Evaluation of the effects of some benzimidazole derivatives on germination parameters of wheat varieties

This study aims to investigate the effect of some benzimidazole derivatives on the germination parameters of bread and durum wheat varieties. These derivatives contain both unsubstituted and substituted benzimidazole structures to determine the effect of the substituents on germination. Three different durum wheat varieties (Çeşit-1252, Eminbey, and Kızıltan-91) and three different bread wheat varieties (Demir 2000, Bayraktar 2000, and Tosunbey) were used in the study. First, 1H-benzimidazole (1) and 5-nitro-1H-benzimidazole (2) compounds were used to synthesize dinitro compounds (5,6-dnitro-1H-benzimidazole (3), 5,6-dinitro-2-methyl-1H-benzimidazole (4)) in order to investigate the effects of wheat on germination characteristics. Subsequently, these compounds were each reduced to nitroamine compounds (2-methyl-5-nitro-1H-benzimidazole-6-amine (5), 5-nitro-1H-benzimidazole-6-amine (6)). Azo dyes (1-[(5-nitro-1H-benzimidazol-6-yl) diazenyl]naphthalene-2-ol (7), 1-[(2-methyl-5-nitro-1H-benzimidazol-6-yl)diazenyl]naphthalene-2-ol (8)) and Schiff base compound (2-[(2-methyl-5-nitro-1H-benzimidazol-6-yl)imino]methyl}phenol (9)) were synthesized from nitroamine compounds. Wheat samples whose germination parameters were to be investigated were treated with benzimidazole derivatives synthesized at a concentration of 10-6 M. Germination rates, coleoptile lengths, and root lengths of wheat varieties were measured on the 8th day of germination. The obtained results demonstrated that the efficiency of the benzimidazole compounds varied depending on the wheat varieties and germination parameters. 5-nitro-1H-benzimidazole-6-amine (6) had the greatest effect on germination rate while 1H-benzimidazole (1) had the greatest effect on root and coleoptile lengths in all varieties.