Wettability and Water Uptake Improvement in Plasma-Treated Alfalfa Seeds

The cultivation of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.), a forage crop grown worldwide, is negatively affected by hard seed presence. We show that treatment of alfalfa seeds with an inductively coupled radio frequency oxygen plasma improves their surface hydrophilicity, as determined by water contact angle (WCA) measurements and water uptake. Furthermore, we see that these effects are mediated by functionalization and etching of the alfalfa seed surface. Surface chemistry is analyzed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), while morphology is viewed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Plasma produces effective alfalfa seed hydrophilization with a variety of treatment parameters. With its potential for fine-tuning, plasma modification of seed wettability shows promise for introduction into agricultural practice.

Seed Breaking Dormancy Technique and Growth of Screw Tree (Helicteres isora Linn.) seedlings

Screw tree is a shrub from family Malvaceae that has many benefits in pharmacy. Screw tree seed has very hard seed coat, so the seed must be treated before germination. The aim of this research was to assess the characteristic of fruit and seeds, effect of seed breaking dormancy, and effect of NPK fertilizer dosage on the growth of screw tree (Helicteres isora) seedlings. The results indicated that screw tree fruits belong to dry fruits with capsule form and has 5 follicles that has different direction. Screw tree seed is orthodox type that has 9 ̶ 36 seeds in one follicle with triangle and square shape. Germination technique in laboratory with soaking the seeds in hot water 100oC until the water cool for 48 hours treatment produced the best germination amounting to 65.0%. Germination technique in green house with soaking the seeds in hot water 100oC until the water cool for 24 hours treatment was the best germination amounting to 77.0%. Seedlings fertilized with 1 g NPK doses increased screw tree growth in diameter parameter of 6.35 mm and shoot-root ratio parameter of 3.9 compared to control.

Seed Breaking Dormancy Technique and Growth of Screw Tree (Helicteres isora Linn.) Seedlings

Screw tree is a shrub from family Malvaceae that has many benefits in pharmacy. Screw tree seed has very hard seed coat, so the seed must be treated before germination. The aim of this research was to assess the characteristic of fruit and seeds, effect of seed breaking dormancy, and effect of NPK fertilizer dosage on the growth of screw tree (Helicteres isora) seedlings. The results indicated that screw tree fruits belong to dry fruits with capsule form and has 5 follicles that has different direction. Screw tree seed is orthodox type that has 9 ̶ 36 seeds in one follicle with triangle and square shape. Germination technique in laboratory with soaking the seeds in hot water 100oC until the water cool for 48 hours treatment produced the best germination amounting to 65.0%. Germination technique in green house with soaking the seeds in hot water 100oC until the water cool for 24 hours treatment was the best germination amounting to 77.0%. Seedlings fertilized with 1 g NPK doses increased screw tree growth in diameter parameter of 6.35 mm and shoot-root ratio parameter of 3.9 compared to control.

Capacité germinative des graines et aptitude au bouturage des tiges, des racines tubéreuses de l’espèce Ampelocissus multistriata(Baker) Planch.

