Seed priming is a promising pre-sowing physiological treatment that utilizes a high osmotic potential solution and stores reserves in seed material to enhance germination. This study is aimed to investigate the influence of different seed priming methods in the germination and early seedling stages of cucumber. A completely random design (CRD) was used for the experiment, including six priming treatments, i.e., T1 (control), T2 (hydropriming), T3 (halopriming 0.5% NaCl), T4 (osmopriming 0.5% PEG), T5 (buffalo milk), and lastly T6 (cow urine). There was a significant effect of seed priming; the highest water imbibition was observed on halopriming (53.71%) and buffalo milk (53.53%); however, the highest germination percentage was observed in cow urine (93.75%), with the least mean germination time (3.65). The highest seedling length, root lengths, and shoot length were also observed on cow urine priming. The dry weight and moisture content were also observed to be highest in cow urine priming. Different priming techniques significantly impact cucumber seed germination and growth. Cow urine priming is the most effective, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly pre-sowing method for cucumber seedlings, benefiting farmers and promoting better germination without harming the environment.

This study was conducted as both petri dishes and pot experiments on four different salt-sensitive cotton genotypes (Laser, May 505, May 455 and Selin) in order to investigate the role of exogenous salicylic acid applications in reducing the effects of salt stress. Six saline treatments; 0, 30, 60, 90, 120 mM NaCl were used. Each group divided into three sub-groups (hydo-primed control, 0.5 mM and 1.0 mM SA) on the basis of seed priming treatments. They were applied in three replications according to the randomized block design. In all genotypes, 90 mM and 120 mM salt stress negatively affected germination and seedling development. In salt stress up to 60 mM, it was recommended to May 505 and Selin genotypes with 0.5 mM salicylic acid pre-application to the seeds.

Poor germination and suboptimal seedling growth constitute as prime factors in lowering the achene yield and seed oil content of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.), while chemo-priming with micronutrients might serve as a biological viable strategy provided source and dose optimization are performed. A trial was executed to appraise the comparative impact of seed priming with different doses of micronutrients like boron (B) and zinc (Zn) on sunflower germination and seedling growth traits of sunflower. The experiment was comprised of six treatments of B (0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.8, 1.6, 3.20 ppm) and Zn (0, 4, 8, 12, 16 and 20 mM) each, while seed germination, root and seedling growth related traits were taken as experimental variables. The results revealed that all treatments remained ineffective regarding seed germination and seed vigour of sunflower, while B and Zn doses of 0.2 ppm and 12 mM respectively, enhanced seedling emergence rate and vigour. The Zn (8 mM) significantly improved root length along with their fresh and dry weights, while all doses of B imparted antagonistic effects on root attributes. Likewise, Zn (8 mM) remained superior for shoot length, fresh and dry weights, while higher doses of B remained contra-productive for shoot growth of sunflower.

A field-based experiment was carried out in Rukum (East), Nepal, from February to June 2020, to assess the effect of different pre-sowing treatments on germination of Persian walnut. The experiment was carried out in a randomized complete block design with six treatments and four replications. The treatments included hot water treatment, chilling stratification only, cracking + Gibberellic acid (500ppm) followed by chilling stratification, cracking + Gibberellic acid (750ppm) followed by chilling stratification, Gibberellic acid (500ppm) + chilling stratification and Gibberellic acid (750ppm) + chilling stratification. The minimum days for germination (15.75 days) and highest germination (53.25%) were obtained when the combination of cracking with GA3 @ 750 ppm along with chilling stratification was done. The maximum shoot length (34.83 cm) was observed in the combination of cracking with GA3 @ 500 ppm followed by stratification but statistically similar shoot length (34.63 cm) was observed when cracking, application of GA3 @ 750 ppm followed by stratification was done. Cracking, treatment with GA3 @ 500 ppm followed by chilling stratification resulted in the highest shoot fresh weight (11.93 gm) and root fresh weight (10.77 gm) compared to the other treatments used. Thus, cracking along with treatment by GA3 @ 750 ppm followed by chilling stratification could be suggested to the walnut growers for better germination and a better morphological and physiological status of the rootstocks/seedlings.

This study has been carried out in 2017-2018 in order to determine seed dormancy and effective germination depth wild mustard (Sinapis arvensis L.). The in-vitro dormancy breaking experiments (tip breaking, sanding, H2SO4 application, holding in flowing and still water, GA3, KNO3 and GA3+KNO3 combination application) has been applied to wild mustard seeds collected from wheat field in Tokat province and has been applied to wild mustard seeds collected from wheat field in Tokat province and the most effective method was determined as 1000 ppm GA3+KNO3 with 98% impact on seed germination at 15°C within 72 hours. In contrast germination rate has been calculated as 5% in control plants. Furthermore 15°C was assessed as optimum temperature for seed germination was the most effective temperature and during depth studies 100% of wild mustard seeds germinated at 3-5 cm. Because of the difficulies with the work with seeds and plants that have dormancy, these data will contribute future studies.

