SEED

Hot water treatment of seeds to control seedborne pathogens is an important tool for organic seed production. Reducing seed moisture content may have the potential to increase carrot (Daucus carota L. var. sativus D.C.) seed tolerance to treatment. Two hot water seed treatment experiments were conducted. The first studied the effect of seed moisture content (SMC), treatment temperature and treatment duration on germination. Maximum safe treatment temperature and durations were established at 50°C and 30-40 min. Germination decreased slightly from 68% at 5% SMC to 63% at 20% SMC (LSD 1.2) for all durations. The second experiment studied the effect of initial SMC and treatment durations on infestation of seed by Alternaria radicina and seed germination. Treatment at 50°C for 30 min for all SMC compared to the control resulted in a decrease in A. radicina infestation from 69.2 to 1.7%. Reducing SMC from 20 to 5% for all durations resulted in a small decrease in infestation from 25% to ...

The study relates village seed systems to biological diversity of millet crops grown by farmers in the semi-arid lands of Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka, India. In these subsistence-oriented, semi-arid production systems the environment is marginal for crop growth and often there is no substitute for millet crops. Across communities, farmers grow 13 different combinations of pearl millet, sorghum, finger millet, little millet, and foxtail millet varieties, but individual farmers grow an average of only 2–3 millet varieties per season. The “village seed system” in this study refers to all channels through which farmers acquire genetic materials, separate from or in interaction with the commercial seed industry, observed at the local level. Data are compiled through household surveys and interviews with traders and dealers in village and district markets. Based on the concept of the seed lot, several seed system parameters are defined and measured by millet crop. Most seed transactions, including gifts of seed, appear to be monetized. Seed supply channels differ by improvement status of the genetic material. Regression results confirm that seed system parameters are statistically significant determinants of the spatial diversity of millet crops measured at the village level. Furthermore, both the trade through weekly village markets (shandies) and through the formal seed supply channel contribute positively to the breadth of genetic materials in these communities. Ways should be found to strengthen and improve the overall efficiency of the seed system, including both formal and informal channels, in order to reduce the costs to farmers of procuring and managing diverse crop varieties.

Seed accounts for a significant proportion of potato production cost and its quality cannot be compromised for profitable potato production. Potato is conventionally vegetatively propagated, has a low multiplication rate and requires many generations to bulk the requisite seed quantity often in open fields. During seed bulking, the crop is prone to degeneration leading to successive loss in yield as a result of viral, bacterial and fungal infections. To reduce this, there should be few open field seed bulking generations before the stock is used for ware potato production. Rapid bulking of seed potato has not been possible due to its inherent low multiplication rate. However, this can be partly overcome by tissue culture, micro-propagation and deployment of novel technologies such as aeroponics to produce mini-tubers. Consequently, aeroponic technology for rapid production of nuclear seed was tested in Uganda for adaption in different seasons and with different varieties to produce potato mini-tubers. Production of mini-tubers was affected by cropping seasons and potato varieties. Generally, however, the performance of local potato varieties in aeroponics is promising. More mini-tubers per plantlet were produced at low than high plantlet density, while more mini-tubers per unit area were produced at high than low plantlet density. Preliminary results indicated that aeroponics on average produces 8.5 times more mini-tubers than the conventional soil substrates. The technology has shown a high potential to break the seed potato bottle-neck in Uganda

Azadirachta indica A. Juss., or neem, is a multipurpose tropical tree belonging to the family Meliaceae. The species is of commercial importance, primarily due to its medicinal and biopesticidal properties. With this view studies were conducted to assess the biodiversity in neem for Azadirachtin in Gujarat as well as in other states of India. 

Three hundred and sixty seven seed samples collected from four different agro-ecological zones of Gujarat state of India were assessed for the azadirachtin content. These studies included a general survey on the region and on annual average variation in azadirachtin level in three consecutive years (2000, 2001, and 2002). More than hundred trees were selected for azadirachtin content in each year. Individual trees exhibited tremendous variation in their azadirachtin content and it ranged from 142 ppm to 9527 ppm (g/g of the kernel). The data was analysed by clustering the observations on the basis of agro-ecological zones, year of collection, and girth classes. Significant differences in mean azadirachtin content were observed in different zones as per ANOVA analysis at 5% level. Zone AER 5B recorded significantly higher azadirachtin contents as compared to other three zones. Highly significant results were also observed on collection year basis. Present investigations also revealed that average azadirachtin content is not significantly influenced by age of the tree.

Azadirachtin content in the seeds of neem collected from different regions of India was also studied. The concentration of azadirachtin varied from 200 to 16,000 ppm (mg/g of the seed kernel). Azadirachtin content was found to be affected by climate and habitat. Annual variation in azadirachtin content was significant. The highest azadirachtin content was recorded in the neem tree populations growing in the southern part of India.

