EFFECT OF HIGH PRESSURE ON GERMINATION OF SEEDS (MEDICAGO SATIVA AND MELILOTUS ALBA).

Area of Science:

• Agricultural Science
• Plant Biology
• Seed Technology

Background:

• Seed dormancy and impermeability are common challenges in agriculture.
• Hydraulic pressure is an emerging technique for seed treatment.
• Understanding optimal conditions for pressure-induced germination is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the effect of high hydraulic pressure on seed germination.
• To determine the influence of pressure intensity, duration, and temperature on germination rates.
• To compare the efficacy of pressure treatment on different seed types (Medicago sativa, Melilotus alba).

Main Methods:

• Seeds of Medicago sativa and Melilotus alba were subjected to hydraulic pressures of 2000 and 500 atmospheres at varying temperatures (20°C and 0°C).
• Exposure durations ranged from 1 to 30 minutes.
• Seeds were dried post-treatment and germinated after 30 days.

Main Results:

• A pressure of 2000 atmospheres significantly increased germination percentage for both species.
• Optimal exposure times at 20°C were 1-10 minutes for Medicago sativa and 5-30 minutes for Melilotus alba.
• Lower pressure (500 atm) was less effective and reduced overall seed vitality, while higher pressure rendered hard seeds permeable.

Conclusions:

• High hydraulic pressure is an effective method for enhancing seed germination, particularly for impermeable seeds.
• Temperature significantly affects the required pressure exposure duration, with lower temperatures necessitating longer treatments.
• Optimized hydraulic pressure treatments hold potential for improving agricultural seed performance.