Low temperatures during germination inhibit seed growth,lead to small and weak seedlings,and significantly reduce the wheat yield.Alleviating the adverse effects of low temperature on wheat seed germination is highly ...Low temperatures during germination inhibit seed growth,lead to small and weak seedlings,and significantly reduce the wheat yield.Alleviating the adverse effects of low temperature on wheat seed germination is highly important for achieving high and stable wheat yields.In this study,Tongmai 6(insensitive)and Zhengmai 113(sensitive),which have different low-temperature sensitivities during germination were treated with low temperature during germination.The transcriptome,metabolome and physiological data revealed that low temperature decreased the germination rate,downregulated the expression of a large number of genes involved in regulating glycometabolism,and inhibited carbon,nitrogen(especially amino acids)and energy metabolism in the seeds.Arginine content increased at low temperature,and its increase in the low-temperature-tolerant variety was significantly greater than that in the sensitive variety.Arginine priming experiment showed that treatment with an appropriate concentration of arginine improved the seed germination rate.The conversion of starch to soluble sugar significantly increased under exogenous arginine conditions,the content of key metabolites in energy metabolism increased,and the utilization of ATP in the seeds increased.Taken together,arginine priming increased seed germination at low temperature by relieving inhibition of seed carbon and nitrogen metabolism and improving seed energy metabolism.展开更多
Seed germination is a complex trait regulated by multiple genes in rice.However,the regulators of rice seed germination have yet to be sufficiently determined.Here,a quantitative trait locus(QTL)for rice seed germinat...Seed germination is a complex trait regulated by multiple genes in rice.However,the regulators of rice seed germination have yet to be sufficiently determined.Here,a quantitative trait locus(QTL)for rice seed germination was identified in a genome-wide association study.The candidate gene JASMONATE ZIM-DOMAIN 5(OsJAZ5)of the QTL was verified that positively regulates seed germination.OsJAZ5 regulation of seed germination involves an OsABI3-mediated abscisic acid pathway.Overexpression of OsJAZ5 facilitated seed germination.The application of OsJAZ5 might be useful for increasing seed germination for rice direct seeding.展开更多
It provides a theoretical basis for the artificial promotion of the reproduction and regeneration of Liriodendron chinense through exploring the effects of light intensity and seeding density on the seed germination a...It provides a theoretical basis for the artificial promotion of the reproduction and regeneration of Liriodendron chinense through exploring the effects of light intensity and seeding density on the seed germination and seedling growth of this rare plant. Controlled experiments were conducted by setting different seeding densities and shading intensities to observe and detect the seed germination and seedling growth under different experimental conditions. The data were analyzed by SPSS and the model was fitted to calculate the seed germination rate, seedling emergence rate and seedling growth parameters of Liriodendron chinense, which were used to analyze the effects of seeding density and light intensity on the seed germination and seedling growth of Liriodendron chinense. Light has a significant impact on the seed germination and seedling growth of Liriodendron chinense (P P > 0.05). High density promotes the seedling height (the seedling height showed a rising trend with the increase of seeding density, reaching the highest at 500 seeds/m<sup>2</sup>. “3-stitch + 300 seeds/m<sup>2</sup>” combination is an appropriate condition for Liriodendron chinense reproduction since it can realize higher germination rate and better seedling growth potential. The seedling height and basal diameter growth curve of Liriodendron chinense fits well to the Logistic equation (R<sup>2</sup> ≥ 0.977). Light has a significant impact on the seed germination and seedling growth of Liriodendron chinense, and appropriate shading treatment can increase the seed germination rate and seedling emergence rate of Liriodendron chinense. Seeding density has little influence on the seed germination rate of Liriodendron chinense, but high density will promote seedling height.展开更多
Germination at low spring temperatures may offer a competitive advantage for the growth and survival of plant species inhabiting temperate forest ecosystems.Pinus koraiensis is a dominant species in temperate forests ...Germination at low spring temperatures may offer a competitive advantage for the growth and survival of plant species inhabiting temperate forest ecosystems.Pinus koraiensis is a dominant species in temperate forests of northeastern China.Its seeds exhibit primary morphophysiological dormancy following dispersal in autumn,limiting natural or artificial regeneration:direct seeding and planting seedlings in spring.The aim of this study was to determine the optimum cold stratification temperature that induces germination to increase towards lower temperatures.Seeds from two populations(Changbaishan and Liangshui)were cold stratified at 0,5 and 10℃.Germination to incubation temperatures(10/5,20/10,25/15 and 30/20℃;14/10 h day/night)were determined after 2 and 4 weeks,and 5.5 and6.5 months of cold stratification.After 5.5 months,approximately 68-91%of seeds from both populations germinated at incubation temperatures of 25/15℃and 30/20℃,regardless of cold stratification temperatures.When the cold stratification temperature was reduced to 0℃and the period increased to 6.5 months,germination at 10/5℃significantly improved,reaching 37%and 64%for the Changbaishan and Liangshui populations,respectively.After 6.5 months of cold stratification,there was a significant linear regression between cold stratification temperatures and germination at10/5℃.The range in temperatures allowing for germination gradually expanded to include lower temperatures with decreasing cold stratification temperatures from 10 to 5℃and further to 0℃.展开更多
On base of the content of Pb in the soil under different land use patterns in Lanping Lead-zinc mining area,Yunnan in southwest China,the root morphology and leaf traits of maize in different concentration Pb(20,40,60...On base of the content of Pb in the soil under different land use patterns in Lanping Lead-zinc mining area,Yunnan in southwest China,the root morphology and leaf traits of maize in different concentration Pb(20,40,60,80,100,150,200,500,1000,2000,3000 mg/L)were analyzed.The results showed that maize germination rate,germination vigor and growth index decreased with the increase of Pb concentration.The root length,surface area of maize increased by 0.21%-81.58%,8.99%-73.43%,1.50%-77.37%,respectively,under 20-500 mg/L Pb concentration.However,these parameters under 1000-3000 mg/L Pb concentration decreased by 37.86%-553.54%,44.99%-766.16%,55.99%-92.81%,respectively,and these lowest value appeared in 3000 mg/L Pb treatment.The root volume of maize increased by 4.57%-89.25%in 20-80 mg/L Pb concentration,and it decreased with the increase of Pb concentration when the Pb concentration was higher than 80 mg/L and decreased by 94.13%in 3000 mg/L Pb.The root surface area and length of 0.50-1.00 diameter class were higher than those of other diameter classes,and these value of maize under 500 mg/L Pb were higher than those of other concentrations.The length and perimeter of maize leaves with the highest value of 220.36 and 962.68 mm,respectively appeared in 60 mg/L Pb treatment.The leaf width and area of maize with the highest value of 15.68 mm and 2448.31 mm^(2),respectively,appeared in 40 mg/L Pb treatment,which indicated that the leaf traits of maize were promoted by low concentration Pb and inhibited by high concentration Pb.展开更多
