1. The effect of dietary probiotic supplementation on the growth, nitrogen utilisation and serum cholesterol content of broiler chickens was studied in 2 trials. 2. In experiment 1, the birds receiving the 0, 75, 100, 125 mg probiotic/kg diets had weight gains of 1204.0, 1272.0, 1268.3 and 1210.5, respectively at the end of 8 weeks of feeding. The group of birds fed on the 75 mg probiotic supplemented diet retained significantly (P < 0.01) more nitrogen than the control birds. Serum cholesterol content was lower in the probiotic-supplemented birds (93.3 mg/100 ml) compared to the control birds (132.2 mg/100 ml). 3. In the second experiment the probiotic plus antibiotic-supplemented group of birds had the maximum weight gain (1148.5 g) followed by antibiotic (1141.3 g), probiotic-supplemented (1128.4 g) and control birds (1045.6 g) after 6 weeks. Nitrogen retention was greatest in the antibiotic--(48.5%) followed by the probiotic--(46.5%), probiotic plus antibiotic-supplemented groups (46.3%) compared to 40.2% in control birds. 4. The apparent metabolisable energy was greatest in birds receiving the probiotic plus antibiotic-supplemented diet (12.37 MJ/kg) followed by antibiotic--(12.00 MJ/kg), probiotic-supplemented birds (11.92 MJ/kg) than in control birds (11.62 MJ/kg). Serum cholesterol was significantly (P < 0.01) lower in probiotic-supplemented birds (86.1 mg/dl) compared to 118.4 mg/dl in control birds.

1. The effect of probiotic supplementation on egg production, on serum and yolk cholesterol and on egg shell thickness in 24 White Leghorn layers was studied from 28-38 weeks of age. 2. In 3 treatments the diet was supplemented with 0, 100 and 150 mg probiotic/kg food. 3. In the 100 mg probiotic group, egg production improved by 5%, and shell thickness improved slightly, with fewer thin-shelled eggs than in the control (8.6% compared to 18.6%). 4. The initial serum cholesterol concentration of 170.2 mg/dl in control birds remained similar throughout the 10-week experimental period, whereas in the 150 mg group the initial value of 176.5 mg/dl decreased to 114.3 mg by week 10. 5. Yolk cholesterol concentration was 14.69 mg in the control group and 11.28 and 11.37 mg/g in the 100 and 150 mg probiotic groups respectively. Overall mean total egg cholesterol was thus reduced by probiotic supplementation.

Antioxidant is any substance that delays, prevents or removes oxidative damage to a target molecule. This includes compounds of a non-enzymatic as well as an enzymatic nature. Antioxidant enzymes e.g., superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, and glutathione reductase, which catalyze free radical quenching reaction. Nutrient-derived antioxidants like ascorbic acid (vitamin C), tocopherols and tocotrienols (vitamin E), carotenoids and other low molecular weight compounds such as glutathione and lipoic acid are involved in neutralizing free radicals. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) occur in tissues and cells and can damage DNA, proteins, carbohydrates and lipids. The ROS comprises both free radical (O2-, superoxide radicals; OH-, hydroxyl radical; HO2-, perhydroxy radical and RO-, alkoxy radicals) and non-radical (molecular) forms (H2O2, hydrogen peroxide and 1O2, singlet oxygen). These deleterious reactions are controlled in part by antioxidants that eliminate ROS and scavenge free radicals. Various abiotic stresses lead to the overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in plants which are highly reactive and toxic and cause damage to proteins, lipids, carbohydrates and DNA which ultimately results in oxidative stress. Seed priming methods have been used to increase germination characteristics under stress conditions. The beneficial effects of seed priming are associated with different physiological and biochemical changes.

