Long-Term Effects of Cold on Growth, Development and Yield of Narrow-Leaf Lupine May Be Alleviated by Seed Hydropriming or Butenolide.

In this article, the effects of cold on the development of Lupine angustifolius and the possibility of mitigating it, via seed hydropriming or pre-treatment with butenolide (10-6 M⁻10-4 M), are investigated in two cultivars, differing in their ability to germinate at low temperature. Physiological background of plant development after cold stress was investigated in imbibed seeds. For the first four weeks, the seedlings grew at 7 °C or 13 °C. Seeds well germinating at 7 °C demonstrated higher activity of α-amylase and higher levels of gibberellins, IAA and kinetin. Germination ability at low temperature correlated with dehydrogenase activity and membrane permeability. Seed pre-treatment improved germination at low temperature by decreasing abscisic acid content. Seed hydropriming alleviated cold effects on plant development rate and yield, while butenolide accelerated vegetative development but delayed the generative phase. Potential seed yield may be predicted based on the seed germination vigour and the photosynthetic efficiency measured before flowering.

Seed Hydropriming and Smoke Water Significantly Improve Low-Temperature Germination of Lupinus angustifolius L.

Seed imbibition under cold temperature is dangerous when dry seeds have relatively low water content. The aim of this study was to investigate germination of 20 lines/cultivars of narrow-leaf lupine at 7 °C (cold) and 13 °C (control) under the influence of smoke water and following seed hydropriming for 3 h at 20 °C. The efficacy of individual treatments was examined with regard to seed protection during low-temperature germination. Based on seed germination, vigour at cold was evaluated four days after sowing by means of hypocotyl length, the studied lines/cultivars were divided into three groups with low, high and very high germination rates. Germination vigour correlated with cell membrane permeability, dehydrogenase activity and abscisic acid (ABA) content and was analysed in the seeds one day after sowing. Gibberellin content did not correlate with germination vigour. The seeds of weakly germinating lines/cultivars had the highest cell permeability and ABA content as well as the lowest amylolytic activity at both studied temperatures. Additionally, the vigour of weakly germinating seeds at 7 °C correlated with dehydrogenase activity. Three-hour hydropriming was the most effective for seed germination under cold due to reduced cell membrane permeability and ABA level. Stimulating effects of smoke water on germination under cold could be explained by enhanced dehydrogenase activity.

Influence of Oil Contamination on Physical and Biological Properties of Forest Soil After Chainsaw Use.

Forestry works using chainsaws result in up to 7 million liters of various mineral oils being soaked annually into forest soils. These substances, containing a complex mixture of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), are highly toxic. The aim of the study was to determine the effect of oil contamination with PAHs on the physical and biological properties of forest soils. The study area was located in southern Poland in the Miechów forest district. The experiment was conducted on four treatment blocks with various amounts of oil addition. The study included the determination of PAH content, dehydrogenase and urease activity, and biomass of earthworms. Physical properties were determined using the dryer method and Kopecky rings of 250 cm3 volume. The results obtained confirmed the hypothesis that oil contamination with PAHs modified the physical properties of forest soils and oil had a negative impact on enzyme activity in soil. Enzyme activity in the studied soils was negatively correlated with PAH content. Earthworm population density reflected the contamination level of oil-contaminated soils.