Evaluation of the effects of homeopathic medicines on the seed germination of Brassica oleracea L. var. italica

Background: Aiming to increase the productivity and achieve production levels that meet the market demands, agriculture makes use of pesticides and fertilizers. Fertilizers are natural or artificial substances that contain chemical elements and physical proprieties that enhance plant growth and productivity [1]. However, the addition of fertilizers has generated environmental impacts that jeopardize the sustainability of agricultural ecosystems in the medium and long term [2]. Fertilizers are associated with eutrophication of rivers and lakes [2], soil erosion [3], among others. The organic agriculture is an alternative for the use of additives, which aims to enhance the efficient use of nonrenewable natural resources, and utilization of renewable natural resources and biological processes aligned to biodiversity, the environment, economic development and quality of human life [4]. The use of homeopathy for the cultivation of plants is into the organic agriculture. Homeopathic medicines can lead to greater plant growth, the elimination of pests and soil enrichment, without presenting environmental impacts, or damage to the consumer or for the handler. Aim: The objective of this study is to find on the homeopathic medicine an alternative method for the use of fertilizers in order to increase the germination of broccoli (Brassica oleracea L. var. Italica. Methodology: Seeds of broccoli will be treated with homeopathic medicines for phosphorus and gibberelic acid in the following method and scale 6cH, 30cH and 200cH, according with the 3rd edition of the Brazilian Homeopathic Pharmacopoeia. These seeds will be cultured on Petri dishes in a MS medium. The dilution and the agitation water on the same high dilutions above, are used as a growth control, in the same way, gibberelic acid, a hormone, widely used commercially as a fertilizer, is also used as control. The applications will be made six days a week. It will be conducted a seedlings count since the first days of germination and also will be measured the germination velocity and the hypocotyl and primary roots lengths. Results: A quickly, regular and more complete germination is expected when used homeopathic drugs. Rather than use substances harmful to human health, such as fertilizers but gaining it´s same efficiency with a less aggressive results for the plant and for who will eat it or work with agriculture [5-8]. Support: authors declare that this study received no funding Conflict of interest: authors declare there is no conflict of interest Correspondente author: Marina das Neves Gomes, [email protected] REFERENCE [1] EMBRAPA. Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa Agropecuária. Glossário, 2011. Disponível em: . Acessado em: 01 de março de 2012. [2] IBGE - Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística. Indicadores de desenvolvimento sustentável, 2010. Disponível: .Acessado:01/3/12 [3] IBGE - Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística. Perfil dos municípios brasileiros - meio ambiente, 2002. Disponível em: . Acessado em: 01 de março de 2012. [4] SEBRAE - Serviço Brasileiro de Apoio às Micro e Pequenas Empresas. 2011. O que é agricultura orgânica. Disponível em: . Acessado em: 05/03/12. [5] BAUMGARTNERA, S.; THURNEYSENA, A.; HEUSSERA, P. Growth Stimulation of Dwarf Peas (Pisum sativum L.) through Homeopathic Potencies of Plant Growth Substances. Forsch Komplementärmed Klass Naturheilkd, v. 11, p. 281 – 292. 2004. [6] BONATO, C. M.; SILVA, E. P. Effect of the homeopathic solution Sulphur on the growth and productivity of radish. Acta Scientiarum. Agronomy Maringá, v. 25 (2), p. 259 - 263, 2003. [7] BONATO, C. M.; PROENÇA, G. T.; REIS, B. Homeopathic drugs Arsenicum album and Sulphur affect the growth and essential oil content in mint (Mentha arvensis L.). Acta Scientiarum. Agronomy, v. 31 (1), p. 101-105, 2009. [8] LASTA, J. P. Preparados homeopáticos na germinação de sementes de feijão (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) submetidas ao teste de envelhecimento acelerado. 2010. Dissertação - Universidade Comunitária da Região de Chapecó. Chapecó – Santa Catarina, 2010.

Impact of Gibberellic Acid (GA3) on Growth, Yield and Nodulation on Two Accessions of Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp)

Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) is one of the most ancient crops known to man and is grown across various climatic zones, most commonly in the dry savanna regions of sub-Saharan Africa. The objective of this work was therefore to investigate the impact of Gibberelic acid on the growth and yield of cowpea. Field experiments was conducted during the 2019 rainy season at the Botanical Garden of Federal University of Lafia. The cowpea accessions were submerged into various concentrations of GA3 (90mg/L, 120mg/L, and 150mg/L). The results showed varying response of the accessions in varying GA3 concentrations. Both Accessions (TVU-1 and TVU-4) recorded no significant difference across all treatments in the number of flowers. In TVU-1 accession, the least concentration, 90mg/L recorded the highest number of flowers (0.22) at 12(WAP); while in TVU-4, the seeds exposed to the highest concentration recorded the highest number of flowers. Similar result was observed in the number of pods of both accessions (TVU-1 and TVU-4) were there was no significant difference (P≤0.5) recorded. There was increase in the number of root nodules with increased in the growth hormone concentrations as treatment 150mg/L showed the highest number of root nodules in both accessions; even though no significant difference was recorded. It is therefore recommended that different accessions at different concentrations of gibberelic acid be tired to see their responses.

