞器结构和数量明显优于CK;10℃低温下棉种发芽受到抑制,但包衣处理较CK发芽率提高0.73~4.25个百分点,19.15%~42.55%的幼苗叶片下垂萎蔫,保持正常温度后种衣剂处理棉苗很快恢复到正常形态,胚根细胞中线粒体、内质网数目多于CK,叶肉细胞中叶绿体轮廓清晰,内含物较少;5℃低温下各处理棉种发芽率均低于50.00%,CK幼苗叶色脱水失绿,萎蔫下垂,萎蔫率达74.47%,叶绿体膨胀成圆球形、轮廓模糊,包衣处理幼苗萎蔫率在60.42%~67.45%,叶肉细胞中叶绿体结构完整,呈椭球型,线粒体结构较规则、内含物浑浊。研究表明种衣剂能促进低温处理下种子萌发、提高发芽率和胚根生长速度、保护棉苗外部形态和细胞超微结构稳定,维持正常生长,增强幼苗抵御低温的危害能力。     

Estimation of Changes in Available Soil Phosphate under Submerged Conditions Associated with Temperature during the Tillering Stage of Rice Plant in the Cool Climate Region of Japan

This study was performed to investigate changes in available soil phosphate associated with temperature under submerged conditions and to explore the possibility for estimating those under submerged conditions during the early growth (tillering) stage of rice plants (Oryza sativa L.). An incubation experiment was conducted under submerged conditions at three temperatures (10°C, 17.5°C and 25°C) using paddy soils collected over a widespread area in Japan. In most soils, significant positive correlations were observed between available soil phosphate and cumulative temperature to 650°C, which corresponded to the tillering stage in Japan. Relationships between the regression formulae of the available phosphate against cumulative temperature to 650°C and soil chemical properties measured in air-dried soil were investigated. The results indicate that the available phosphate of paddy soil against cumulative temperature during tillering stage under submerged conditions can be estimated from the results of air-dried soil analyses which can be conducted before a crop season.     

Suppressive effect of rice bran incorporation in paddy soil on germination of Monochoria vaginalis and its relationship with electric conductivity

Laboratory experiments were conducted to investigate (1) the effects of the addition of rice (Oryza sativa. L.) bran to paddy soil on the germination of Monochoria vaginalis (Burm. f.) Kunth, and (2) the relationship between the electric conductivity (EC) of the soil solution and germination. Soil samples were collected at 4 sites in Japan. After flooded soils with rice bran had been incubated for 7?d at 30°C, the soil solution was collected using a porous cup and the EC of the soil solution was measured. The amounts of rice bran added to the soil were 0%, 0.3%, 0.6% and 0.9% (weight(w)/w). In the soil solution obtained, seeds of M. vaginalis were incubated for 3?d at 30°C, and the germination percentage was then analyzed. The addition of rice bran suppressed germination, and the degree of suppression increased with increasing content of rice bran. Although the same amount of rice bran was applied to each soil, the degree of growth suppression by rice bran as well as the EC of the soil solution differed among the soils. In each soil, there was a positive correlation between the amount of rice bran and EC, and the degree of growth suppression significantly increased with an increase in EC. When EC was higher than 150?mS?m^?1, seeds of M. vaginalis hardly germinated. There was no significant correlation between the oxidation-reduction potential (Eh) of soil and seed germination, suggesting that EC is a more reliable and convenient indicator than Eh for evaluating the relationship between the addition of organic material and seed germination. In conclusion, the addition of rice bran to soil increases the EC of the soil solution, and EC is one of the factors that suppress the germination of M. vaginalis. The suppressive effect of rice bran on germination is different among soils. This fact is attributed to the difference in EC due to the addition of rice bran. Thus, it is expected that EC can be used as an indicator for determining how much rice bran to add.     

