Role of fire and fire cues in seed germination, seedling vigor, and establishment of species from fire-prone vegetation and its potential in African underutilized leafy vegetables and edible weeds

Abstract: Fertilizer formulation alternatives that avoid unnecessary losses and environmental impacts are being investigated in agricultural management. Seed priming with nanofertilizers prior to planting, reduces concerns about non-target dispersion; however, priming formulations and concentrations must be carefully selected to avoid undesired effects. Here, seed germination and seedling development were evaluated after seed priming with CuO nanoparticles (NPs), CuO bulk and CuCl2. The seeds were immersed in priming solutions of 0, 20, 40, 80 and 160 mg.L−1 Cu for the three Cu sources. Following 8 hours priming, the seeds were evaluated for germination and vigor (first germination count). Root and shoot lengths were measured as well as shoot and root dry biomass. The copper NP did not show any toxic effects on corn seed germination and growth, and also promoted higher biomass when compared to the other Cu sources. On the other hand, CuCl2 primed seeds exhibited Cu-toxicity in roots and shoots for all concentrations tested. Bulk Cu priming results indicated the better role of NPs size effects. These findings support NP-seed priming as an alternative to delivery of essential micronutrients, such as copper, to corn seedlings.

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The signalling role of ROS in the regulation of seed germination and dormancy

Biochemical Journal ◽

10.1042/bcj20190159 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 476 (20) ◽

pp. 3019-3032 ◽

Cited By ~ 25

Author(s):

Christophe Bailly

Keyword(s):

Seed Germination ◽

Oxygen Species ◽

Direct Oxidation ◽

Cellular Events ◽

Seed Physiology ◽

Spatiotemporal Regulation ◽

Wide Range ◽

Living Organisms ◽

Hormone Signalling

Abstract Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are versatile compounds which can have toxic or signalling effects in a wide range living organisms, including seeds. They have been reported to play a pivotal role in the regulation of seed germination and dormancy but their mechanisms of action are still far from being fully understood. In this review, we sum-up the major findings that have been carried out this last decade in this field of research and which altogether shed a new light on the signalling roles of ROS in seed physiology. ROS participate in dormancy release during seed dry storage through the direct oxidation of a subset of biomolecules. During seed imbibition, the controlled generation of ROS is involved in the perception and transduction of environmental conditions that control germination. When these conditions are permissive for germination, ROS levels are maintained at a level which triggers cellular events associated with germination, such as hormone signalling. Here we propose that the spatiotemporal regulation of ROS production acts in concert with hormone signalling to regulate the cellular events involved in cell expansion associated with germination.

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Enhancement of rice and wheat seed germination and seedling vigor by biocontrol agent, Cladosporium cladosporioides

Research in Agriculture Livestock and Fisheries ◽

10.3329/ralf.v7i1.46826 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 7 (1) ◽

pp. 9-15

Author(s):

Md Touhidul Islam

Keyword(s):

Seed Germination ◽

Biocontrol Agent ◽

Germination Percentage ◽

Cladosporium Cladosporioides ◽

Germination Index ◽

Rice Seed ◽

Seedling Vigor ◽

Wheat Seed ◽

Mean Values ◽

Vigor Index

The biocontrol agent, Cladosporium cladosporioides, strain BOU1 was used to evaluate the rice and wheat plant growth by germination percentage, germination index, vigor index- I and vigor index-II in rice and wheat seed. All the variables of germination and seedling vigor of rice and wheat were increased by the conidial suspension of C. cladosporioides. The rice seed treated with C. cladosporioides had the highest germination index and vigor index-I with average mean values of 8.2 and 4.5, respectively; while the treated wheat seed showed the highest germination percentage and vigor index- II with average mean values of 80.3 and 0.05, respectively. The research is concluded that the biocontrol agent C. cladosporioides improves seed germination and seedling vigor of wheat and rice, which can finally be converted into superior yield even in adverse conditions. Res. Agric., Livest. Fish.7(1): 09-15, April 2020

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Folic acid – role in the body, recommendations and clinical significance

Pielegniarstwo XXI wieku / Nursing in the 21st Century ◽

10.2478/pielxxiw-2019-0007 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 18 (1) ◽

pp. 50-59 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Aneta Myszczyszyn ◽

Rafał Krajewski ◽

Monika Ostapów ◽

Lidia Hirnle

Keyword(s):

Folic Acid ◽

Biological Effects ◽

Folic Acid Supplementation ◽

The Body ◽

Leafy Vegetables ◽

Congenital Defects ◽

Natural Form ◽

Vitamin B9 ◽

Increased Risk

AbstractIntroduction. Folic acid is a compound classified as B group vitamins. In the body it is subject to processes that transfer its inactive form into a form responsible for biological effects of folic acid, i.e. 5-methyltetrahydrofolate (5-MTHF). It is, in particular, responsible for processes of the correct biosynthesis of purine and pyridine bases present in the formation of DNA and RNA molecules. Humans do not synthesize the endogenous form of folic acid; therefore, it is vital to supplement this vitamin in its natural form or multivitamin preparations. The most folic acid is found in the green leafy vegetables (spinach, peas, asparagus) and in offal (liver). An adequate supply of folic acid is especially indicated in pregnant women with a reduced amount of folic acid due to its use by an intensively developing foetus. The recommended dose of folic acid during this period is 0.4 mg/24h and this dose varies depending on the patient’s and her family’s medical history. The updated state of knowledge on the role of vitamin B9 in the body has been presented. The importance of its supplementation in specific clinical cases was analyzed.Summary. Many studies indicate an important role of the folic acid in the prevention of congenital defects of the nervous, cardiovascular and urogenital systems. Its deficiency increases the risk of complications in pregnancy, such as recurrent miscarriages, pre-eclampsia or postpartum haemorrhage. For this reason, a prophylactic folic acid supplementation is recommended, in women with increased risk of its deficiency, in particular.

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