In this study, the effects of the extracts obtained from flower, stem, leaf, branch and their mixture of Nerium oleander L. on the seed germination and seedling growth of four Pistacia species (Pistacia terebinthus L., P. vera L., P. khinjuk Stocks., P. atlantica Desf. and P. terebinthus L.) were investigated. Five hundred grams of N. oleander was taken from the plant parts and the extracts were mixed with distilled water (1.5 L). The extracts were applied to Pistacia species for 24 and 48 hours. The results showed that the extract had positive effects on their germination and growths of the species mentioned above. The highest germination rate for all the Pistacia species was obtained from the extracts of flower, while the lowest germination rate was recorded in the mixture of all parts of N. oleander mentioned above. Moreover, the treatment time was found to reduce the germination ratio. It was also found that the extracts from the stem of N. oleander were the most effective on the stem height of the Pistacia species studied. It was followed by the extracts from branches, leaves and flower, respectively. Furthermore, the findings indicated that the extracts from the stem of N. oleander had pronounced effect on the stem diameter of the Pistacia species studied. It was followed by the extracts from flower, leaves, and branches, respectively. In general, the effects of the extracts from several parts of N. oleander on the germination and other growing parameters were found to be almost comparable to those of synthetic promoter, Gibberellic Acid (GA3).

The aim of this study is to develop salad dressing as an excipient food that can be used to enhance beneficial effects of salads when co-ingested together. The compounds that include bioactive constituents different from other salad dressings are germinated seed and sprouts of lentils and cowpeas, and caseinomacropeptide isolated from whey. The proximate composition, total phenols and total flavonoids of salad dressing were determined. Its beneficial effects on health (antioxidant activity, antidiabetic activity, bile acid binding capacity, and angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitory activity) were determined using in vitro methods.
Energy value of salad dressing is 111 kcal/100 g and 11.41% of the energy value of the salad dressing is provided by protein. Total phenol content is 79 mg CE/100 g. Salad dressing displayed higher antioxidant activity against DPPH radical (130 mM Trolox/100 g) than that of ORAC value (72 mM Trolox/100 g). Salad dressing inhibited ACE by approximately 37%. Expected glycemic index of salad dressing was 74.0 and belongs to high glycemic index foods. Contrary to, salad dressing inhibited α-glucosidase and α-amylase with the IC50 values 1.77 mg protein/mL and 2.40 mg protein/mL, respectively. Relative to cholestyramine, bile acid binding capacity of salad dressing is 39.85%.

Seed maturation in hemp is not homogeneous, and the harvest is done when the seeds are 70-80% mature. This study was carried out to determine the germination and emergence performance of hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) seeds at different maturation stages. Mature, semi-mature and immature seeds were used as material in the study. The study was carried out as two separate experiments, germination and emergence. The germination test was carried out in petri dishes and the emergence test in viols. Both experiments were carried out according to the randomized complete block design with 3 replications. Germination rate (%), shoot and root length (mm), shoot and root fresh weight (mg plant-1) and shoot and root dry weight (mg plant-1) parameters were investigated in the germination study. In the emergence study, the emergence rate (%), seedling and root length (mm), seedling and root fresh weight (mg plant-1), and seedling and root dry weight (mg plant-1) values were examined. In the germination study, semi-mature seeds germinated but did not develop. Therefore, no data could be obtained from other parameters except germination rate. In germination study, germination rate varied between 6.67 and 84.67%, shoot length 27.2-38 mm, root length 39.4-50.8 mm, shoot fresh weight 30.66-49.89 mg plant-1, root fresh weight 4.32-7.69 mg plant-1, shoot dry weight 3.25-7.99 mg plant-1, root dry weight 0.68-2.03 mg plant-1. In the emergence study, emergence rate ranged between 5.18-82.69%, shoot length 68-136.4 mm, root length 37.4-69.6 mm, shoot fresh weight 60.33-154.80 mg plant-1, root fresh weight 27.30-46.73 mg plant-1, shoot dry weight 3.97-10.24 mg plant-1, root dry weight 2.61-5.43 mg plant-1. In both experiments, the highest values obtained from all the examined traits were obtained from mature seeds. In both studies, the highest values were obtained from mature seeds for all traits examined. Semi-mature and immature seeds gave similar results in terms of the traits examined.

This research was carried out to determine the pollination abilities of Domat, Gemlik and Sarı Ulak olive cultivars. Pollen viability rate, germination rate and amount of pollen production were examined during the periods when 25%, 50% and 75% of the flowers were opened.  According to the results obtained from three years’ experimental study, the highest percentages of pollen viability were found in Gemlik (81.51%) and Domat (81.50%), whereas Sarı Ulak cultivar (77.41%) showed the lowest viability. In pollen germination percentages, the highest values on the basis of cultivars were determined 59.85% (Domat), 59.74% (Gemlik) and 52.12% (Sarı Ulak). The highest amount of pollen production in a flower was found in the Sarı Ulak cultivar (329,046) while it was followed by Domat (319,693) and Gemlik (306,385). Despite the high pollen production in Sarı Ulak cultivar, the pollen viability and germination rates were found to be low. In Gemlik and Domat cultivars, all values were obtained relatively near. In addition, it had been noted that the values related to pollen viability, germination and production amount were higher during 50% and 75% flowering periods than 25%.

Salinity, which is one of the abiotic stress factors, severely restricts plant production as a result of the negative effects of plants in different growth and development periods. Therefore, it is extremely important to determine the tolerance limits of plants to salinity in order to eliminate the limiting effect in terms of plant growth. Flax is an industrial plant that is used for multiple purposes and has commercial importance in the world. This research was carried out in controlled laboratory conditions in 2021 to determine the effects of salinity on the germination of flax seeds. In the study, germination rate, root length, root fresh weight, shoot length and shoot fresh weight were evaluated. The result showed that significant differences between different NaCl solutions for all evaluated characters. Although the highest value was obtained in the control group in Mures variety, the highest value was obtained in 25 nM NaCl concentration in all other characters except for the germination rate in Dakota variety. The highest germination rate of 93.3% was obtained from the control application (0 mM NaCl) in both varieties. On the other hand, there was no germination in both varieties in 200 mM application.