Effects of light and temperature treatments on germination and physiological traits of stevia seedling (Stevia rebuadiana Bertoni)

Light and temperature are among the environmental factors affecting germination of seeds and seedling growth. Therefore, this experiment was carried out to evaluate the effect of light (light, dark, and combined light and dark) and temperature (15, 20, 25, and 30?°C) treatments on seed germination indices and physiological traits of stevia. With increasing temperature to 25?°C, percentage and rate of germination, seedling length, and vigor index increased. Also, dark and integrated treatments light and dark conditions caused increased all traits, except for the mean germination time. The highest proline and protein contents were achieved under light conditions at 15 and 30?°C, respectively. With increasing temperature, the activity of antioxidant enzymes catalase and superoxide dismutase increased. The highest activities of catalase and superoxide dismutase were observed under light condition. In contrary, the highest peroxidase activity was observed under dark condition. Overall, the results showed that dark and combined dark and light conditions at 25?°C improved the physiological characteristics of the plant that can increase germination indices.     

Promotive effect of soil solution on germination of Monochoria vaginalis under paddy conditions

ABSTRACT

Growth of the weed Monochoria vaginalis (Burm. f.) Kunth under the conditions of organic rice production is a serious problem. The reason for the growth of M. vaginalis being dominant, especially in organic rice production, is not fully understood. In this study, laboratory experiments were conducted to analyze soil and seed factors in relation to the promotion of germination. (1) After incubation of flooded soil with or without the addition of rice bran (0.3%, 0.6%, and 0.9% in an air-dried soil basis), soil solutions were recovered and seeds of M. vaginalis were incubated in the soil solutions. Germination in the soils solutions without and with 0.3% rice bran was greater than that in distilled water. However, germination was suppressed in the presence of 0.6% and 0.9% of rice bran. These findings indicate that the solution from the soils with rice bran has different effects that may either increase or decrease germination. (2) A mixture of air-dried soil and distilled water was filtered to obtain a soil solution. Seeds were incubated in the soil solution (same as above). Environmental and physiological factors affected germination: exposure of seeds to light was an environmental factor and high germination activity and shallow dormancy of seed were physiological. The recovered soil solution promoted germination when these factors were not optimized. (3) There was a negative and significant correlation between dissolved oxygen (DO) in the soil solution and germination, indicating that a low content of DO was a promotive factor for germination. (4) Based on an experiment using pH buffers, germination increased with decrease in pH of soil solution, as long as the pH ranged from 4.0 to 7.0. This finding indicates that pH is also a factor that promotes germination.     

Effect of location on dwarf French bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) seed production and seedling vigour

ABSTRACT

This study examined if dwarf French bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) grown at northern latitudes develop seeds with superior yielding potential compared with plants grown at more southern latitudes. Two lines (BND3085 and BND3106) were grown at four sites across latitudes ranging from 52°N to 3°S. BND3085 and BND3106 seeds from Saskatoon grown plants (52°N) had the least damaged seed coats but the highest degree of electrolyte leakage from the seed and the lowest maximum germination rates. The Saskatoon (BND3085 and BND3106) and Nunhem (BND3106) seed lots had the lowest maximum germination rates when germinated at 28°C, 12°C, or when exposed to saline (100?mM NaCl) conditions. Saskatoon BND3085 seed produced plants with the lowest aboveground vegetative and total seed dry matter as well as the lowest pod number per plant. In contrast, plants grown from Saskatoon BND3106 seed produced 1.5-fold more total pods, 1.3-fold more total pods and 1.4-fold higher seed dry matter per plant as compared to plants grown from the Nunhem (51°N) or Arusha seed sources. This resulted in a 2.4–4.5% higher harvest index. These results suggest cultivar-specific dwarf French bean seed propagation at more northern sites may increase the productivity of the resulting crop.     

