Plant breeding is generally done through sexual reproduction even when the species is propagated asexually for commercial exploitation, as for example, in sugarcane. Therefore, the development of procedures to evaluate sugarcane seed viability is important for plant breeding programs. The objective of this research was to develop a methodology for analyzing the viability of sugarcane seeds (Saccharum spp.). Three crosses were used, two biparental crosses and one polycross. For the germination test study, two substrates (paper and sand) and three constant incubation temperatures (25 ºC, 30 ºC and 35 ºC), in the presence of constant light and also an alternating temperatures (20-30 ºC), with 8 hours light (30 ºC) and 16 hours darkness (20 ºC), were studied. Seedlings were evaluated every five days. The results demonstrated that temperature affected sugarcane seed germination with the most favorable conditions being the alternating temperature (20-30 ºC) and the constant temperature of 30 ºC on a paper substrate.

In the perspective of a natural “living walls” building, the germination characteristics of 10 xerophytic species, native to the Mediterranean environment, were studied. Their immediate utilization is unfeasible as the majority of tested species has pronounced seed dormancy. Experiments were conduced in vitro in Petri dishes incubated in climatic chambers regulated to different light and temperature conditions. In the cases of deep dormancy several physical, chemical and/or physiological seed treatments were tested to improve germination. Seed treatments showed that greatest success in dormancy breaking was obtained by chilling, although in some species gibberellic acid (GA3) or sodium hypochlorite treatment proved more effective, indicating the physiological nature of germination inhibition. In Convolvulus cantabrica dormancy was shown to be physical, as it was removed by seed coat scarification. More than half of the species displayed light-dependent germination, above all in small seeds. Seedling emergence was obtained from different burial depths. Depth-mediated germination inhibition was inversely correlated with weight of 1000 seeds, and smaller seeds required very shallow sowing.

Soil physical properties can affect to seed germination and plant growth. Soil compaction will degrade soil physical properties which in term will affect to root penetration and development in the soil. The improvements of soil physical properties is required to ensure seed germination and plant growth such treatment to maintain soil bulk density is quite low. The purpose of this research is to study the influence of soil compaction (soil bulk density) to soil physical characteristics and seed germination of peanuts and soybean.This research used Jasinga Podsolik Soil, conducted at Soil Physical Laboratory, Department of Soil Science and Land Resources, Faculty of Agriculture IPB, and Greenhouse of Center of Biological Resources and Biotechnology, Research and Community Services Agency, IPB(March-November 2009). Completed random design was used as experimental design and Duncan's Multiple Range Test (DMRT) was used to identify the effect of treatment. The bulk density results of the research showed that the increasing of soil bulk density (soil compaction) had significantly affect on pF curves, permeability rate, and soil resistance before or after planting. For peanut, soil compaction significantly affect to plant height and root length. Soil compaction did not significantly affect on stem diameter, number of leaves, canopy or root biomass.For soybean, the influence of soil compaction had significantly affect just only on plant height. Stem diameter, number of leaves, root length or root and canopy biomasses were not affected by soil compaction

Soil physical properties can affect to seed germination and plant growth. Soil compaction will degrade soil physical properties which in term will affect to root penetration and development in the soil. The improvements of soil physical properties is required to ensure seed germination and plant growth such treatment to maintain soil bulk density is quite low. The purpose of this research is to study the influence of soil compaction (soil bulk density) to soil physical characteristics and seed germination of peanuts and soybean.This research used Jasinga Podsolik Soil, conducted at Soil Physical Laboratory, Department of Soil Science and Land Resources, Faculty of Agriculture IPB, and Greenhouse of Center of Biological Resources and Biotechnology, Research and Community Services Agency, IPB(March-November 2009). Completed random design was used as experimental design and Duncan's Multiple Range Test (DMRT) was used to identify the effect of treatment. The bulk density results of the research showed that the increasing of soil bulk density (soil compaction) had significantly affect on pF curves, permeability rate, and soil resistance before or after planting. For peanut, soil compaction significantly affect to plant height and root length. Soil compaction did not significantly affect on stem diameter, number of leaves, canopy or root biomass.For soybean, the influence of soil compaction had significantly affect just only on plant height. Stem diameter, number of leaves, root length or root and canopy biomasses were not affected by soil compaction

A study to determine the best alternative substrate paper for testing seed viability in rolled paper method was conducted with 2 experiments. The first experiment studied the physical characteristic of six substrate papers, straw, filter, stencil, CD, HVS and Samson related to seed germination. The second experiment was conducted to identify the best alternative substrate for testing germination of different seeds. High and low viability of rice, maize, peanut, yardlong bean, chick pea and leafy vegetable seeds were tested with the substrate papers arranged in a Randomized  Block Design with three replications. The first experiment showed that CD and Stencil papers had good physical characters for germination substrate. Water absorption of CD and stencil papers were 28.1g and 24.4g per medium unit, lower than Straw paper (46.51 g/medium unit) but significantly higher than the international standard of filter paper  (20.7g/medium unit). In rolled paper test, no significant difference of water holding ability among the papers. Water lost during the 7 day testing were less than 2 g/medium unit for all of the papers. All of the papers including stencil and CD papers were homogenous with low coefficient of variation, less than 5%. The second experiment showed that different data of germination percentages and dry weight of normal seedlings were obtained from the diferrent subtrate papers. As compared to the common substrate straw paper, the stencil paper produced the most similar data, 100% and 91.7% similarities of germination percentage and  dry weight of normal seedlings, respectively, whereas the other papers performed 37.5 - 91.6% and 29.1 - 66.7%.   Key words:  Substrate paper, physical characteristic, seed viability testing.