Concentration-dependent stimulating and toxic effects of ZrS3 and TiS3 nanoribbons on forest woody plants in tissue culture in vitro

Nanotechnology has a great potential for application in applied biotechnology. Here we demonstrate the effectiveness of synthesized by direct reaction ZrS3 and TiS3 nanoribbons as sterilizing agents, growth stimulators and activators of rhizogenesis of micro-sprouts of tree crops during clonal micropropagation. At the initiation stage at 6 and 15 μg/L ZrS3 and 3, 6 and 15 μg/L TiS3, complete sterility of shoots of brittle willow, red oak and Scots pine was noted. The maximum survival rate and seedling height at this stage was in the groups of 1.5 μg/L ZrS3 and 3 μg/L TiS3. An increase in the concentration of nanomaterials to 15 μg/L significantly reduced the viability of plants. At the proliferation stage the concentration of nanomaterials 1.5 and 3 μg/L increased the survival rate of regenerants, and at 3 μg/L with the phytohormones (benzylaminopurine, indoleacetic acid, gibberelic acid) the number of additional shoots increased. At the rooting stage ZrS3 and TiS3 at doses of 1.5 and 3 μg/L with auxin activated rhizogenesis, significantly increasing the number of seedlings with roots in comparison with the variants where only auxin were used. This effects can be associated both with the direct action of nanoribbons and with the release of hydrogen sulfide as a result of aqueous hydrolysis of nanoribbons, since H2S plays an important role in the regulation of plant physiological processes.

MICROCLONAL PROPAGATION OF SPIRAEA JAPONICA FOR LANDSCAPING

Japanese spiraea (Spiraea japonica) is an ornamental shrub widely used in landscaping. The method of clonal micropropagation of Spiraea japonica was optimized to obtain a large number of plants from several shoots. The optimal concentrations of hormones have been established to increase multiplication and root formation. QL medium with 0,5 mg/l benzyl aminopurine (BAP) in combination with 1,0 mg/l gibberelic acid (GA); 0,01 and 1,0 mg/l indolyl butyric acid (IBA); 1,0 mg/l of naphthyl acetic acid (NAA) were tested for multiplication. For root induction, naphthyl acetic acid (NAA) was used in five doses at half the concentration of QL and MS medium. The highest multiplication of shoots (14,02±1,39) and the highest increase in shoot length (6,39) was obtained on QL medium supplemented with 0,5 mg/l BAP; 1,0 mg/l GA and IBA 0,01 mg/l. The highest rooting (100%), the maximum number of roots (6,20±0,63), the length of the longest root (4,60±0,02) was observed on ½ QL medium containing 0,1 mg/l NAA. In conclusion, for Spiraea japonica, an efficient high speed and rooting protocol is described that can be used in mass propagation.

Propagation in the Conditions of In Vitro of Fruit and Berry Cultures for Conservation and Restoration Ancient Forms of Plants

Micropropagation of ancient plant forms and their accelerated replication for the purpose of creation of a basis of selection of fruit and berry cultures is a relevant task. For development of selection of fruit and berry cultures in the conditions of northern Kazakhstan, and for gardening improvement, local forms of plants are entered into the culture of in vitro. Test tube plants of cherry, currant, apricot are received. Various options of the MS environment with addition of the gibberelic acid (GA) in combination with the ascorbic acid (AA) are optimized. It is revealed that addition of gibberelic acid and ascorbic acid in concentration of 3 mg/l is more effective for propagation of blackcurrant.

MAGNETIC FIELD AND GIBBERELIC ACID AS PRE-GERMINATION TREATMENTS OF PASSION FRUIT SEEDS

<p>The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of pre-germination treatments (magneto-priming and immersion of seeds in gibberellic acid solution) on variables associated with germination, emergence and vigor of Passiflora edulis seeds ‘BRS Gigante Amarelo’ cultivar. Seeds were extracted from fruits, washed, immersed for 6 hours in solutions with different GA3 concentrations and later arranged in a circular form in Petri dishes at temperature of 25°C, with and without exposure to magnetic field. Subsequently, analyses associated with the germination and emergency test were carried out. The experimental design was completely randomized design, with 3x2 factorial, three GA3 concentrations (0, 50 and 100 mg L-1) and presence/absence of magnetic field (MF), with four replicates of 20 seeds each. Variables germination percentage, germination speed index, mean germination time, percentage of emerged seedlings, emergence speed index, shoot length and root length and seedling dry weight were evaluated. Results indicate that the exposure of passion fruit seeds to MF in an isolated way stimulates seed germination, emergence and vigor, being an alternative to conventional treatments based on chemical substances.</p>

Non rhizobial endophytic bacteria from chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) tissues and their antagonistic traits

Bacteria that colonize plant tissues other than rhizobia and are beneficial for plant growth referred to non rhizobial plant growth-promoting endophytic bacteria (PGPEB). This study was designed to assay the biocontrol activity of plant growth promoting endophytic bacterial isolates those found positive for P. solubilization, ACC deaminase, Indole acetic acid and Gibberelic acid production. These bacterial isolates were obtained from chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) tissues (roots and nodules). In a previous study a total of 263 non rhizobial endophytic bacterial isolates were isolated. Out of 263 isolates, 64.5% and 34.5% were Gram positive and negative, respectively. Further for biochemical characterization, catalase, oxidase, citrate utilization, nitrate reduction, methyl red and Voges Proskauer’s tests, were performed. On the basis of P solubilization, ACC deaminase, Indole acetic acid and Gibberelic acid production 75 potential isolates were selected and screened for their biocontrol activity viz. (production of cell wall degrading enzymes, production of HCN and fluorescent pigment). Out of 75 isolates, only 29 isolates produced cellulase, 64 isolates were able to produce protease and 28 were positive for both cellulose and protease. Of 75 endophytic isolates 12 isolates (7 from root tissue and 5 from nodules tissue, respectively) were positive for HCN production and 16 isolates were found to be fluorescent pigment producer under µv ligh. As chemical fertilizers and pesticides have detrimental effects on the environment. So these bacterial endophytic isolates will be used not only as a biofertilizer because of their plant growth promotional activities but also used as an alternative of synthetic chemicals for control of several plant diseases.