Cette étude s’inscrit dans le contexte de la valorisation des espèces végétales spontanées ayant des valeurs nutritives et économiques afin de contribuer à leur domestication. Cette étude a consisté à tester les capacités germinatives des graines de l’Ampelocissus multistriata par les procédés physiques, chimiques et mécaniques d’une part et tester l’aptitude au bouturage des tiges feuillées, des tiges feuillées avec des racines tubéreuses d’autre part. Pour cela, une surface de 400 m2 a été délimitée au sein de la Faculté des Sciences Exactes et Appliquées de l’Université de N’Djamena pour les deux tests. Par ailleurs, les procédés physiques, chimiques et mécaniques ont été menés à l’Université de Ouagadougou. Les résultats obtenus, ont montré que les tiges feuillées n’ont pas bouturé. Par contre, les tiges feuillées munies des racines tubéreuses ont bouturé à 73,23 %. En ce qui concerne la germination des graines, tous les procédés des traitements physiques, chimiques et mécaniques n’ont pas pu lever la dormance de ces graines. Leurs téguments, très durs, n’ont pas été scarifiés et cela n’a pas permis à l’eau et l’oxygène d’y entrer pour que les graines puissent germer. Seules, les graines ayant séjourné dans le tube digestif des animaux et qui ont été scarifiées par les enzymes intestinales et les sucs digestifs ont toutes germé. Il s’agit d’une endozoochorie. La connaissance des modalités de la propagation par les graines ou par les boutures peut apporter une importante contribution à la conservation de la diversité végétale, à la domestication et à la valorisation de cette plante. English title: Germinative capacity of seeds and aptitude for cutting of stems, tuberous roots of the species Ampelocissus multistriata (Baker) Planch This study is part of the context of valuing spontaneous plant species with nutritional and economic values in order to contribute to their domestication. This study consisted in testing the germination capacities of the seeds of Ampelocissus multistriata by physical, chemical and mechanical methods on the one hand and testing the aptitude for cuttings of leafy stems, leafy stems with tuberous roots on the other hand. For this, an area of 400 m2 has been defined within the Faculty of Exact and Applied Sciences of the University of N’Djamena for the two tests. In addition, the physical, chemical and mechanical processes were carried out at the University of Ouagadougou. The results obtained showed that the leafy stems did not cuttings. In contrast, the leafy stems with tuberous roots cut at 73.23%. Regarding seed germination, not all physical, chemical and mechanical treatment processes were able to break the dormancy of these seeds. Their very hard seed coats were not scarified, and this did not allow water and oxygen to enter them for the seeds to germinate. Only the seeds which have stayed in the digestive tract of animals and which have been scarified by intestinal enzymes and digestive juices have all germinated. It is an endozoochory. Knowing the methods of propagation by seeds or cuttings can make an important contribution to the conservation of plant diversity, to the domestication and enhancement of this plant.

Improving germination with pre-sowing technique on Caliandra calothyrsus Meissn

Red Calliandra (Caliandra colothyrus) is a high-quality energy wood raw material that can be produced rapidly. It’s ideal for making wood pellets. The need for wood pellets is on the increase globally. For the production of wood pellets continuity, sufficient materials were required, requiring the development of red calliandra cultivation. The long duration of the seed germination process due to the hard seed coat is an obstacle in the generative propagation of red calliandra. This study aimed to determine the best treatment for red calliandra dormancy breaking and simultaneous germination. A factorial fully randomized design (F-CRD) with two treatment factors was used in this study. The first factor is type of solution (P) with three levels consisting of: P1: soaking in water; P2 : immersion with MSG solution (12 grams/liter); P3 : immersion in young coconut water (100%). The second factor is the length of immersion time (T) with three levels consisting of: T1: soaking time for 8 hours; T2 : immersion time for 12 hours; T3 : immersion time for 16 hours. Each treatment consisted of 20 seeds, which were replicated three times for a total of 540 seeds. The initial day of germination, length of germination, percentage of germination, and germination rate index were all measured. The results showed that that the most optimal germination for red Calliandra found in the P1T1 treatment (soaking in water for 8 hours). It can be shown from all observed parameters

Effect of Seed Size and Different Pretreatment Methods on Germination of Albizia zygia (DC.) J. F. Macbr

Albizia zygia produces valuable timber which has received some level of prominence in the international market. However, the seeds are dormant, and the tree species remain undomesticated. This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of seed size and presowing on the germination of Albizia zygia in a nursery. Seeds were grouped into four categories in regard to their length, small (≤0.5 cm), medium (> 0.5 < 0.8 cm), large (≥0.8 cm), and mixture of small, medium, and large seeds. The seeds were subjected to five main seed pretreatment methods, namely, soaking in sulphuric acid (H2SO4) for 2 minutes, mechanical scarification, soaking in hot water for 5 minutes, soaking in cold water for 24 hours, and control where seeds were sown without any treatment. The results indicate that combination of mechanical scarification and large seeds produced the highest (100%) germination. Hot water treatment was effective in large seeds producing 69.0% germination. The increased germination for mechanically scarified seeds suggests that seed dormancy in Albizia zygia is mainly due to its hard seed coat. Therefore, it is recommended to farmers to adopt use of mechanical scarification and large seeds, since it is safe and effective.