Ilex asprella(Hook.et Arn.)Champ.ex Benth is one of the most important traditional Chinese medicines in southern China.The seeds of Ilex asprella usually have extremely low germination due to their dormancy characteri...Ilex asprella(Hook.et Arn.)Champ.ex Benth is one of the most important traditional Chinese medicines in southern China.The seeds of Ilex asprella usually have extremely low germination due to their dormancy characteristics,which severely impacts the efficiency of seedling raising and increases labor costs.In this study,to improve the seed germination of I.asprella,the effects of germination substrate,hormone,winnowing,and stratification treatments on the seed germination of I.asprella were investigated.The results of the germination matrix showed that the highest germination percentage of 45.2%was achieved under the 20℃/10℃day/night temperature and vermiculite germination medium conditions.The results of hormone treatments revealed that 100–400 mg/L of gibberellin(GA)and 50–100 mg/L of salicylic acid(SA)were found to be effective in releasing the dormancy of I.asprella seeds.Moreover,winnowing could effectively eliminate unsaturated seeds and impurities,thus improving the seed germination of I.asprella.Furthermore,warm temperature(15℃)stratification could expand the temperature range of I.asprella’s seed germination,which was beneficial for seed germination of I.asprella and for seed nursery at room temperature in production practice.The present study obtained a method to break dormancy and increase seed germination in I.asprella,thereby forming a groundwork for improving the efficiency of large-scale planting of I.asprella.展开更多
Drought stress is a serious threat to the germination of plant seeds and the growth of seedlings.Melatonin has been proven to play an important role in alleviating plant stress.However,its effect on seed germination u...Drought stress is a serious threat to the germination of plant seeds and the growth of seedlings.Melatonin has been proven to play an important role in alleviating plant stress.However,its effect on seed germination under drought conditions is still poorly understood.Therefore,we studied the effects of melatonin on rice seed germination and physiological characteristics under drought stress.Rice seeds were treated with different concentrations of melatonin(i.e.,0,20,100,and 500μM)and drought stress was simulated with 5%polyethylene glycol 6000(PEG6000).The results showed that 100μM melatonin can effectively improve the germination potential,rate and index;the vigor index of rice seeds;and the length of the shoot and root.In addition,that treatment also increased the activity of superoxide dismutase(SOD),peroxidase(POD)and catalase(CAT),and reduced the content of malondialdehyde(MDA).The grey relational grade between the shoot MDA content and the melatonin seed-soaking treatment was the highest,which could be useful for evaluating the effect of melatonin on drought tolerance.Two-way analysis of variance showed that the effect of single melatonin treatment on rice seeds was more significant than that of single drought stress and interaction treatment of drought and melatonin(p<0.05).The subordinate function results showed that 100μM melatonin significantly improved the germination and physiological indexes of rice seeds and effectively alleviated the adverse effects of drought stress on rice seedlings.The results helped to improve the understanding of the morphological and physiological involvement of melatonin in promoting seed germination and seedling development under drought stress.展开更多
Seed germination (in laboratory and field conditions) and vegetative reproduction (by cuttings) of a promising decorative species—Lonicera tatarica L. (Caprifoliaceae Juss.) was studied for the first time in the cond...Seed germination (in laboratory and field conditions) and vegetative reproduction (by cuttings) of a promising decorative species—Lonicera tatarica L. (Caprifoliaceae Juss.) was studied for the first time in the conditions of introduction of the Tashkent Botanical Garden of Uzbekistan. Thus, the optimal temperature for germination of L. tatarica seeds in laboratory conditions is +20°C + 22°C, at which germination was 73%. The germination rate of seeds sown in autumn in the field was 62%, and the germination rate of seeds sown in spring was 71%. It was noted that in greenhouse conditions at an air temperature of 20°C - 22°C and a relative humidity of 49% - 53%, the rootability of cuttings was 75%. It was revealed that the studied species adapted well to the conditions of introduction. Taking into account the effectiveness of vegetative reproduction of L. tatarica, it can be recommended for improving the aesthetic condition and landscaping of cities, landscaping and landscape design.展开更多
[Objectives]In this experiment,wheat seeds were treated with different concentrations of gibberellin and different concentrations of salt solution to study the change of germination index of wheat seeds.[Methods]The g...[Objectives]In this experiment,wheat seeds were treated with different concentrations of gibberellin and different concentrations of salt solution to study the change of germination index of wheat seeds.[Methods]The germination rate,germination potential and germination index of wheat seeds were measured by routine methods,and the effect of exogenous gibberellin on germination of wheat seeds under salt stress was observed.[Results]The germination rate,germination potential and germination index of wheat seeds under salt stress were significantly increased after exogenous treatment of 0.25 and 0.50 g/L gibberellin within the range of salt concentration gradient.However,when the concentration of gibberellin was too high,it would inhibit the germination of seeds.[Conclusions]Appropriate concentration of gibberellin can effectively alleviate the stress caused by salt on wheat seed germination.In this experiment,the best concentration of gibberellin to alleviate salt stress was 0.25 g/L.展开更多
Seeds were subjected to three different pre-sowing seed treatments: immersion in lukewarm water for 2 hours, immersion in concentrated sulfuric acid (H<sub>2</sub>SO<sub>4</sub>) for 5 minutes,...Seeds were subjected to three different pre-sowing seed treatments: immersion in lukewarm water for 2 hours, immersion in concentrated sulfuric acid (H<sub>2</sub>SO<sub>4</sub>) for 5 minutes, hilar removal, and a control in which the seeds were sown without being treated. The experiment was laid out in the Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with four replicates and 60 seeds per treatment. Seeds were sown in an improvised Seedbox in October 2019. Germination was monitored daily for one month. The results showed that Mamalis seeds treated with lukewarm water have the earliest germination of twelve days, with a germination percentage of 66.67%. The germination rate of another treatment ranges from 0 - 44 percent, compared to 45 percent for the control treatment. It seems prudent to conclude that to enhance the vegetative propagation methods is to soaking in warm water at 37.5˚C for 2 hours could provide the best growth.展开更多
