Progress 01/01/08 to 12/31/08
Outputs
OUTPUTS: One study met Objective 3. We used confocal microscopy as a technique to assess emryological changes in dormant and dormant seeds of a native grass. Increased growth of embryo was relatived to related germination performance and thus seed vigor. This resulted in a publication. Another study met Objective 2. We examined the effect of coating non-primed and primed cucumber seeds with two species of Trichoderma as a biological control against damping-off caused by Pythium aphanidermatum. This resulted in a publication. PARTICIPANTS: T. D. Pizzolato assisted with the work reported. TARGET AUDIENCES: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
In one study, we developed a protocol to rapidly view high resolution confocal images of purpletop (Tridens flavus) embryos in dormant and non-dormant (scarified) caryopses. Decreased days to 10%, 50% and 90% of final germination percentage and increased length of radicle and widths of main axis and radicle were concomitant with rapid subsequent germination of non-dormant carypopses, but not of dormant ones. Thus, embryo observation using confocal microscopy may be a useful technique for establishing seed vigor. A further study examined the effects of aqueous slurry coatings of Marketmore 26 cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) seeds with commercial preparations of Trichoderma harzianum Rifai strain KRL-AG2 G41 [Th], T. virens G-41 [Tv], or their combination [ThTv]at half rates each of the single application (1 mg/seed) as a control against damping-off in soilless media inoculated with Pythium aphanidermatum [Pa]. Protection against damping-off by high pressures of Pa (16% emergence in non-coated, non-primed seeds) was increased by Th on non-primed (76.4 % emergence) or on osmotically primed seeds, with coating either before or after priming having on effect on efficacy (average 62.6% emergence). In a second study with lower disease pressure (58% emergence from non-coated, non-primed seeds), slurry coating of non-primed or osmotically primed seeds with Th, Tv or ThTv reduced damping-off and increased final emergence percentage. The combination coating eliminated damping-off only in non-primed seeds, and tended to reduce percentage damping-off in primed seeds compared to coating with Th or Tv alone. Th, Tv or ThTv applied to growth media at the same rate as the seed coating (1 mg/seed) were generally as effective as the seed coatings, and only the ThTv growth medium application eliminated damping-off. Th, Tv or ThTv remained viable on non-primed seeds for up to 4 weeks at 21 or 4C, but 21C storage resulted in faster seed germination by week 3 and higher colony forming units per three seeds by week 4.
Publications
- Olszewski, M.W., W.G. Pill, D.A. Scheiblin and K.J. Czymmek. 2009. Use of confocal microscopy to relate germination vigor to embryo morphology of dormant and non-dormant purpletop (Tridens flavus). Seed Science and Technology (in press).
- Pill, W.G., C.M. Collins, B. Goldberger and N. Gregory. 2009. Responses of non-primed or primed seeds of Marketmore 26 cucumber seeds (Cucumis sativus L.) slurry coated with Trichoderma species to planting in growth media infested with Pythium aphanidermatum. Scientia Horticulturae (in press).
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Progress 10/01/03 to 09/30/08
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Dr. Pill has retired and is unavailable to submit a final report. No funds have been spent since the last report was submitted. The last annual report should serve as the final report for this project. Highlights of the project were: We used a confocal microscopy as a technique to assess emryological changes in dormant and dormant seeds of a native grass. we developed a protocol to rapidly view high resolution confocal images of purpletop (Tridens flavus) embryos in dormant and non-dormant (scarified) caryopses. We established that a modified chromasome squash technique could determine mitotic activity in primed mericarps of Moss Curled parsley. PARTICIPANTS: Not relevant to this project. TARGET AUDIENCES: Not relevant to this project. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Project director retired in 2008.