The biofungicide Phitodoctor evaluation results for impact on alternaria
blight considering the potato varieties peculiarities during 2018 - 2019 in area of
Western Ukrainian Foreststeppe province were provided. The highest level of
technical efficiency was recorded on varieties Slovyanka and Chervona Ruta.
Biological fungicide Phitodoctor showed the protective action against potato
alternaria blight. The plantation’s spray was provided to decrease alternaria blight
from 63,9 - to 47,5 %.

Influence de la litière foliaire de cinq espèces végétales tropicales sur la croissance du mil (Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.) et du maïs (Zea mays L.) pour le développement (IRD), UR 179, Laboratoire d'écologie microbienne des sols et agrosystèmes tropicaux (Lemsat), Centre ISRA-IRD, Route des hydrocarbures, BP 1386 CP, Dakar, Sénégal <Mariama.Diallo@ird.sn> <Saidou.Sall@ird.sn> 2 Institut de recherche pour le développement, Laboratoire MOST, Unité de recherche séquestration du carbone et bio-fonctionnement des sols (UR SeqBio), Ensam, 2 place Viala, Bâtiment 12, 34060 Montpellier cedex 1, France <Jean-Luc.Chotte@mpl.ird.fr> 3 Institut de recherche pour le développement (IRD), Département de biologie végétale, Université Cheikh Anta Diop, BP 5005, Dakar, Sénégal <alguisse@orange.sn> Résumé L'objectif de ce travail a été d'évaluer l'influence de la litière de cinq espèces végétales fréquemment utilisées dans les plantations agroforestières en...

Two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (2D-PAGE) and mass spectrometry methods were established and utilized to examine the changes in protein expressions associated with post-germination of Hevea brasiliensis seed. No significant differences in the total number of proteins were observed but characteristic protein spots were present in both proteomes. The mature dry seed proteome contained clusters of proteins of about 36.5 and 23 kDa at pH 4-7 and a group of basic proteins at similar to pH 10. The presence of the 23 kDa proteins was markedly reduced in the post-germinated seed proteome. Approximately 60% of the proteins noted in the germinated seed proteome matched those of the mature dry seeds, with the remaining 40% protein spots as either unmatched or unique to the germinated seed proteome. Of the proteins detected, a putative beta-glucosidase, starch branching enzyme IIb and a MutT/nudix family of protein that were decreased in abundance in the germinated seed proteome and two proteins, acidic lectin and gibberellin 20-oxidase found unique to the mature dry seed proteome were identified by mass spectrometry. This report highlights the potential of using 2D-PAGE and mass spectrometry as means for identification of H. brasiliensis proteins and studying its seeds germination processes. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

The study investigated the effects of light and different media on the germination of the seeds of endangered medicinal plant Psoralea corylifolia and its growth. The fastest and highest percentage of seed germination was achieved using MS medium as compared to B5 medium and Whites medium. Germination of seeds of Psoralea corylifolia was enhanced under light conditions. 80% seed germination was observed 10th day after sowing. Best results were obtained on MS medium containing BAP (15 µM) with NAA (20.0 µM) and Kn (15.0 µM) for sub sequent growth of seedlings within six weeks, generating shoots (6.5 shoots per explants).

Reproductive structures of Frasnian (early Late Devonian) age from Wuhan, Hubei province, South China provide evidence for the early emergence of monomegaspory and integumentation in plants of non-progymnosperm afinity. Sphinxia wuhania gen. et sp. nov. pre-dates the occurrence of other reproductive structures exhibiting a similar suite of characters and adds support to the view that evolution towards an ovule may not have been a unique event. Sphinxia possesses a single functional megaspore with associated aborted members of the meiotic tetrad, a distinct, striated sporangial wall, and a sterile envelope bearing proximal spines. The morphology of the structure precludes assignment to any known group of plants in the absence of additional information regarding the parent plant. However, progymnospermous affinity is unlikely. Thus, Sphinxia demonstrates that the Devonian progymnosperms did not lack potential competition from similarly specialized reproductive strategies in other plant lineages.

Grape skin and seeds, produced by the winemaking industry, are increasingly used to obtain functional food ingredients. Grape seed is a better source of antioxidative constituents than skins of grape/wine byproducts. Functional ingredients of grape seed include several flavonoids with a phenolic nature such as monomeric flavanols, dimeric, trimeric, and polymeric procyanidins, and phenolic acids. The antioxidant activity of grape seed phenolic compounds is closely associated with activity against various types of cancer as well as cardiovascular and other dermal disorders. Grape seed has antioxidant, antiallergenic, antihistamine, anti-inflammatory and immune boosting properties and it helps the body against allergens and carcinogens. Grape seed extract is frequently recommended to combat macular degeneration, cataracts, and eyestrain. The present review article discusses the functional characteristics of grape pomace and their health benefits against several human diseases and diso...

Extraction of lectin from seeds ofCratylia mollis, camaratu bean, with reversed micelles of 100 mM sodium di(2-ethylhexyl) sulfosuccinate/isooctane was performed firstly with affinity-purified lectin. The best conditions were extraction of the seed extract at pH 5 and back-extraction at pH 10, giving yields of 38% and 100%, respectively.