Herbicidal potential of Aerva javanica to control wild oat in wheat crop

We investigated the phytotoxicity of desert cotton (Aerva javanica) extracts on wild oat and wheat. Aqueous extracts from A. javanica roots, leaves and inflorescences collected from Jeddah and Al-Baha regions, Saudi Arabia were used. Generally, the allelopathic potential of water extracts of A. javanica collected from Jeddah were more in inhibitory to wild oat germination and seedlings growth than those from Al-Baha. In both regions, root extracts were inhibitory to wild oat followed by leaves and inflorescences extracts. All test aqueous extracts of both regions did not inhibit the wheat germination or seedlings growth.Whreas, the wild oat germination was reduced by root extracts 58.62 %, 28.62 % leaves extracts : 32.72 %, 17.72 % and inflorescences extract 28.11 %, 12.13 % by in plants samples collected from Jeddah and Al-Baha, respectively. Wild oat radical length was inhibited by root extracts 53.27 %, 32.84 % leaves 42.35 %, 9.63 % and inflorescences extracts 22.64 %, 16.75 % in case of Jeddah and Al-Baha plants, respectively. In pot culture experiment, all treatments markedly reduced the plant dry weight and soluble carbohydrates, proteins and free amino acids contents in wild oat. The differences in the allelopathic potentials of studied A. javanica extracts were related to the qualitative variations in their phytochemicals constituents. Our results showed that A. javanica extracts could be safely used to control wild oat growth in wheat fields after more detsaled research..

Screening of Black Gram (Vigna Mungo L. Hepper) Varieties for Tolerance to Salinity

Salinity is one of the most important abiotic stress that affects the yield in most of the crops under cultivation. The area under black gram (Vigna mungo L. Hepper) is decreasing in recent years due to soil salinity problem. Thirteen black gram genotypes viz., VBN1, VBN2, VBN3, VBN(Bg) 4, VBN(Bg ) 5, VBN(Bg) 6, VBN 7 and VBN 8, VBG 12-034, VBG 12-062, VBG 12-110, VBG 12-111, VBG 13-003 and VBG 14-016 were screened under three EC level (4.0 EC, 11.0 EC and 16.0 EC) and compared with 0.0 EC (control). The mean germination percentage of all the thirteen genotypes studied illustrated reduced level of germination percentage with increasing salinity level. At the highest salinity level (16.0 EC) the germination percentage was significantly affected compared to 4.0 EC and 11.0 EC. The grand mean of plumule length was more at 4.0 EC and was reduced to half (16.0 EC) as compared to control. The root grew longer at 11.0 EC (4.91 cm) as compared to 4.0 EC (4.83 cm) and 0.0 EC (3.02 cm), where ever showed drastic reduction at 16.0 EC (1.92 cm). The grand mean value of dry matter weight increased concomitantly with salinity. The radical length had positive and significant correlation with dry matter weight at 11.0 EC (0.657) where as positive and non-significant correlation with 4.0 and 16.0 EC suggested that radicle length is the most useful parameter to select salinity tolerant black gram genotypes. Based on grand mean performance of the thirteen genotypes evaluated, the genotype VBG-14-016 followed by Vamban 4, Vamban 8 and VBG-12-062 outperformed than all other genotypes, while VBG-13-003 was highly susceptible followed by VBG-12-034.

Germination and seedling growth of rice (Oryza sativa L.) as affected by varying concentrations of loom-dye effluent