In this article we study the germination of Erica australis seeds and their response to diferent treatments (high temperature, acidic condition, cold stratification, gibberellic acid applications)

A study was conducted during 2008–09 to examine the role of various dormancy breaking treatments, viz hot water treatment, scarification, stratification, concentrated acids (H2SO4, HNO3 and HCl), gibberellic acid, potassium nitrate, alcohol, acetone and gamma-rays irradiation on the germination of caper (Capparis spinosa L.) seeds. Dried seeds were placed in the germination chambers for 20–28 days at constant temperature of 25±2°C under continuous light (20 hr) photoperiod after its treatments. Highest germination of 62% was obtained when seeds were pretreated with H2SO4 (40 min.), followed by 400 ppm of gibberellic acid soaking (2 hr). The results revealed that the seeds were epitomized by both physical and physiological type of dormancy that should be overcome to have maximum germination percentag

Study of Acacia tortilis seed germination under different abiotic constraints. Since Tunisian acacia populations are threatened by regression, we analyzed as a preliminary study the germination behavior of the species in order to plan subsequently for a preservation and rehabilitation program. In this context and to optimize acacia seed germination and to overcome and remove the obstacle of tegumentary inhibition, we have in a first attempt tested several physical (scarification, boiled water) and chemical (sulfuric acid) pretreatments under different temperatures. Thus, we could determine the optimal germination conditions that have been used afterwards for evaluating the germination capacity of the species under different osmotic constraints. Several concentrations of NaCl (0 to 22 g.l-1) and PEG (0 to -8 bars) were applied on seeds. Parameters related to germination capacity and kinetic were assessed and analyzed. Thus, soaking seeds in concentrated sulfuric acid for one hour allowed us to improve the germination rate and its speed. When studying the effect of the temperature on the germination process, we showed that 25°C could improve the rate and average time of germination. Under osmotic stress, we found a highly significant treatment effect (PEG concentrations) on the germination rate and average time of germination, and the species did not display a high drought tolerance behavior (since germination is totally inhibited under -8 bars). Moreover, the study of the effect of salt stress on germination revealed a highly significant effect of NaCl concentrations on the germination rate and average time of germination, and a good level of salt tolerance since it succeeded to germinate under high salt concentrations (21% of germination rate under 22 g.l-1NaCl). In conclusion, our study clearly showed that germination capacity of Acacia tortilis under the environmental constraints and factors is sufficiently assured to consider this species for a reforestation program and to extend consequently its area of distribution.

To determine physical and physiological factors for Liriodendron tulipifera L. somatic embryo germination, temporary immersion bioreactor (TIB) system was investigated. It was designed to immerse liquid media with plantlets so that it was able to adjust the immersion time. Immersion of 120 minutes every 4 hours and 60 minutes every 4 hours was found to be effective in germination (91.64%, 85.67%, respectively). However, hyperhydricity of the plantlets was higher in short immersion time (15 minutes every 6 hours) and long immersion time (120 minutes every 4 hours) (51.61%, 34.28%, respectively). Immersion of 60 minutes every 4 hours showed the lowest hyperhydric plantlets, and also it showed the lowest activities of abscisic acid (ABA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase. The overall results implied that immersion time of media affected germination and growth of somatic embryo, and it was able to make use of germination and growth of L. tulipifera somatic embryos.

The expansion of the areas for chickpea culture depends on the production of seeds of superior quality. In this study, it was evaluated the main physical, physiological and sanitary characteristics in seeds of six genotypes of chickpea produced in Montes Claros, North of Minas Gerais. The analyzed variables were the moisture content, the physical purity, the mass of a thousand seeds, the uniformity, the percentage of germination, the first count of the test germination, the rate of speed germination and emergency, the dry mass of the aerial part of the seedling and the occurrence of microorganisms and plagues in seed storage. The physical, physiological and sanitary quality of the seeds was affected by different genotypes of the chickpea analyzed. The variations in relation to the physical quality of the seeds between the genotypes of chickpea are not related to sanitary and physiological quality of them. In general, the seeds of genotype CNPH 08-04 showed physical, physiological and sanitary superior quality in relation to the seeds of other genotypes. | A expansão das áreas para o cultivo de grão-de-bico depende da produção de sementes detentoras de qualidade superior. Neste trabalho, foram avaliadas as principais características físicas, fisiológicas e sanitárias em sementes de seis genótipos de grão-de-bico produzidas em Montes Claros, Norte de Minas Gerias. As variáveis analisadas foram o grau de umidade, a pureza física, a massa de mil sementes, a uniformidade, a porcentagem de germinação, a primeira contagem do teste de germinação, o índice de velocidade de germinação e de emergência, a massa seca da parte aérea das plântulas e a ocorrência de microrganismos e de pragas de armazenamento nas sementes. A qualidade física, fisiológica e sanitária das sementes foi afetada pelos diferentes genótipos de grão-de-bico analisados. As variações quanto à qualidade física das sementes entre os genótipos de grão-de-bico não estão relacionadas à qualidade fisiológica e sanitária destas. De maneira geral, as sementes do genótipo CNPH 08-04 apresentaram qualidade física, fisiológica e sanitária superior à qualidade das sementes dos demais genótipos.