Preservation of seed viability during 25 years of storage under standard genebank conditions

Maintaining sufficient viability is critical to the sustainability of ex situ conserved seed collections. For this reason, accessions are regenerated when viability falls below a predefined threshold. Viability is monitored by determining the germination ability of accessions at predefined time intervals. Optimizing the frequency of these germination tests, in order to avoid waste of resources, is hampered by the scarce availability of data about seed longevity, particularly for material maintained under genebank conditions. Here we report on the analysis of nearly 40,000 germination test results collected for a wide range of crop species over a 25-years period by the centre for genetic resources, the Netherlands (CGN), where seeds of genebank accessions are dried to 3–7 % moisture content and stored for the long term under near-vacuum in aluminium foil bags at ?20 °C. The results indicate that seed viability is well maintained for the large majority of seed lots during the first 25 years after regeneration as only 3.3 % of the monitoring tests revealed below-threshold germination values. It is argued that the majority of these sub-standard seed lots are due to other causes than seed ageing, including dormancy problems and estimation error in germination testing. For material, maintained under the seed management procedures and storage conditions practiced by CGN, it is therefore recommended to delay the first germination monitoring tests to 25 years after regeneration.     

Thiamine (vitamin B1) seed treatment enhances germination and seedling growth of bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) exposed to soaking injury

Seed treatment with thiamine mononitrate significantly increased germination rate of bean (Phasenius vulgaris L.) seedlings germinated at high soil moisture levels and low night-temperature (5° C). Beneficial effects of thiamine applications on germination were also observed in soil-free germination tests when the seeds were submerged in water for 1–4 d at 18°C. Optimum response was achieved at thiamine concentrations of 3 mM, applied during the first 24 h of imbibition. As an early response to the thiamine treatment, vital staining with triphenyltetrazolium chloride revealed a lower proportion of damaged tissue of the embryonic axes. In later stages of seedling development, thiamine seed treatment resulted in a lower proportion of abnormal seedlings with malformations of the shoot apex and of the primary leaves. The beneficial effect of thiamine was more pronounced when the temperature during submergence was kept at 25° C compared to 5° C. There was no response to thiamine applications when the germinating seeds were exposed to low temperature treatments only. The thiamine effect could be mimicked by raising the osmotic potential of the incubation medium, indicating a relationship to soaking injuries. The results suggest that normal seedling development may be impaired by thiamine deficiency in the embryonic tissue induced by soaking injury, whereas low temperatures are not involved as a stress-factor.     

Modeling aerobic decomposition of rice straw during the off-rice season in an Andisol paddy soil in a cold temperate region of Japan: Effects of soil temperature and moisture

Submerged rice paddies are a major source of methane (CH₄) which is the second most important greenhouse gas after carbon dioxide (CO₂). Accelerating rice straw decomposition during the off-rice season could help to reduce CH₄ emission from rice paddies during the single rice-growth season in cold temperate regions. For understanding how both temperature and moisture can affect the rate of rice straw decomposition during the off-rice season in the cold temperate region of Tohoku district, Japan, a modeling incubation experiment was carried out in the laboratory. Bulk soil and soil mixed with 2% of δ¹³C-labeled rice straw with a full factorial combination of four temperature levels (?5 to 5, 5, 15, 25°C) and two moisture levels (60% and 100% WFPS) were incubated for 24 weeks. The daily change from ?5 to 5°C was used to model the freezing–thawing cycles occurring during the winter season. The rates of rice straw decomposition were calculated by (i) CO₂ production; (ii) change in the soil organic carbon (SOC) content; and (iii) change in the δ¹³C value of SOC. The results indicated that both temperature and moisture affected the rate of rice straw decomposition during the 24-week aerobic incubation period. Rates of rice straw decomposition increased not only with high temperature, but also with high moisture conditions. The rates of rice straw decomposition were more accurately calculated by CO₂ production compared to those calculated by the change in the SOC content, or in its δ¹³C value. Under high moisture at 100% WFPS condition, the rates of rice straw decomposition were 14.0, 22.2, 33.5 and 46.2% at ?5 to 5, 5, 15 and 25°C temperature treatments, respectively. While under low moisture at 60% WFPS condition, these rates were 12.7, 18.3, 31.2 and 38.4%, respectively. The Q₁₀ of rice straw decomposition was higher between ?5 to 5 and 5°C than that between 5 and 15°C and that between 15 and 25°C. Daily freezing–thawing cycles (from ?5 to 5°C) did not stimulate rice straw decomposition compared with low temperature at 5°C. This study implies that to reduce CH₄ emission from rice paddies during the single rice-growth season in the cold temperate regions, enhancing rice straw decomposition during the high temperature period is very important.     

