ABSTRACT
The availability of soil water content and nutrition in the maternal plant environment plays pivotal roles in shaping the performance, physio-biochemical properties, and chemical composition of the produced seed. This study aimed to investigate the effects of water and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) of maternal plant environment on performance, physio-biochemical properties, and chemical compositions of Lallemantia species offspring. A split-factorial experiment was performed using a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. The main plot consisted of three drought stress (30 %, 60 % and 90 % of soil available water depletion). The subplots were the factorial combination of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF- and AMF+) and Lallemantia species (L. iberica and L. royleana). The offspring of both Lallemantia species experienced a decrease in seed performance, superoxide dismutase, catalase, ascorbate peroxidase enzyme activities, proline, and chemical composition as well as a rise in hydrogen peroxide and lipid peroxidation due to the limited availability of water in the maternal plant environment. On the other hand, providing adequate nutrition in the maternal plant environment resulted in improved germination index, increased starch, and oil content, as well as higher levels of nitrogen and phosphorus in the offspring of both Lallemantia species. Compared to the offspring of L. royleana, the offspring of L. iberica had a higher number of achenes, seeds, seed weight, larger seed size, greater germination index, and higher levels of starch, oil, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and calcium. In contrast, the offspring of L. royleana exhibited higher longevity, enhanced germination under osmotic and salinity stress, increased proline levels, and higher activities of antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase, catalase, and ascorbic peroxidase as well as sucrose and total soluble sugar. The study concludes that the best seed performance, antioxidant enzyme activities, and carbohydrate levels were observed in the offspring of both Lallemantia species produced under 60 % soil available water depletion with AMF inoculation in the maternal plant environment. These findings highlight the significant impact of the soil available water depletion and AMF inoculation on the seed performance, physio-biochemical properties, and chemical composition of the offspring, providing valuable insights for optimizing seed production and performance.
ABSTRACT
Seed weight, storability, and germinability can depend on maternal plant's environment. However, there is slight information about the effect of light and temperature on seed quality of Lallemantia species. The purpose of this research was to determine the properties of physio-biochemical of maternal plant, seed quality, and seed chemical composition of Lallemantia species (Lallemantia iberica and Lallemantia royleana) under temperature (15 °C, 25 °C, and 35 °C) and photoperiod (8 hd-1, 16 hd-1, and 24 hd-1) maternal plants environment. Increasing temperature and photoperiod caused a reduction in leaf chlorophyll, stomatal movement, total soluble sugar, superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) enzymes activities, and an increment in malondialdehyde (MDA) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) content of seeds. However, the highest weight, germination, vigor index, and longevity, seed chemical compositions were obtained in offspring which matured under 25 °C for 16 hd-1. The highest germination, oil, and relative percentage of fatty acids (oleic acid (OA), linoleic acid (LA), and linolenic acid (LNA)) were obtained in L. iberica seeds. On the contrary, longevity, mucilage, and sucrose were more abundant in L. royleana seeds. Overall, this research has clearly shown that temperature and light quality and quantity of maternal plant's environment have an immensely effect on producing of seeds with high-quality. However, it is necessary to investigate the impact of the epigenetic mechanisms of the maternal plant on the offspring in future studies.
ABSTRACT
Seed coating is considered one of the best methods to promote sustainable agriculture where the physical and physiological properties of seeds can be improved to facilitate planting, increase growth indices and alleviate abiotic and biotic stresses. Several methods of seed coating are used to attain good application uniformity and adherence in the seed coating process. Seed coating has been tested in seeds of various plant species with different dimensions, forms, textures, and germination types. Plant beneficial microorganisms (PBM), such as rhizobia, bacteria, and fungi inoculated via seed inoculation can increase seed germination, plant performance and tolerance across biotic (e.g., pathogens and pests) and abiotic stress (e.g., salt, drought, and heavy metals) while reducing the use of agrochemical inputs. In this review, the microbial seed coating process and their ability to increase seed performance and protect plants from biotic and abiotic stresses are well discussed and highlighted in sustainable agricultural systems.
