Potassium Nitrate Treatment Is Associated with Modulation of Seed Water Uptake, Antioxidative Metabolism and Phytohormone Levels of Pea Seedlings

(1) Background: Seed treatment with potassium nitrate (KNO3) has been associated with dormancy breaking, improved germination and enhanced seedling growth and uniformity in a variety of plant species. However, the KNO3 effect seems to be dependent on plant species and treatment conditions. (2) Methods: We describe the effect of incubation of dry pea seeds with different KNO3 concentration on water uptake kinetic, early seedling growth, antioxidant metabolism and hormone profile in pea seedlings. (3) Results: Low (0.25 mM) KNO3 levels increased seedling water uptake and growth, whereas high (40 mM) levels decreased seedling growth. KNO3 treatment differentially affected the antioxidant defences. Low KNO3 levels maintained the activity of antioxidant enzymes, while high levels reduced the activity of H2O2-scavenging enzymes. KNO3 induced a progressive decline in ascorbate levels and reduced (GSH) and oxidised (GSSG) glutathione. Low KNO3 levels strongly increased GA1 and decreased ABA in both seedlings and cotyledons, resulting in a decline in the ABA/GAs ratio. (4) Conclusions: Pea seed treatment with a low KNO3 level promoted early seedling growth. In this process, an interaction among KNO3, antioxidant defences and ABA/GAs ratio is proposed.

Download Full-text

Relationships Between Fruits And Seed Sizes, Germination And Early Seedling Growth Of Some Edible Plant Species In Southeastern Nigerian Rainforest

Global Journal of Pure and Applied Sciences ◽

10.4314/gjpas.v15i2.45375 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 15 (2) ◽

Author(s):

MC Dike

Keyword(s):

Plant Species ◽

Seedling Growth ◽

Edible Plant ◽

Early Seedling Growth ◽

Early Seedling

Download Full-text

Putrescine Reduces NaCl-Induced Inhibition of Germination and Early Seedling Growth of Rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Functional Plant Biology ◽

10.1071/pp9880761 ◽

1988 ◽

Vol 15 (6) ◽

pp. 761 ◽

Cited By ~ 15

Author(s):

L Prakash ◽

G Prathapasenan

Keyword(s):

Salt Stress ◽

Water Uptake ◽

Seedling Growth ◽

Oryza Sativa L ◽

Chloride Ions ◽

Embryo Axis ◽

Nacl Solution ◽

Early Seedling Growth ◽

Early Seedling ◽

Germination And Growth

Changes induced by NaCl and putrescine during germination and early seedling growth of rice were examined for 120 h. Rates of germination and growth of embryo axis decreased when seeds were subjected to salt stress (100, 150 and 200 mM NaCl). NaCl at 150 mM concentration significantly reduced the water uptake of seeds and the rate of mobilisation of reserves. All concentrations of putrescine (0.001, 0.01, 0.1 and 1.0mM) applied exogenously to seeds increased the rate of germination and seedling growth when NaCl(150 mM) was also present and 0.01 mM putrescine gave maximum response. Addition of putrescine (0.01 mM) to NaCl solution (150 mM) reduced the net accumulation of sodium and chloride ions in seeds and increased their water uptake. Thus, putrescine can alleviate the adverse effects of NaCl during germination and early seedling growth of rice.

Download Full-text

Role of endophytes in early seedling growth of plants: a test using systemic fungicide seed treatment

Plant Physiology Reports ◽

10.1007/s40502-018-0404-6 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 24 (1) ◽

pp. 86-95 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

M. M. Vasanthakumari ◽

Jambagi Shridhar ◽

R. J. Madhura ◽

Mohanasundaram Nandhitha ◽

Chinnasamy Kasthuri ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Seedling Growth ◽

Seed Treatment ◽

Systemic Fungicide ◽

Early Seedling Growth ◽

Early Seedling

Download Full-text

Seed comas of bromeliads promote germination and early seedling growth by wick-like water uptake

Journal of Tropical Ecology ◽

10.1017/s0266467410000593 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 27 (1) ◽

pp. 115-119 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Stefan Wester ◽

Gerhard Zotz

Keyword(s):

Water Uptake ◽

Seedling Growth ◽

Rough Surfaces ◽

Tree Bark ◽

Wind Dispersal ◽

Early Seedling Growth ◽

Singular Functions ◽

Air Resistance ◽

Early Seedling ◽

Plant Families

The wind dispersal of a plant propagule is likely to be improved by any structure that increases air resistance, e.g. the pappus of the achene of Asteraceae, the wings of Acer or dipterocarp fruits, or the plumose seed appendage which is characteristic of species of the subfamily Tillandsioideae in the Bromeliaceae. Not surprisingly then, promotion of airworthiness is usually assumed to be the primary function of this so-called ‘coma’ found in epiphytic Werauhia, Tillandsia, Guzmania or Catopsis species (Benzing 1980, 2000). However, the diverse structure of coma hairs with bifurcate cross-walls or hooks also assists in sticking to rough surfaces, such as tree bark and rocks, which indicates another important function: keeping seeds in place until germination and the development of roots (Benzing 2000, Palací et al. 2004). Multiple rather than singular functions of seed plumes or pappi have also been shown for soil-rooted plants in other plant families, where these structures are not only highly efficient for wind dispersal, but also for attachment to animal fur (Couvreur et al. 2004).

Download Full-text