The Effect of Temperature on the Viability Of Weed Seeds in Compost

In this study, the effect of different constant temperatures on the viability of weed seed contaminants of municipal composted waste was determined. Seeds of eight weed species were buried in moist compost in small recoverable packets. The seeds were subjected to three constant temperatures, typical of the composting process, removed after 3, 21 and 84 days and their germination and viability determined. At 55°C all of the recovered weed seeds failed to germinate and were found to be non-viable. At 35°C and 45°C an effect of incubation period was noticeable, and it was evident that there were significant differences between species in tolerance to temperature. The study showed that three days at 55°C was sufficient to destroy all the selected weed species. It was concluded that, among the species studied, seeds that survive the composting process do so as a result of localized “cool spots” caused by inefficient turning of the windrow. Alternatively wind blown species could be entering the outer parts of the windrow, immediately prior to packaging.     

Viability of Oryza sativa L. seeds stored under genebank conditions for up to 30 years

Germination ability, equilibrium relative humidity (eRH), and moisture content of ‘control’ seed samples representing 183 rice accessions stored in the active (2–4 °C) and base (?10 °C until 1993, then ?20 °C) collections of the T. T. Chang Genetic Resources Center were determined after storage for 20.5–30.5 years. Germination of seeds that had been stored in the base collection was generally high (>70 %), whereas germination was more variable for seeds stored in the active collection. Samples with lower viability after storage in the active collection were likely to have lower viability after storage in the base collection. There were significant differences in the moisture content-eRH relationship of the seeds depending on whether the seeds had been stored in the active or base collection. Based on re-test data for regular seed samples regenerated in 1979–1980 and stored in the active collection for up to 31 years, estimates of the time for ability to germinate to fall to 50 % (p ₅₀) ranged from 54 to 997 years. For the same seed samples stored in the base collection for approximately 31 years, ability to germinate has been maintained and germination increased due to improved procedures. The ability to germinate of base collection samples was also generally higher than that of ‘safety duplicate’ samples of the same seed lots that had been sent to the National Center for Genetic Resources Preservation, USA in 1981 and stored at ?18 °C. This may have been due to uptake of moisture either during processing for dispatch or as a consequence of poor packaging material. The results are discussed in relation to long-term seed storage and genebank management.     

Protein metabolism in rice seedling

The relationship between protein synthesis and degradation in germinating rice seed were studied with protein synthetic inhibitors. Both DNP and 8-AG inhibited the degradation of glutelin, the major storage protein in rice seed, while the inhibitors had no direct effect in the activity of rice seed proteinllse in vitro. The prevention can be partly ascribed to the Inhibition of proteinase synthesis because the inhibitors depressed the increase in proteinase activity during germination. When DNP treatment was started at the onset of germination, the degradation of glutelin in the endosperm was seriously inhibited and the endosperm remained rigid over 9 days of incubation at 30°C. In contrast, the inhibition was less efficient clent when the treatment was started in the later stage. It is suggested that the degradation of the storage protein in rice seed depends on the synthetic process of the hydrolytic enzymes which increase during germination. disintegrate the compartmentation of the endosperm and allow the storage proteins to come in contact with the existing proteinases     

