The effects of hydro- and osmopriming on the germination, vigour and hydrolytic enzymes activity of common zinnia (Zinnia elegans Jacq.) seeds

Abstract

Priming is one of the most common methods of improving seed quality. The aim of this experiment was to study the effects of hydro-and osmopriming on the germination, vigour and hydrolytic enzymes (α-amylase, β-glucosidase, exopeptidase and lipases) activity of zinnia (Zinnia elegans Jacq.) seeds. Seeds of three cultivars: Jowita, Kirke and Orys, and Z. elegans fl.pl., a mixture of cultivars (Mix), were tested. The seeds were hydroprimed in a restricted volume of water (200 µl H 2 O g -1 seed, 24 h at 15°C) and osmoprimed in a polyethylene glycol solution (-1.0 MPa PEG 8000, 5 days at 20°C). Untreated seeds served as the control. The cultivars differed significantly in terms of seed quality as well as response to priming. On average, 'Jowita' seeds were characterised by the highest quality, expressed by the total number of germinating seeds (G max ) and germination at the 1 st and 2 nd counts. Mix seeds showed the lowest quality, expressed by germination at the 1 st and 2 nd counts and vigour. Generally, an increase in α-amylase activity and a decrease in lipase activity was found in hydroprimed and osmoprimed seeds, and α-amylase activity was significantly higher in 'Jowita' seeds than Mix seeds. The applied treatments did not affect β-glucosidase and exopeptidase activity in the tested seeds. Osmopriming accelerated seed germination and influenced α-amylase and lipase activity to a greater extent than hydropriming. Among the assayed enzymes, only the activity of α-amylase may be potentially useful for the seed industry as a physiological marker of zinnia seed vigour and the effectiveness of osmopriming.

Effect of Seed Priming on Germination, Plant Growth and Flowering of Cockscomb (Celosia spp.) Under Prayagraj Agro Climatic Conditions

“…Such changes correlate ultra-structurally with an increase in chloroplast volume, swelling of grana thylakoids, and coagulation of the stroma resulted into increase in leaf number. Similar results were found by Szopinska et al [23] and Bahareh et al [24].…”

Enhancing Zinnia (Zinnia elegans Jacq.) Seed Quality through Microwaves Application

“…According to Maude [34], fungi of the genus Alternaria are usually associated with the seed surface or the outer layers of seeds. However, our previous research has shown [35] that both Alternaria spp. and Fusarium spp.…”

“…All lots of zinnia seeds may be contaminated with this pathogen in some years [personal observation]. High seed infestation with fungi, especially from genera Alternaria and Fusarium, can also negatively affect zinnia seed germination [4][5][6]. Synthetic chemicals are usually used against seed-borne fungi; however, most of them are not an option for organic growers.…”

FUNGI OCCURRED ON MARIGOLD (Tagetes L.) AND HARMFULNESS OF Fusarium SPECIES TO SELECTED CULTIVARS

“…Alternaria alternata, which is considered to be the pathogen of the leaf and flower spot of Tagetes spp., Z. elegans, Callistephus chinensis and Gerbera jamesonii [Chandel et al 2010, Nagrale et al 2012, Nawrocki 2013, Aktar and Shamsi 2014, proved to be the species frequently isolated from the marigold cultivated in analyzed locations of Lublin region. This fungus also colonized the sowing material of ornamental plants, including species of Asteraceae family [Wu et al 2001, Szopińska andTylkowska 2009]. Authors cited by Thomma [2003] suggest that endoglucanases, and exo-glucanases, are involved in A. alternata pathogenicity.…”