Drought impacts in arid desert ecosystems can result in decreased ecosystem productivity and biodiversity.Implementation of restoration projects in arid desert environments is largely dependent on water availabi...Drought impacts in arid desert ecosystems can result in decreased ecosystem productivity and biodiversity.Implementation of restoration projects in arid desert environments is largely dependent on water availability and soil moisture condition.This study investigated the influence of induced drought stress by using polyethylene glycol(PEG-6000)solution on germination viz.Cenchrus ciliaris and Cenchrus setigerus as the important rangeland species.The water stress potential treatments were 0(control),-0.5 MPa,-1.0 MPa,-1.5 MPa,and-2.0 MPa.The extent of seed germination was severely affected by decreased water stress potential.As drought increased,the percentage of germination decreased in both Cenchrus’species.The water deficit at-0.5 MPa showed a significant(P<0.001)reduction in the final germination percentage in the case of C.setigerus and C.ciliaris by 65%and 42.5%,respectively.At-1.0 MPa to-1.5 MPa,changes in intermediate germination were observed in C.ciliaris(from 35%to 17.5%,respectively)and C.setigerus(from 22.5%to 11.25%respectively).Higher levels of water stress(-2.0 MPa)prevented the survival of both species.Understanding the germination strategies of native desert plant species associated with drought stress and identifying favorable conditions during the germination process can be useful for restoration practices and rangeland management actions to improve desert ecosystems and maintain biodiversity.展开更多
The effect of litter on forest regeneration depends on the characteristics of regional climate and also shows community specificity. The influences of plant litter on seed germination and seedling growth of Larch Sibe...The effect of litter on forest regeneration depends on the characteristics of regional climate and also shows community specificity. The influences of plant litter on seed germination and seedling growth of Larch Siberian forest in the Altai Mountains were investigated through two simulated experiments including litter coverage and litter aqueous extracts. In the litter coverage experiment, three litter coverage methods including above (D), below (S) and in the middle (Z) of litter were set with the litter coverage thickness of 0, 1, 2, and 4 cm, while two aqueous extract obtained methods using the air-dried litter and litter ash after fir were used with the concentration of 10%, 40%, 80% and 100% in the present study. Results showed that: the aqueous extracts obtained using the air-dried litter restrained the seed germination, while the aqueous extracts obtained using litter ash improved the seed germination. Compared with other litter concentration, the influences of 100% concentration reach highest. The seed germination rate, seed germination potential and vital index under the treatment of seeds above the litter coverage were highest, which were significantly higher than other treatments. The above-ground biomass was significantly higher and the inhibition index of below-ground bio-mass was significantly lower under the treatment of seed above the litter with thin litter cover-age (S1) compared to other litter coverage treatments. These results indicated that the litter aqueous extract and the litter coverage had a combined effect on the seed germination and seedling growth of Siberian larch forest. Fire disturbance could promote seed germination by modifying the adverse effects of litter aqueous extracts and litter coverage, and thus plays an important role in the regeneration of Siberian larch in the Altai Mountains.展开更多
To investigate the potential role of allelopathy in plant interference and in the successful invasion of alien species Solidago canadensis, aqueous and ethanolic extracts from rhizomes, stems and leaves of S. canadens...To investigate the potential role of allelopathy in plant interference and in the successful invasion of alien species Solidago canadensis, aqueous and ethanolic extracts from rhizomes, stems and leaves of S. canadensis were prepared and used as treatment solutions to assess their effects on seed germination and seedling growth in four target species, mulberry (Morus alba); morning glory (Pharbitis nil), wheat (Triticum aestivum) and rape (Brassiea campestris). Reduction and/or growth in germination and growth of the target plant species in the presence of both aqueous and ethanolic extracts at different concentrations indicated that the responses were species-specific and concentration-dependent. Generally, ethanolic extracts (especially from leaves) imposed stronger effects on both seed germination and seedling growth. Extracts with lower concentration at 0.001 g/ml dw could stimulate the seedling growth of rape and morning glory, whereas extracts at any given concentrations have inhibitory effects on wheat and mulberry. It is suggested that the aqueous and ethanolic extracts of all the three parts of S. canadensis have significant allelopathic effects. Although both inhibition and stimulation occurred in the germination and growth of the target species, extracts with higher concentrations definitely inhibit seed germination and seedling growth of all target plants. We suggest that allelopathy plays a more important role than other mechanisms do in the out-competition ofS. canadensis over other plants, and make it invasive in new habitats.展开更多
This study investigated the effect of cold helium plasma treatment on seed germina- tion, growth and yield of wheat. The effects of different power of cold plasma on the germination of treated wheat seeds were studied...This study investigated the effect of cold helium plasma treatment on seed germina- tion, growth and yield of wheat. The effects of different power of cold plasma on the germination of treated wheat seeds were studied. We found that the treatment of 80 W could significantly improve seed germination potential (6.0%) and germination rate (6.7%) compared to the control group. Field experiments were carried out for wheat seeds treated with 80 W cold plasma. Com- pared with the control, plant height (20.3%), root length (9.0%) and fresh weight (21.8%) were improved significantly at seedling stage. At booting stage, plant height, root length, fresh weight, stem diameter, leaf area and leaf thickness of the treated plant were respectively increased by 21.8%, 11.0%, 7.0%, 9.0%, 13.0% and 25.5%. At the same time, the chlorophyll content (9.8%), nitrogen (10.0%) and moisture content (10.0%) were higher than those of the control, indicating that cold plasma treatment could promote the growth of wheat. The yield of treated wheat was 7.55 t-ha-1, 5.89% more than that of the control. Therefore, our results show that cold plasma has important application prospects for increasing wheat yield.展开更多
Drought is a multifaceted stress condition that inhibits crop growth. Seed germination is one of the critical and sensitive stages of plants, and its process is inhibited or even entirely prevented by drought. Polyami...Drought is a multifaceted stress condition that inhibits crop growth. Seed germination is one of the critical and sensitive stages of plants, and its process is inhibited or even entirely prevented by drought. Polyamines (PAs) are closely associ- ated with plant resistance to drought stress and seed germination. However, little is known about the effect of PA on the seed germination of wheat under drought stress. This study investigated the involvement of PAs in regulating wheat seed germination under drought stress. Six wheat genotypes differing in drought resistance were used, and endogenous PA levels were measured during seed germination under different water treatments. In addition, external PAwas used for seed soaking and the variation of hormones, total soluble sugar and starch were measured during the seed germination under different water treatments. These results indicated that the free spermidine (Spd) accumulation in seeds during the seed germination period favored wheat seed germination under drought stress; however, the free putrescine (Put) accumulation in seeds during the seed germination period may work against wheat seed germination under drought stress. In addition, seed soaking in Spd and spermine (Spm) significantly relieved the inhibition of seed germination by drought stress; howev- er, soaking seeds in Put had no significant effect on seed germination under drought. External Spd and Spm significantly increased the endogenous indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), zeatin (Z)+zeatin riboside (ZR), abscisic acid (ABA), and gibberellins (GA) contents in seeds and accelerated the seed starch degradation and increased the concentration of soluble sugars in seeds during seed germination. This may promote wheat seed germination under drought stress. In conclusion, free Spd and Put are key factors for regulating wheat seed germination under drought stress and the effects of Spd and Put on seed germination under drought notably related to hormones and starch metabolism.展开更多