Indiscriminate discharge of industrial effluent has become a serious problem for the agro-ecological environment in most of the areas of Bangladesh. The effects of loom-dye effluents on seed germination and early seedling growth of rice (Oryza sativa L.) were investigated by conducting an experiment in the laboratory of the Department of Agricultural Chemistry of Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh. Three types of loom-dye effluents were applied in sterilized petridishes at different loading ratios. Seven treatments (i.e., T0, T1, T2, T3, T4, T5 and T6 with 0, 5, 10, 25, 50, 75 and 100% effluent, respectively) of each effluent were used following completely randomized design (CRD) and replicated three times. Subsequently, Pb, Fe, Zn, Mn and Cr accumulation were also investigated in the harvested rice seedlings. Rice seed showed a significant difference in germination percentage with varying levels of effluent application at different days after setting of germination. The decreased seed germination rate and seedling growth of rice were observed with increased concentration of loom-dye effluents. The highest germination speed (97.8%) was obtained from control whereas the lowest germination speeds were obtained from T5 of black, and T6 of both black and violet effluents. Phytotoxic effects of loom-dye effluents on germination and radical length were extreme at 100% effluent concentration having the order of black > violet > pink. The maximum radical length (6.4 cm) and plumule length (7.5 cm) were observed with T1 of pink dye effluent whereas the minimum length of radical and plumule were obtained from T6 treatment of the effluents. The highest fresh weight (39.8 mg petridish–1), dry weight (5.7 mg petridish–1) and seedling vigor index (746.7%) were also observed from T1 of pink dye effluent. The maximum uptake of Pb, Fe, Mn and Zn was 0.48, 3.81, 0.79 and 0.13 μg g−1, respectively. The uptake of Cr was below the detectable limit. Total heavy metal accumulation in rice was in the following order: Fe>Mn>Pb>Zn>Cr. Results showed that the higher concentration of loom-dye effluent showed the higher toxic effects on different parameters of germination and early seedling growth compared with the lower effluent concentrations. J. Bangladesh Agril. Univ. 17(2): 153–160, June 2019

Comparing between Germination Percentage in Moringa peregrina and Moringa oleifera under Laboratory Conditions

This study was carried out in February 2019 at the laboratory; Department of Biology, College of Taymaa, Tabuk University. The numbers of germinated seeds were recorded daily after Soaking for two days during 10th, 15th, 20th, 25th and 30th days and final percentage calculated at the end of germination period. Germination percentage, radical length and vigor index values were calculated for the two studied species. The two species (S) under study, days of germination (D) and interaction between them showed highly significant (P < 0.01) for seed germination. Despite germination percentages being slightly higher at the 10th day and 15th day for M. oleifera than M. peregrina, the germination percentages recorded higher values at the 20th, 25th and 30th days for M. peregrina than M. oleifera. The highest seed germinated number recorded at 20th day and 15th day for M. peregrina and M. oleifera, respectively with significant differences between the numbers of germinated seed in two species. Generally, germination %, radical length and vigor index of M. peregrina recorded a higher value compared to M. oleifera. A total value of germination percentage (80.33% and 65.33%) was recorded for M. peregrina and M. oleifera seed after 20 days from germinating time, respectively.

Use of a germination bioassay to test compost maturity in Tekelan Village

Livestock waste from cattle farms in Tekelan village, Getasan Subdistrict, Semarang Regency can be grouped into three types, namely solid waste, slurry and waste water. Solid waste (cow dung) was processed into compost, while slurry and waste water were used to make liquid fertilizer. This compost was used as a component of planting media in horticultural crops and potted plants production. We evaluated the toxicity (phytochemical and ecotoxicological) test of compost by using germination index (GI). Vigna radiata seeds are sown on filter paper dampened with compost extract for different times. GI was calculated by relative germination (G) and relative radical length (L). The germination index (GI) = G / G0 x L / L0 x 100, where G0 and L0 are values obtained by distilled water as a control. The results showed that germination bioassay and radical length using aquades and groundwater in Tekelan village did not affect the radical length of Vigna radiata . Technically, groundwater in Tekelan village can be used as a germination bioassay control. The cow dung compost substrate appears to have a major influence on compost toxicity. Mature compost was produced on day 14 with a GI of 104.03.

Alkalinity and salinity tolerance during seed germination and early seedling stages of three alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) cultivars

The germination of halophytes in saline-alkali substrates is a useful criterion for selection tolerant alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) cultivars. The experimental conditions consisted of five levels of salinity (24, 48, 72, 96 and 120 mM) and four pH levels (7, 8, 9 and 10). The results showed that under saline conditions, the germination percentage (Gp), plumule length (Pl) and radical length (Rl) also decreased with increasing concentration. However, under low or moderate saline conditions, Pl and fresh weight decreased sharply but Rl was the longest at 48 and 72 mM and pH 7.1, which indicated that low salinity may promote radical growth appreciably. Salinity and alkalinity stresses had synergetic effects on Gp, Ge and Gi but not on Pl, Rl and fresh weight. The results confirmed Gp, Gi and Ge are important indices for assessing germinated energy of alfalfa in salinity-alkalinity soils. Moreover, three alfalfa cultivars tested were relatively tolerant of salinity and alkalinity and Stockpile was the most tolerant cultivar in the present experiment.