Effect of Organic and Botanicals Priming on Seed Quality Parameter of Pigeonpea (Cajanuscajan (L.) Millspaugh)

Presence of hard seed coats and several seed borne pathogens hinder the normal seedling establishment in legumes. Earlier seed enhancement is mainly achieved though synthetics and growth regulators. To evaluate the effect of organics and botanicals on quality parameters of the seed an experiment was conducted in Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture, Technology and Sciences. Treatments in the experiment comprised of Panchagavya at 3%, 5% and 7% for 12 hrs., Beejamrutha at 5%, 7% and 9% for 12 hrs., Coconut water at 6% and 8% for 12hrs., Moringa leaf extract at 5% and 7% for 12hrs and Sea weed extract at 3% and 5% for 12hrs.Priming with the selected organics and botanicalsis found to enhance the quality parameters compared to untreated control. The treatment Panchagavya at 7% for duration of 12 hours was found to be superior compared to the other treatments in the study.

Effect of seed hydro-priming durations on germination and seedling growth of bitter gourd (Momordica charantia)

The yield and quality of an annual crop are highly dependent on uniform and rapid germination of the seeds. In case of bitter gourd (Momordica charantia), the germination and field emergence is always a problem as seeds have thick and hard seed coat. Pre-sowing hydro-priming is one of the most suitable, affordable, easily available, and cost-effective techniques in breaking down seed dormancy to enhance germination. Hence, a field experiment was conducted in Surkhet district of Nepal 2020 to assess the effect of different hydro-priming duration on germination and seedling growth of bitter gourd. The experiment was laid out in single factor Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with four replications and seven treatments including different hydro-priming durations (T0: control, T1: 6 hours, T2: 12 hours, T3: 18 hours, T4: 24 hours, T5: 36 hours and T6: 48 hours) of bitter gourd seeds of Palee variety, the most popular variety among the farmers. The highest water uptake and germination were found in 48 hours of seed hydro-primed seeds whereas the lowest water uptake and germination were observed on non-primed seeds. Similarly, the tallest seedling, most vigorous seedling in terms of seedling vigour index I and II was observed in 48 hours hydro-primed seeds followed by 36 hours of seed hydro-priming and shortest seedling and the least vigorous seedling in control. Thus 48 hours of seed hydro-priming was found to be effective for increasing germination and seedling growth in bitter gourd, which needs to be further investigated under large, open-field conditions with different varieties.

Kluwek Seed (Pangium edule Reinw) Germination Response to Soaking Time and Concentration of Gibberellin Acid (GA3)

Kluwek seeds (Pangium edule Reinw.) have a low germination percentage caused by dormancy due to hard seed coat. Kluwek seed germination takes about 1 month. The purpose of this study was to obtain a combination of treatments that were effective in increasing the percentage of kluwek seed germination and reducing the intensity of kluwek seed dormancy. This study used a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) factorial design. The first factor was immersion time (H) consisting of five levels, namely H0: Control (0 hour), H1: 6 hours, H2: 12 hours, H3: 18 hours, and H4: 24 hours and the second factor was giberellin concentration (G) with five levels namely G0: 0 ppm, G1: 25 ppm, G2: 50 ppm, G3: 75 ppm and G4: 100 ppm. Data analysis used Analysis of Variance (Anava) and further tested with Duncans' Multiple Range test (DMRT) at a significant level of 5%. The results obtained showed that the percentage of seed germination without immersion is 6.67%. Soaking using aquades produces an average germination percentage of 28.33%. The most effective treatment was GA3 75 ppm for 24 hours with seed germination of 60%, while the value of dormant intensity is 40%.Keywords: dormancy, germination, gibberellin, kluwek.