Seed morphology,germination and seedlings growth of Acacia auriculiformis were studied.The experiment was conducted in the nursery of Forestry and Wood Technology Discipline,Khulna University,Bangladesh.Matured seeds ...Seed morphology,germination and seedlings growth of Acacia auriculiformis were studied.The experiment was conducted in the nursery of Forestry and Wood Technology Discipline,Khulna University,Bangladesh.Matured seeds of the species were collected from healthy trees of road side plantation from different areas of Khulna District,Bangladesh and treated with five pre-sowing treatments(control,immersion in cold water,immersion in hot water,scarification with sand paper and immersion in concentrated H2SO4).The average length,breadth and thickness were found to be(0.58±0.017) cm,(0.44±0.007) cm and(0.20±0.089) cm,respectively.Germination was conducted in polybags with a mixture of top soil,coconut husk,coarse sand,and fine sand in a ratio of 3:4:1:1.Results reveal that pre-sowing treatments influences the germination rates of seeds that significantly increase the percentage germination compared with those in control(43%) and cold water treatment(52%).The highest germination success rate was found 83% in hot water treatment followed by 78% in scarification with sand paper,and 75% with immersion in H2SO4.Germination started from 7 to 12 days and completed between 28 and 35 days period in all treatments.ANOVA showed the significant difference(p0.05) among the treatments in seed germination,but no significant difference among treatment with regard to starting day,closing day and total germination period.In case of height and diameter growth,seedlings originated from the seeds with hot water treatment shows significantly higher in wet season(from May to July).Hot water treatment can be recommended on seed germination of the species in rural Bangladesh.展开更多
A study was conducted to determine the effects of electrostatic field (ESF) treatment on seed germination and seedling growth of Sorbus pohuashanesis. The experiments were arranged by uniform design computed by the ...A study was conducted to determine the effects of electrostatic field (ESF) treatment on seed germination and seedling growth of Sorbus pohuashanesis. The experiments were arranged by uniform design computed by the Data Processing System (DPS), including three levels of seeds soaking time, four levels of ESF intensity and four levels of ESF treatment time, with 12 treatments. Ten seeds were used in each treatment with three replicates. Seed vigor, seed germinating ability, emergence rate of seedling, survival rate of seedling, and seedling height and diameter, as well as the change in activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), soluble protein contents, total chlorophyll contents, soluble total sugar contents in leaves of S. pohuashanensis seedlings were measured after ESF treatments. The experiment results show that ESF treatment could improve the water absorption ability of dry seeds of S. pohuashanensis, resulting in fast germination at room temperature under light conditions. Combined treatment of ESF with cold stratification could increase seed germination percentage significantly (to 42.20%), promote seedling height growth, affect leaf SOD activity, and could raise contents of total chlorophyll, soluble protein, and total soluble sugar in leaves. Seed soaking time had a significant effect on seed relative electroconductivity, seed germination under light, SOD activity, soluble protein content and total soluble sugar content of seedling leaves. ESF intensity exerted a moderate effect on these indexes. ESF treatment time only had significant effect on total chlorophyll contents, no evident effect on other indexes.展开更多
We studied seed germination and early seedling growth of Pinus densata to explore the range of variability within the species and to inform afforestation practices. Phenotypes were evaluated at a forest tree nursery u...We studied seed germination and early seedling growth of Pinus densata to explore the range of variability within the species and to inform afforestation practices. Phenotypes were evaluated at a forest tree nursery under conditions that support Pinus yunnanensis, one of the presumed parental species of P. densata. Seeds were col- lected from 20 open-pollinated trees within each of eight autochthonous populations representing the natural distri- bution of P. densata in China to assess variation in ger- mination traits and early seedling growth, and to examine the relationships among these traits. Results showed that seeds from all populations germinated and seedlings established successfully. There were significant differences among populations in 13 of 14 traits evaluated. Seed germination and early seedling growth were strongly related to seed size and seed weight. Bigger seeds germi- nated earlier and faster than small seeds, and seedling size was positively correlated with seed size. Some germination traits were strongly and significantly correlated with cli- matic variables associated with the provenance of the studied populations. Based on these observations, we conclude there were large, significant, and biologically important differences among P. densata populations in seed germination and seedling growth traits. The observed variability probably reflects a high degree of adaptive dif- ferentiation among populations that is likely to be relevant for future afforestation.展开更多
The objective of this paper is to demonstrate whether air plasma can change the seed germination characteristics, seedling emergence, as well as biochemical reactivity, in Andrographis paniculata (A. paniculata) see...The objective of this paper is to demonstrate whether air plasma can change the seed germination characteristics, seedling emergence, as well as biochemical reactivity, in Andrographis paniculata (A. paniculata) seedlings by modifying the seed coat and finding a beneficial treatment dose. Eight treatment doses and one control were used to conduct electrical conductivity determination, a germination test, a seedling emergence test and a biochemical assay. The results showed that after being treated with air plasma excited at 5950 V for 10 s, the perme- ability of the seeds was improved significantly, resulting in the acceleration of seed germination and seedling emergence. In the meantime, the catalase activity and catalase isoenzyme expression were also improved, while the malondialdehyde content in the seedlings was decreased (which means greater counteraction with environmental stress). After being treated with 4250 V for 10 s and 5950 V for 20 s, the seed germination was enhanced, but without an obvious change in seedUng emergence. However, after treatment with 3400 V for 20 s and 5100 V for 10 s, the permeability of the seeds was decreased, resulting in a delay in seedling emergence. These results indicate that air plasma can change the physiological and biochemical characteristics of Andrographis paniculata seeds by modifying the seed coat, combined with the effects of the active plasma species, and that different treating doses have different effects.展开更多
基金supported by the Key Research and Development Program of Shaanxi(2021NY-083)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(31871567).