Seed treatments are the biological, physical and chemical agents and techniques applied to seed to provide protection and improve the establishment of healthy crops. The benefits of seed treatments are increased germination, uniform seedling emergence, protect seeds or seedlings from early season diseases and insect pests improving crop emergence and its growth. Anthropogenic changes of the soil, water and atmosphere due to the use of different chemical additives for raising plants productivity led to searching alternative ways. Safe methods for increasing the yield includes the reasonable use of chemicals and substitution of some of them by appropriate physical treatments viz., magnetic field, gamma irradiation, electric field, laser irradiation, sound, healing energy, light and heat.Key words: Energy treatment, Germination, Seedling vigour, Seedling growth, Seed yield.Recently the use of physical methods for plant growth stimulation is getting more popular due to the less harmful influence on the environment. Physical factors can be used to get positive biological changes in crop plants without affecting the ecology. Growth, development and yield of dill seed is accelerated using physical treatment. All living processes are highly dependent on energy exchange between the cell and the environment. This is the core concept in "quantum agriculture" that has been intensively discussed in the last decades (www.btinternet.com). Energy treatment is an innovative area of research to improve the yield of crops. It initiates physiological and biochemical changes, which reflect the plant growth and development processes and ultimately improve the yield and quality of produce. Treatment led to change of seed vitality indices (germinating energy, germination, and uniformity of germination): In this paper, different types of energy treatments viz., magnetic field, gamma irradiation, electric field, laser irradiation, sound energy, healing energy, light and heat energy on germination, seed yield and quality of agriculture and horticulture crops. MECHANISM INVOLVED IN ENERGY TREATMENTPhysical factors import different kind of energy into the cells. It is a kind of energy treatment that stimulates the enzymes and other biochemical reactions that helps in early germination. Imported energy is absorbed by the electrons in different molecules. The absorbed energy may be transformed in another kind of energy (most probably chemical one) and then used for accelerating the seed metabolism. It helps to elucidate the mechanisms of energy exchange in molecules and thus stimulation of plant development. In the case of chemical amelioration the necessary substances are directly inserted into the cell. Whereas in the physical treatment, energy introduced in the cell creates conditions for molecular transformations. Magnetic field energy:Application of magnetic fields of extremely low frequencies positively affects seed germination, shoot development, plant length, fresh weight, fruit production and mean fruit weight (Cakmak et al.,...

Smoke is an important factor involved in fire and post fire germination cues. The role of smoke in stimulating germination was first highlighted in South Africa in a study on Audouinia capitata, a threatened fynbos species. Farmers throughout the world have traditionally used fire and smoke in grain drying practices. It is thought that these methods improve germination and seedling vigor. Smoke has been applied in agriculture mainly by two ways viz., Aerosol method and Smoke water method. In aerosol method, seeds were directly exposed to smoke generated from burning plant material. Smoke-water is one of the most convenient means of application. The biologically active compounds present in smoke readily dissolve in water and when this smoke-extract is used as a diluted solution, treated seeds of many species show a marked improvement in germination. The main active germination compound of smoke-water derived from burned plant materials and cellulose has been identified as butenolide [3-methyl-2H-furo (2, 3-c) pyran-2-one], which is effective at very low concentrations (1 ppb). The compound has recently been referred to as "karrikinolide". Following the initial isolation of KAR1, a whole new family of plant growth regulators, termed 'karrikins', were identified in smoke and several related compounds have been synthesized. It is estimated that between 2 and 5 g of KAR1 is more than sufficient for 1 ha of land application rates that are commercially viable. Application of smoke in various agricultural, horticultural forage and forestry crops had found that smoke acted as a cue for breaking seeds of dormancy, improve seed germination, seedling growth, flowering, plant biomass of different plant families, Invitro plantlet regeneration and pathogen control (Anti-microbial properties).

Seed is a fertilized mature ovule, which possesses an embryonic plant. When the dry, mature seeds are subjected to imbibition, they release a wide range of organic substances, which include low molecular weight carbonyl compounds (gases and volatiles) and water-soluble organic substances (enzymes and polysaccharides). The volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are molecules of low molecular weight (300 g mol−1) and high vapour pressure (0.01 kPa at 20°C) and include diverse chemical compounds. The nature and emission kinetics of volatiles produced from seeds vary, depending on the moisture content of the seeds. Orthodox seeds stored at ‘low seed moisture content’ undergo seed deterioration, predominantly due to lipid peroxidation, initiated by autoxidation or enzymatic oxidation of unsaturated or polyunsaturated fatty acids. This peroxidation leads to emission of volatile compounds. The quantity of VOCs emitted is positively correlated with the advancement of seed deterioration. With respect to the seed germination process, exposure of seeds to ‘high moisture conditions’ leads to increased respiration, triggers glycolysis and mobilization of storage reserves, resulting in the emission of volatile metabolic products. The quantity of VOCs emitted on commencement of metabolic activity in germinating seeds depends on (1) vigour status and (2) amount of storage reserves. Since it has been established that there is a significant difference between high and low vigour seeds with respect to quantity and profile of VOCs emitted, there is great potential for utilizing the VOC profile to obtain a quick and reproducible test of vigour status of crop seeds. In order to harness the VOC profile for quick assessment of vigour status of seeds, research has to be taken up to develop standard protocols for fingerprinting of VOCs for the purpose of seed vigour assessment and to fix the standard volatile biomarker(s) specific to crop and vigour status of seeds.

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