Use of Sieved Compost Plus Hydrogel for Solid Matrix Priming of Carrot Seeds

In this study we report the water release curve of a compost-based carrier for solid matrix priming and its effects on carrot seed germination. ‘Danvers Half Long’ and ‘Nantes Scarlet’ carrot (Daucus carota) seeds were primed for 7 d at 15°C in a carrier consisting of 5:1:5.7 sieved compost: hydrogel:distilled water (based on weight) equaling a water potential of ?1.0 MPa. Seeds were blended with carrier at 1:10, 1:20, 1:30, or 1:40 (based on weight) and compost priming was compared with a polyethylene glycol (PEG) priming procedure. Germination testing at 20-30°C (16-8 h) in darkness indicated that all compost priming treatments hastened seed germination more than PEG priming. Compost priming at 1:30 increased final germination percentage (FGP) for ‘Nantes Scarlet’ (FGP = 85%) compared to PEG primed (FGP = 72%) seeds but ‘Danvers Half Long’ FGP was similar for all treatments. For both cultivars, seeds that were compost primed had reduced G (days to 10% FGP) and G (days to 50% FGP) compared to PEG primed or nonprimed seed. For ‘Danvers Half Long’ carrot seeds, priming ratios of 1:30 reduced G values more effectively than all other treatments. For ‘Nantes Scarlet’ carrot seeds, G₁₀ and G₅₀ values were reduced similarly at all seed-to-carrier ratios. Compost primed seeds could be dried and stored for 35 d at 3 or 20-30°C (16-8 h) for ‘Danvers Half Long’ and for 35 d at 3°C for ‘Nantes Scarlet’ with no loss in priming benefit. We conclude that solid matrix priming with a compost based carrier is a satisfactory alternative to PEG priming to improve germination of carrot seed.     

Salinity and Temperature Effects on Seed Germination of Milk Thistle

Abstract

Milk thistle [Silybum marianum (L.) Gaertn] is an annual plant belonging to the Asteraceae family whose ripe seeds contain flavonoid substances, which are important in the modern pharmaceutical industry. Seed germination is a major factor limiting the establishment of plants under saline conditions. The effect of salinity and temperatures on germination and seedling establishment was studied in two genotypes of milk thistle, an Iranian wild type and German (Royston) type in the laboratory and in the field. Experiments were done with seven salt concentrations [0.1 (control), 1, 3, 6, 9, 12, and 15 dS/m] and three temperatures (15, 25, and 35°C). There were three replications for each treatment, and the experiment was run three times. The results showed that the percentage of germination and the number of normal seedlings at different salt treatment at 15°C were higher than at 25 or 35°C. The mean time to 50% germination was least at this temperature for both genotypes. Results suggested all germination indices and seedling emergence (50%) were achieved at levels up to 9 dS/m salinity at 15°C. Also, seeds at a salinity of 9–15 dS/m will germinate and up to 25% of the control nonstress treatment could emerge at the low temperature of 15°C.     

Hypericum perforatum L. Seed Germination: Interpopulation Variationand Effect of Light, Temperature, Presowing Treatments and Seed Desiccation

Germplasm conservation of medicinal plants is of increasing interest and, when possible, seed banking is the most efficient system for ex situ conservation of these plant genetic resources. Hypericum perforatum L. (St. John's wort, Guttiferae) is a medicinal plant with evidence of efficacy as an anti-depressant. The aim of this work was to increase knowledge of its seed germination behaviour by studying 68 wild populations. Seed germination tests were carried out at 25/15 °C under a photoperiod of 16-h light/8-h darkness. Final germination percentages were highly variable depending on the accession, ranging from 6 to 98%. Similarly, germination rate (as expressed by T ₅₀ values) varied significantly from 6.1 to 23.0 days. The effect of seed desiccation with silica gel on subsequent germination was also studied. The effect of two other incubation temperatures (15 and 25 °C) and light (photoperiod or darkness) on seed germination was studied in several accessions. Temperature had no significant effect on final germination percentages. However, light significantly increased the germination of most but not all accessions assayed. Seeds from four accessions with low germination percentages were subjected to different presowing treatments that could increase germination: dry heat, hot water and gibberellic acid. Germination was promoted significantly by gibberellic acid in two of the four accessions assayed, but the thermal treatments did not enhance significantly the germination percentages. This study reveals that conclusions based on one population of Hypericum perforatum cannot characterize the germination behaviour for the entire species.     