文摘Low temperatures during germination inhibit seed growth,lead to small and weak seedlings,and significantly reduce the wheat yield.Alleviating the adverse effects of low temperature on wheat seed germination is highly important for achieving high and stable wheat yields.In this study,Tongmai 6(insensitive)and Zhengmai 113(sensitive),which have different low-temperature sensitivities during germination were treated with low temperature during germination.The transcriptome,metabolome and physiological data revealed that low temperature decreased the germination rate,downregulated the expression of a large number of genes involved in regulating glycometabolism,and inhibited carbon,nitrogen(especially amino acids)and energy metabolism in the seeds.Arginine content increased at low temperature,and its increase in the low-temperature-tolerant variety was significantly greater than that in the sensitive variety.Arginine priming experiment showed that treatment with an appropriate concentration of arginine improved the seed germination rate.The conversion of starch to soluble sugar significantly increased under exogenous arginine conditions,the content of key metabolites in energy metabolism increased,and the utilization of ATP in the seeds increased.Taken together,arginine priming increased seed germination at low temperature by relieving inhibition of seed carbon and nitrogen metabolism and improving seed energy metabolism.
基金supported by the Hainan Province Science and Technology Special Fund,China(ZDYF2023XDNY086)the Project of Sanya Yazhou Bay Science and Technology City,China(SCKJ-JYRC-2022-87)+1 种基金the Natural Science Foundation of Guangdong Province,China(2023A1515012052,2023A1515012092)the Science and Technology Project of Guangzhou,China(2023A04J0749,2023A04J1452).
文摘Seed germination is a complex trait regulated by multiple genes in rice.However,the regulators of rice seed germination have yet to be sufficiently determined.Here,a quantitative trait locus(QTL)for rice seed germination was identified in a genome-wide association study.The candidate gene JASMONATE ZIM-DOMAIN 5(OsJAZ5)of the QTL was verified that positively regulates seed germination.OsJAZ5 regulation of seed germination involves an OsABI3-mediated abscisic acid pathway.Overexpression of OsJAZ5 facilitated seed germination.The application of OsJAZ5 might be useful for increasing seed germination for rice direct seeding.
文摘It provides a theoretical basis for the artificial promotion of the reproduction and regeneration of Liriodendron chinense through exploring the effects of light intensity and seeding density on the seed germination and seedling growth of this rare plant. Controlled experiments were conducted by setting different seeding densities and shading intensities to observe and detect the seed germination and seedling growth under different experimental conditions. The data were analyzed by SPSS and the model was fitted to calculate the seed germination rate, seedling emergence rate and seedling growth parameters of Liriodendron chinense, which were used to analyze the effects of seeding density and light intensity on the seed germination and seedling growth of Liriodendron chinense. Light has a significant impact on the seed germination and seedling growth of Liriodendron chinense (P P > 0.05). High density promotes the seedling height (the seedling height showed a rising trend with the increase of seeding density, reaching the highest at 500 seeds/m<sup>2</sup>. “3-stitch + 300 seeds/m<sup>2</sup>” combination is an appropriate condition for Liriodendron chinense reproduction since it can realize higher germination rate and better seedling growth potential. The seedling height and basal diameter growth curve of Liriodendron chinense fits well to the Logistic equation (R<sup>2</sup> ≥ 0.977). Light has a significant impact on the seed germination and seedling growth of Liriodendron chinense, and appropriate shading treatment can increase the seed germination rate and seedling emergence rate of Liriodendron chinense. Seeding density has little influence on the seed germination rate of Liriodendron chinense, but high density will promote seedling height.
基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.31901300)Natural Science Foundation of Guizhou Province+2 种基金China(No.(2019)1165)Science and Technology Foundation of Guizhou ProvinceChina(No.[2018]137,No.[2018]133)。
文摘Germination at low spring temperatures may offer a competitive advantage for the growth and survival of plant species inhabiting temperate forest ecosystems.Pinus koraiensis is a dominant species in temperate forests of northeastern China.Its seeds exhibit primary morphophysiological dormancy following dispersal in autumn,limiting natural or artificial regeneration:direct seeding and planting seedlings in spring.The aim of this study was to determine the optimum cold stratification temperature that induces germination to increase towards lower temperatures.Seeds from two populations(Changbaishan and Liangshui)were cold stratified at 0,5 and 10℃.Germination to incubation temperatures(10/5,20/10,25/15 and 30/20℃;14/10 h day/night)were determined after 2 and 4 weeks,and 5.5 and6.5 months of cold stratification.After 5.5 months,approximately 68-91%of seeds from both populations germinated at incubation temperatures of 25/15℃and 30/20℃,regardless of cold stratification temperatures.When the cold stratification temperature was reduced to 0℃and the period increased to 6.5 months,germination at 10/5℃significantly improved,reaching 37%and 64%for the Changbaishan and Liangshui populations,respectively.After 6.5 months of cold stratification,there was a significant linear regression between cold stratification temperatures and germination at10/5℃.The range in temperatures allowing for germination gradually expanded to include lower temperatures with decreasing cold stratification temperatures from 10 to 5℃and further to 0℃.
基金Basic Research in Yunnan Local Colleges and Universities(2017FH001-026,2018FH001-004)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(42167009,31300349)International Joint Innovation Team for Yunnan Plateau Lakes and Great Lakes of North America which is sponsored by Yunnan Provincial Education Department(to XC),and Scientific and Technological Innovation team Project of Agricultural Resources Utilization of Kunming University.