Impacts
Improvement of seed quality and performance and enhance seed utilization.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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Progress 01/01/05 to 12/31/05
Outputs
We established that a modified chromasome squash technique could determine mitotic activity in primed mericarps of Moss Curled parsley. The technique sequentially involved fixing, staining, tissue squashing, and viewing of late anaphase activity (Olszewski et al., 2005). Other work determined that seedling dry weights of radish, kale and amaranth microgreens were greater from a two-stage, primed then germinated seed treatment than from non-treated seeds. Seeds were first primed matrically for 3 days at 12C at -1.0 MPa in fine vermiculite (water at 50% of the vermiculite dry weight), then the moisture content was increased to 150% for 1 day at 27C (Lee and Pill, 2005). Other work examined the effect of stand reduction of Maffei 15 lima bean on economic yield and vegetative growth. Shoot fresh weight per square meter was decreased only in 2003 by 21% and bean fresh weight per square meter was decreased only in 2004 by 13.8% with a stand reduction of 50%. This
disproportional vegetative and reproductive growth response to stand reduction resulted from compensatory linear increases in shoot fresh weight, usable pod number and bean fresh weight of individual plants (Pill et al., 2005).
Impacts
The chromasome squash technique provides a simply and fairly rapid way to assess relative mitotic activity (and potential seed vigor) at selected times during the seed priming process. Seed treatments of Maffei 15 lima beans to improve plant stand may not be beneficial since this crop can suffer considerable stand reduction (up to 50%) with little or no effect on economic yield per land area.
Publications
- Olszewski, M.W., W.G. Pill and T.D. Pizzolato. 2005. A modified chromasome squash technique to determine mitotic activity in primed mericarps. Seed Technology 27:101-103.
- Pill, W.G., T.A. Evans, M.W. Olszewski, R.P. Mulrooney and W.E. Kee Jr. 2005. The Maffei 15 lima bean compensates for reduced plant stand. HortScience 40:2024-2025.
- Lee, J. and W.G. Pill. 2005. Advancing greenhouse establishment of radish, kale and amaranth microgreens through seed treatments. Journal Korean Society Horticultural Science 46: 363-368.
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Progress 01/01/04 to 12/31/04
Outputs
We developed a mechanical planter for large seeds (e.g. lima bean) for small plots that was easy to use and move, and was inexpensive (Birmingham et al., 2004). The most rapid seed treatment to establish beet and chard microgreens was to germinate seeds in moist vermiculite, then sow this mixture (Lee et al, 2004). In other work (Olszewski et al, 2004a), we showed that the enhanced germination from osmotic priming of parsley mericarps was associated with embryonic advancement as indicated by increased volumes, but not length of the radicle and cotyledons. Further work established that a modified chromosome squash technique could determine mitotic activity in primed seeds (Olszewski et al, 2004b). Deceased germination percentage with increasing duration of parsley priming was associated with ALternaria alternata proliferation (Olszewski et al, 2004c)
Impacts
The development of the precision mechanical planter for large seeds should assist researchers in their planting of small plots. Microgreens are increasing in popularity, and we developed a way to increase the speed of crop establishment. Work with primed parsley mericarps examined anatomical or pathological reasons for germination responses.
Publications
- Birmingham, A.M., E.A. Buzby, D.L. Davis, E.R. Benson, W.G. Pill, T.A. Evans, R.P. Mulrooney, and M.W. Olszewski. 2004. A precision seeder for large seeds in small plots. HortTechnology 14:1-3.
- Lee, J.S., W.G. Pill, B.B. Cobb and M. Olszewski. 2004. Seed treatments to advance greenhouse establishment of beet and chard microgreens. Journal of Horticultural Science & Biotechnology 79:565-570.
- Olszewski, M.W., W.G. Pill, and T.D. Pizzolato. 2004a. Germination and embryo anatomy of osmotically primed parsley schizocarps. Journal American Society for Horticultural Science 129:876-880.
- Olszewski, M.W., W.G. Pill and T.D. Pizzolato. 2004b. A modified chromosome squash technique to determine mitotic activity in primed mericarps. Journal Seed Technology (in press)
- Olszewski, M.W., T.A. Evans, N.F. Gregory and W.G. Pill. 2004c Enhanced germination of primed mericarps of parsley (Petroselinum crispum Mill. Nyman ex A.W. Hill) limited by Alternaria alternata proliferation. Journal of Horticultural Science & Biotechnology (in press)
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