Smoke originating from different plants has various effects on germination and seedling growth of species in Fescue Prairie

Little is known about how smoke, an important germination cue, influences seed regeneration of species in Fescue Prairies. Whether germination and seedling growth responses vary with smoke produced from different materials is still ambiguous. In this study, seeds of four forbs from a Fescue Prairie were primed in serial dilutions of aqueous smoke solutions produced from alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.), prairie hay (Festuca hallii (Vasey) Piper), and wheat straw (Triticum aestivum L.), and incubated at 10–0 °C or 25–15 °C in a 12 h light – 12 h dark cycle or 24 h darkness for 49 d. Nonprimed seeds and those primed in distilled water were used as controls. Germination and radical length of Conyza canadensis (L.) Cronquist increased after priming in concentrated smoke-solutions derived from alfalfa, but decreased after priming in the same concentrated smoke solutions made from prairie hay and wheat straw at 25–15 °C in 24 h darkness. Smoke substituted for light improved germination of Artemisia ludoviciana Nutt. Our results indicate that the effect of smoke on seed germination and seedling growth was temperature- and light-dependent. It appears that smoke produced from alfalfa had different compounds that, in turn, had different germination and seedling growth responses as compared with the smoke produced from prairie hay and wheat straw.

EFFECT OF SOWING BY DIFFERENT SEEDING RATES ON QUALITATIV TTIATS OF FOUR WHEAT (Triticum aestivum L.) CULTIVAR SEEDS

This experiment was carried out at laboratories of Agriculture and Marshes College , University of Thi-Qar and at laboratories of agriculture college , university of Basra during 2013 - 2014 . The aim of this study was to identify the effect of the different seeding rates (80,100,120 and 140 kg.ha-1) on viability and quality characters of four wheat cultivars ( Abu-Ghraib, IPA – 99 , Al-fatih and Al-Iraq ) seeds . Factorial experiments in CRD was used with four replication in two factors . The results showed that there were significant differences between two factors of study and their interaction. The seeds produced from seeding rate 80 kg.ha-1 gave the higher averages of field emergence , standard germination , radical length , seedling dry weight and protein percentage ( 81.18 % , 91.03 % , 7.92 cm , 5.23 gm and 13.71 % ), respectively . The seeds produced from seeding rate 100 kg.ha-1 gave the higher averages of first count test and plumule length ( 74.35 % and 6.45 cm ), respectively . The seeds produced from seeding rate 120 kg.ha-1 gave the higher averages of carbohydrate percentage (61.27) . Al-Iraq seeds gave the higher averages of field emergence , first count test , standard germination , radical length , plumule length , seedling dry weight and carbohydrate percentage ( 86.23% , 72.68 % , 93.22% , 8.51 cm , 6.88 cm , 5.83 gm and 61.65% ) , respectively. Abu-Ghraib seeds gave the higher averages of protein percentage (13.94 ). Al-Iraq seeds produced from seeding rate 80 kg.ha-1 gave the higher averages of field emergence , radical length and seedling dry weight ( 89.14% , 8.87 cm and 6.65 gm ), respectively . Al-Iraq seeds that product from seed rate 100 kg.ha-1 gave the higher averages of first count test , standard germination and plumule length ( 79.00% , 95.98% and 7.83 cm ), respectively . Al-Iraq seeds that product from seed rate 120 kg.ha-1 gave the higher averages of carbohydrate percentage ( 61.92% ). Abu-Ghraib seeds that product from seed rate 100 kg.ha-1 gave the higher average of protein percentage(14.25).

Effect of different priming methods in rice (Oryza sativa)

Good germination of rice is considered critical for the plant life cycle. A laboratory experiment was conducted in IAAS, Lamjung campus, Sundarbazar to study the effect of different priming methods in rice. The experiment was done in completely randomized design using 12 treatments replicated thrice. The treatments consisted; Control (No priming), Hydro priming (soaking of seeds in distilled water for 72 hrs), PEG6000 - 5% and 10%, CaCl2 – 0.5% and 1%, KCl – 2% and 4%, KNO3 – 1% and 2% and NaCl – 1.8% and 3.6% where seeds were soaked for 12 hours followed by 12 hours drying. Both hydro priming and PEG improved germination energy, germination index, germination speed, radical length, and plumule length. The effect due to varied doses were not observed in the priming substances except PEG 6000, where PEG6000 – 5% was better as compared to PEG – 10% in overall observations.