文摘On base of the content of Pb in the soil under different land use patterns in Lanping Lead-zinc mining area,Yunnan in southwest China,the root morphology and leaf traits of maize in different concentration Pb(20,40,60,80,100,150,200,500,1000,2000,3000 mg/L)were analyzed.The results showed that maize germination rate,germination vigor and growth index decreased with the increase of Pb concentration.The root length,surface area of maize increased by 0.21%-81.58%,8.99%-73.43%,1.50%-77.37%,respectively,under 20-500 mg/L Pb concentration.However,these parameters under 1000-3000 mg/L Pb concentration decreased by 37.86%-553.54%,44.99%-766.16%,55.99%-92.81%,respectively,and these lowest value appeared in 3000 mg/L Pb treatment.The root volume of maize increased by 4.57%-89.25%in 20-80 mg/L Pb concentration,and it decreased with the increase of Pb concentration when the Pb concentration was higher than 80 mg/L and decreased by 94.13%in 3000 mg/L Pb.The root surface area and length of 0.50-1.00 diameter class were higher than those of other diameter classes,and these value of maize under 500 mg/L Pb were higher than those of other concentrations.The length and perimeter of maize leaves with the highest value of 220.36 and 962.68 mm,respectively appeared in 60 mg/L Pb treatment.The leaf width and area of maize with the highest value of 15.68 mm and 2448.31 mm^(2),respectively,appeared in 40 mg/L Pb treatment,which indicated that the leaf traits of maize were promoted by low concentration Pb and inhibited by high concentration Pb.
基金supported by the Fund Projects of the Central Government in Guidance of Local Science and Technology Development(GuiKeZY22096020)Natural Science Foundation of Guangxi(2019GXNSFBA245073)+1 种基金National Natural Science Foundation of China(82260750,82260749)Cooperative Project of Guangxi Botanical Garden of Medicinal Plants with China Resources Sanjiu Medical&Pharmaceutical Co.,Ltd.(202112-1).
文摘Ilex asprella(Hook.et Arn.)Champ.ex Benth is one of the most important traditional Chinese medicines in southern China.The seeds of Ilex asprella usually have extremely low germination due to their dormancy characteristics,which severely impacts the efficiency of seedling raising and increases labor costs.In this study,to improve the seed germination of I.asprella,the effects of germination substrate,hormone,winnowing,and stratification treatments on the seed germination of I.asprella were investigated.The results of the germination matrix showed that the highest germination percentage of 45.2%was achieved under the 20℃/10℃day/night temperature and vermiculite germination medium conditions.The results of hormone treatments revealed that 100–400 mg/L of gibberellin(GA)and 50–100 mg/L of salicylic acid(SA)were found to be effective in releasing the dormancy of I.asprella seeds.Moreover,winnowing could effectively eliminate unsaturated seeds and impurities,thus improving the seed germination of I.asprella.Furthermore,warm temperature(15℃)stratification could expand the temperature range of I.asprella’s seed germination,which was beneficial for seed germination of I.asprella and for seed nursery at room temperature in production practice.The present study obtained a method to break dormancy and increase seed germination in I.asprella,thereby forming a groundwork for improving the efficiency of large-scale planting of I.asprella.
基金This work was funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(31971923,31301650)the National Key R&D Program of China(2017YFD0301501)+2 种基金the Hunan Provincial Natural Science Foundation of China(2020JJ4360)the Key Scientific Research Project of Hunan Provincial Education Department of China(19A220)Innovation and Entrepreneurship Training Program for College Students of Hunan Agricultural University(XCX2021038).
文摘Drought stress is a serious threat to the germination of plant seeds and the growth of seedlings.Melatonin has been proven to play an important role in alleviating plant stress.However,its effect on seed germination under drought conditions is still poorly understood.Therefore,we studied the effects of melatonin on rice seed germination and physiological characteristics under drought stress.Rice seeds were treated with different concentrations of melatonin(i.e.,0,20,100,and 500μM)and drought stress was simulated with 5%polyethylene glycol 6000(PEG6000).The results showed that 100μM melatonin can effectively improve the germination potential,rate and index;the vigor index of rice seeds;and the length of the shoot and root.In addition,that treatment also increased the activity of superoxide dismutase(SOD),peroxidase(POD)and catalase(CAT),and reduced the content of malondialdehyde(MDA).The grey relational grade between the shoot MDA content and the melatonin seed-soaking treatment was the highest,which could be useful for evaluating the effect of melatonin on drought tolerance.Two-way analysis of variance showed that the effect of single melatonin treatment on rice seeds was more significant than that of single drought stress and interaction treatment of drought and melatonin(p<0.05).The subordinate function results showed that 100μM melatonin significantly improved the germination and physiological indexes of rice seeds and effectively alleviated the adverse effects of drought stress on rice seedlings.The results helped to improve the understanding of the morphological and physiological involvement of melatonin in promoting seed germination and seedling development under drought stress.
文摘Seed germination (in laboratory and field conditions) and vegetative reproduction (by cuttings) of a promising decorative species—Lonicera tatarica L. (Caprifoliaceae Juss.) was studied for the first time in the conditions of introduction of the Tashkent Botanical Garden of Uzbekistan. Thus, the optimal temperature for germination of L. tatarica seeds in laboratory conditions is +20°C + 22°C, at which germination was 73%. The germination rate of seeds sown in autumn in the field was 62%, and the germination rate of seeds sown in spring was 71%. It was noted that in greenhouse conditions at an air temperature of 20°C - 22°C and a relative humidity of 49% - 53%, the rootability of cuttings was 75%. It was revealed that the studied species adapted well to the conditions of introduction. Taking into account the effectiveness of vegetative reproduction of L. tatarica, it can be recommended for improving the aesthetic condition and landscaping of cities, landscaping and landscape design.
基金Supported by School-level Training Program of Hetian Vocational Technical College(HZ-2022-10).
文摘[Objectives]In this experiment,wheat seeds were treated with different concentrations of gibberellin and different concentrations of salt solution to study the change of germination index of wheat seeds.[Methods]The germination rate,germination potential and germination index of wheat seeds were measured by routine methods,and the effect of exogenous gibberellin on germination of wheat seeds under salt stress was observed.[Results]The germination rate,germination potential and germination index of wheat seeds under salt stress were significantly increased after exogenous treatment of 0.25 and 0.50 g/L gibberellin within the range of salt concentration gradient.However,when the concentration of gibberellin was too high,it would inhibit the germination of seeds.[Conclusions]Appropriate concentration of gibberellin can effectively alleviate the stress caused by salt on wheat seed germination.In this experiment,the best concentration of gibberellin to alleviate salt stress was 0.25 g/L.