低场核磁共振分析聚乙二醇对萌发期水稻种子水分吸收的影响

为研究聚乙二醇(PEG,polyethylene glycol)处理下水稻种子萌发过程中内部水分分布和变化规律,进而揭示水稻耐旱性在水分吸收规律上的重要特征。应用低场核磁共振的T2弛豫谱和质子密度加权成像分析了PEG处理下水稻种子萌发过程中的水分变化,研究了利用蒸馏水(对照)和质量分数分别为10%、20%PEG6000处理对两个水稻品种旱9710、辽星1发芽指标的影响,以及对两个水稻品种萌发0、6、22、48、72 h吸水量的影响,确定单位质量核磁信号幅值与水稻种子湿基含水率的回归函数关系。发芽指标检测结果显示:旱9710耐旱性高于辽星1。质子密度加权成像结果显示:在水分吸收初期,水分子直接通过种子表面裂缝进入种子体内,胚乳中的淀粉粒等物质开始吸水膨胀,种子体积增大。24 h后,种子内营养物质向种胚流动。PEG处理下,水稻种子吸水量明显减少,发芽速度明显降低,且PEG质量分数越高,发芽速度越慢。基于核磁共振理论及T2弛豫谱的多组分特征,当反演频率为10 000时,水稻种子萌发过程中的水分分为束缚水与自由水两部分。T2弛豫谱结果表明:在蒸馏水和质量分数分别为10%、20%PEG处理下,种子湿基含水率和核磁信号幅值均逐渐增长。PEG处理下,核磁信号幅值增长相比对照处理显著降低(P0.05)。PEG处理抑制了两个水稻品种种子对水分的吸收,PEG质量分数越高,抑制作用越强。PEG处理24 h后,耐旱性强的水稻品种吸水率相比对照处理的降低幅度小于耐旱性弱的品种。回归分析表明,3种处理下,核磁信号幅值和湿基含水率具有一致的线性关系(R2=0.983),由回归方程可以求得水稻种子萌发过程中各状态水分的含量。试验为研究水稻种子萌发过程对干旱胁迫的反应机制,开发种子水分微观活体无损检测技术等方面的研究提供理论支持和数据参考。     

Effects of seed priming on growth and antioxidant components of hairy vetch (Vicia villosa) seedlings under chilling stress

Hairy vetch (Vicia villosa) is an important cover crop and green manure in dryland cropping system of Mediterranean regions. A delay in the onset of rainfall during autumn can inhibit hairy vetch seed germination, which exposes its early growth stages to low-temperature stress. The present study was carried out in a completely randomized design with four replications to evaluate the effects of seed priming on germination of hairy vetch under chilling stress. The treatments were seed-priming type (unprimed, hydro-priming, halo-priming, and osmopriming) and temperature (3, 6, 9, 12, and 15?°C). The results indicated that a decrease in temperature produced a linear decline in the germination rate of seeds treated with halo-priming and osmopriming (p?<?.01). The seedling length, seedling dry weight, and vigor index decreased in plants experiencing chilling stress (quadratic; p?<?.01) for hydro-priming, halo-priming, and osmopriming. The maximum germination rate was achieved using hydro-priming. Osmopriming prevented a decrease in the rate of germination at 3?°C. A decrease in temperature increased the proline and the soluble protein contents in all the seed priming treatments, but, decreased catalase and guaiacol peroxidase activity (p?<?.01). In brief, halo-priming, and hydro-priming enhanced establishment and growth of hairy vetch under chilling stress primarily through improvements in the physiological parameters and germination rate. This finding can increase the potential for cultivation of the hairy vetch in late planting date.