文摘Seeds were subjected to three different pre-sowing seed treatments: immersion in lukewarm water for 2 hours, immersion in concentrated sulfuric acid (H<sub>2</sub>SO<sub>4</sub>) for 5 minutes, hilar removal, and a control in which the seeds were sown without being treated. The experiment was laid out in the Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with four replicates and 60 seeds per treatment. Seeds were sown in an improvised Seedbox in October 2019. Germination was monitored daily for one month. The results showed that Mamalis seeds treated with lukewarm water have the earliest germination of twelve days, with a germination percentage of 66.67%. The germination rate of another treatment ranges from 0 - 44 percent, compared to 45 percent for the control treatment. It seems prudent to conclude that to enhance the vegetative propagation methods is to soaking in warm water at 37.5˚C for 2 hours could provide the best growth.
基金This study was made possible by generous support of the Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research(KISR).
文摘Drought impacts in arid desert ecosystems can result in decreased ecosystem productivity and biodiversity.Implementation of restoration projects in arid desert environments is largely dependent on water availability and soil moisture condition.This study investigated the influence of induced drought stress by using polyethylene glycol(PEG-6000)solution on germination viz.Cenchrus ciliaris and Cenchrus setigerus as the important rangeland species.The water stress potential treatments were 0(control),-0.5 MPa,-1.0 MPa,-1.5 MPa,and-2.0 MPa.The extent of seed germination was severely affected by decreased water stress potential.As drought increased,the percentage of germination decreased in both Cenchrus’species.The water deficit at-0.5 MPa showed a significant(P<0.001)reduction in the final germination percentage in the case of C.setigerus and C.ciliaris by 65%and 42.5%,respectively.At-1.0 MPa to-1.5 MPa,changes in intermediate germination were observed in C.ciliaris(from 35%to 17.5%,respectively)and C.setigerus(from 22.5%to 11.25%respectively).Higher levels of water stress(-2.0 MPa)prevented the survival of both species.Understanding the germination strategies of native desert plant species associated with drought stress and identifying favorable conditions during the germination process can be useful for restoration practices and rangeland management actions to improve desert ecosystems and maintain biodiversity.
文摘The effect of litter on forest regeneration depends on the characteristics of regional climate and also shows community specificity. The influences of plant litter on seed germination and seedling growth of Larch Siberian forest in the Altai Mountains were investigated through two simulated experiments including litter coverage and litter aqueous extracts. In the litter coverage experiment, three litter coverage methods including above (D), below (S) and in the middle (Z) of litter were set with the litter coverage thickness of 0, 1, 2, and 4 cm, while two aqueous extract obtained methods using the air-dried litter and litter ash after fir were used with the concentration of 10%, 40%, 80% and 100% in the present study. Results showed that: the aqueous extracts obtained using the air-dried litter restrained the seed germination, while the aqueous extracts obtained using litter ash improved the seed germination. Compared with other litter concentration, the influences of 100% concentration reach highest. The seed germination rate, seed germination potential and vital index under the treatment of seeds above the litter coverage were highest, which were significantly higher than other treatments. The above-ground biomass was significantly higher and the inhibition index of below-ground bio-mass was significantly lower under the treatment of seed above the litter with thin litter cover-age (S1) compared to other litter coverage treatments. These results indicated that the litter aqueous extract and the litter coverage had a combined effect on the seed germination and seedling growth of Siberian larch forest. Fire disturbance could promote seed germination by modifying the adverse effects of litter aqueous extracts and litter coverage, and thus plays an important role in the regeneration of Siberian larch in the Altai Mountains.
文摘To investigate the potential role of allelopathy in plant interference and in the successful invasion of alien species Solidago canadensis, aqueous and ethanolic extracts from rhizomes, stems and leaves of S. canadensis were prepared and used as treatment solutions to assess their effects on seed germination and seedling growth in four target species, mulberry (Morus alba); morning glory (Pharbitis nil), wheat (Triticum aestivum) and rape (Brassiea campestris). Reduction and/or growth in germination and growth of the target plant species in the presence of both aqueous and ethanolic extracts at different concentrations indicated that the responses were species-specific and concentration-dependent. Generally, ethanolic extracts (especially from leaves) imposed stronger effects on both seed germination and seedling growth. Extracts with lower concentration at 0.001 g/ml dw could stimulate the seedling growth of rape and morning glory, whereas extracts at any given concentrations have inhibitory effects on wheat and mulberry. It is suggested that the aqueous and ethanolic extracts of all the three parts of S. canadensis have significant allelopathic effects. Although both inhibition and stimulation occurred in the germination and growth of the target species, extracts with higher concentrations definitely inhibit seed germination and seedling growth of all target plants. We suggest that allelopathy plays a more important role than other mechanisms do in the out-competition ofS. canadensis over other plants, and make it invasive in new habitats.
基金supported by Jiangsu Province Science and Technology Support Program of China(No.BE2013452)Main Direction Program of Knowledge Innovation of Chinese Academy of Sciences(No.KSCX-EW-B-6)
文摘This study investigated the effect of cold helium plasma treatment on seed germina- tion, growth and yield of wheat. The effects of different power of cold plasma on the germination of treated wheat seeds were studied. We found that the treatment of 80 W could significantly improve seed germination potential (6.0%) and germination rate (6.7%) compared to the control group. Field experiments were carried out for wheat seeds treated with 80 W cold plasma. Com- pared with the control, plant height (20.3%), root length (9.0%) and fresh weight (21.8%) were improved significantly at seedling stage. At booting stage, plant height, root length, fresh weight, stem diameter, leaf area and leaf thickness of the treated plant were respectively increased by 21.8%, 11.0%, 7.0%, 9.0%, 13.0% and 25.5%. At the same time, the chlorophyll content (9.8%), nitrogen (10.0%) and moisture content (10.0%) were higher than those of the control, indicating that cold plasma treatment could promote the growth of wheat. The yield of treated wheat was 7.55 t-ha-1, 5.89% more than that of the control. Therefore, our results show that cold plasma has important application prospects for increasing wheat yield.
基金supported by the Project of National Key Basic Research and Development, China (Grant No. 2002CB410804)the Natural Science Foundation of Guizhou Province, China (Grant No. 20072058)the Foundation for Young Scholars Scientists of Guizhou University (Grant No. X060036), China.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (31301260)the National Key Technologies R&D Program of China during the 12th Five-Year Plan period (2015BAD22B03)the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation (2015M572603)
文摘Drought is a multifaceted stress condition that inhibits crop growth. Seed germination is one of the critical and sensitive stages of plants, and its process is inhibited or even entirely prevented by drought. Polyamines (PAs) are closely associ- ated with plant resistance to drought stress and seed germination. However, little is known about the effect of PA on the seed germination of wheat under drought stress. This study investigated the involvement of PAs in regulating wheat seed germination under drought stress. Six wheat genotypes differing in drought resistance were used, and endogenous PA levels were measured during seed germination under different water treatments. In addition, external PAwas used for seed soaking and the variation of hormones, total soluble sugar and starch were measured during the seed germination under different water treatments. These results indicated that the free spermidine (Spd) accumulation in seeds during the seed germination period favored wheat seed germination under drought stress; however, the free putrescine (Put) accumulation in seeds during the seed germination period may work against wheat seed germination under drought stress. In addition, seed soaking in Spd and spermine (Spm) significantly relieved the inhibition of seed germination by drought stress; howev- er, soaking seeds in Put had no significant effect on seed germination under drought. External Spd and Spm significantly increased the endogenous indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), zeatin (Z)+zeatin riboside (ZR), abscisic acid (ABA), and gibberellins (GA) contents in seeds and accelerated the seed starch degradation and increased the concentration of soluble sugars in seeds during seed germination. This may promote wheat seed germination under drought stress. In conclusion, free Spd and Put are key factors for regulating wheat seed germination under drought stress and the effects of Spd and Put on seed germination under drought notably related to hormones and starch metabolism.
文摘Seed morphology,germination and seedlings growth of Acacia auriculiformis were studied.The experiment was conducted in the nursery of Forestry and Wood Technology Discipline,Khulna University,Bangladesh.Matured seeds of the species were collected from healthy trees of road side plantation from different areas of Khulna District,Bangladesh and treated with five pre-sowing treatments(control,immersion in cold water,immersion in hot water,scarification with sand paper and immersion in concentrated H2SO4).The average length,breadth and thickness were found to be(0.58±0.017) cm,(0.44±0.007) cm and(0.20±0.089) cm,respectively.Germination was conducted in polybags with a mixture of top soil,coconut husk,coarse sand,and fine sand in a ratio of 3:4:1:1.Results reveal that pre-sowing treatments influences the germination rates of seeds that significantly increase the percentage germination compared with those in control(43%) and cold water treatment(52%).The highest germination success rate was found 83% in hot water treatment followed by 78% in scarification with sand paper,and 75% with immersion in H2SO4.Germination started from 7 to 12 days and completed between 28 and 35 days period in all treatments.ANOVA showed the significant difference(p0.05) among the treatments in seed germination,but no significant difference among treatment with regard to starting day,closing day and total germination period.In case of height and diameter growth,seedlings originated from the seeds with hot water treatment shows significantly higher in wet season(from May to July).Hot water treatment can be recommended on seed germination of the species in rural Bangladesh.
基金supported by the Key Technologies R&D Program of China during 2006–2010 (2006BAD03A04)
文摘A study was conducted to determine the effects of electrostatic field (ESF) treatment on seed germination and seedling growth of Sorbus pohuashanesis. The experiments were arranged by uniform design computed by the Data Processing System (DPS), including three levels of seeds soaking time, four levels of ESF intensity and four levels of ESF treatment time, with 12 treatments. Ten seeds were used in each treatment with three replicates. Seed vigor, seed germinating ability, emergence rate of seedling, survival rate of seedling, and seedling height and diameter, as well as the change in activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), soluble protein contents, total chlorophyll contents, soluble total sugar contents in leaves of S. pohuashanensis seedlings were measured after ESF treatments. The experiment results show that ESF treatment could improve the water absorption ability of dry seeds of S. pohuashanensis, resulting in fast germination at room temperature under light conditions. Combined treatment of ESF with cold stratification could increase seed germination percentage significantly (to 42.20%), promote seedling height growth, affect leaf SOD activity, and could raise contents of total chlorophyll, soluble protein, and total soluble sugar in leaves. Seed soaking time had a significant effect on seed relative electroconductivity, seed germination under light, SOD activity, soluble protein content and total soluble sugar content of seedling leaves. ESF intensity exerted a moderate effect on these indexes. ESF treatment time only had significant effect on total chlorophyll contents, no evident effect on other indexes.
基金supported by grants from the Natural Science Foundation of China(NSFC 31070591)
文摘We studied seed germination and early seedling growth of Pinus densata to explore the range of variability within the species and to inform afforestation practices. Phenotypes were evaluated at a forest tree nursery under conditions that support Pinus yunnanensis, one of the presumed parental species of P. densata. Seeds were col- lected from 20 open-pollinated trees within each of eight autochthonous populations representing the natural distri- bution of P. densata in China to assess variation in ger- mination traits and early seedling growth, and to examine the relationships among these traits. Results showed that seeds from all populations germinated and seedlings established successfully. There were significant differences among populations in 13 of 14 traits evaluated. Seed germination and early seedling growth were strongly related to seed size and seed weight. Bigger seeds germi- nated earlier and faster than small seeds, and seedling size was positively correlated with seed size. Some germination traits were strongly and significantly correlated with cli- matic variables associated with the provenance of the studied populations. Based on these observations, we conclude there were large, significant, and biologically important differences among P. densata populations in seed germination and seedling growth traits. The observed variability probably reflects a high degree of adaptive dif- ferentiation among populations that is likely to be relevant for future afforestation.
基金supported by the Science and Technology Planning Project of Beijing,China(Z090605006009022)
文摘The objective of this paper is to demonstrate whether air plasma can change the seed germination characteristics, seedling emergence, as well as biochemical reactivity, in Andrographis paniculata (A. paniculata) seedlings by modifying the seed coat and finding a beneficial treatment dose. Eight treatment doses and one control were used to conduct electrical conductivity determination, a germination test, a seedling emergence test and a biochemical assay. The results showed that after being treated with air plasma excited at 5950 V for 10 s, the perme- ability of the seeds was improved significantly, resulting in the acceleration of seed germination and seedling emergence. In the meantime, the catalase activity and catalase isoenzyme expression were also improved, while the malondialdehyde content in the seedlings was decreased (which means greater counteraction with environmental stress). After being treated with 4250 V for 10 s and 5950 V for 20 s, the seed germination was enhanced, but without an obvious change in seedUng emergence. However, after treatment with 3400 V for 20 s and 5100 V for 10 s, the permeability of the seeds was decreased, resulting in a delay in seedling emergence. These results indicate that air plasma can change the physiological and biochemical characteristics of Andrographis paniculata seeds by modifying the seed coat, combined with the effects of the active plasma species, and that different treating doses have different effects.