Articles
Improvement of the germination rate of Lavandula latifolia Medik. by application of chitosan nanoparticles
Article number
1454_21
Pages
151 – 158
Language
English
Abstract
Lavandula latifolia Medik. is a valuable aromatic-medicinal crop grown for its valuable essential oil, which is highly appreciated by the agri-food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic industries.
Whereas this species has an acceptable germination rate under in vitro conditions, it is important to enhance this ratio to obtain a significant number of plantlets for future plant breeding programs and to make this technology more accessible to farmers.
Chitosan is known to stimulate germination by aiding in the synthesis of gibberellic and indole-3-acetic acid, thus improving seed quality.
Furthermore, some authors recognize that soaking the seeds with chitosan may induce resistance against several diseases and sources of stress.
In light of the above, our aim was to assess the in vitro germination capacity of spike lavender seeds using different doses of chitosan.
To this end, seeds obtained from commercial L. latifolia crops established in the northwest of the Region of Murcia were soaked in three different chitosan solutions (1, 5, and 10 mg mL‑1) for 24 h.
After soaking, they were placed in Murashige and Skoog medium containing 4 mg L‑1 of gibberellic acid.
Additionally, a cold priming treatment that involved freezing the seeds for 24 h was tested.
Germination rate, germination days, and growth parameters were measured.
At the end of the experiment, the seeds that had been soaked in 1 mg mL‑1 chitosan solution showed an increased germination rate, which even doubled that of the control group.
Nonetheless, the acquisition of plantlets got delayed with the increase in chitosan doses.
Growth parameters showed that plantlets treated with the 5 mg mL‑1 solution were smaller than the control, frozen-primed, and 1 mg mL‑1 dose.
Seeds treated with 10 mg mL‑1 did not produce viable plantlets.
Whereas this species has an acceptable germination rate under in vitro conditions, it is important to enhance this ratio to obtain a significant number of plantlets for future plant breeding programs and to make this technology more accessible to farmers.
Chitosan is known to stimulate germination by aiding in the synthesis of gibberellic and indole-3-acetic acid, thus improving seed quality.
Furthermore, some authors recognize that soaking the seeds with chitosan may induce resistance against several diseases and sources of stress.
In light of the above, our aim was to assess the in vitro germination capacity of spike lavender seeds using different doses of chitosan.
To this end, seeds obtained from commercial L. latifolia crops established in the northwest of the Region of Murcia were soaked in three different chitosan solutions (1, 5, and 10 mg mL‑1) for 24 h.
After soaking, they were placed in Murashige and Skoog medium containing 4 mg L‑1 of gibberellic acid.
Additionally, a cold priming treatment that involved freezing the seeds for 24 h was tested.
Germination rate, germination days, and growth parameters were measured.
At the end of the experiment, the seeds that had been soaked in 1 mg mL‑1 chitosan solution showed an increased germination rate, which even doubled that of the control group.
Nonetheless, the acquisition of plantlets got delayed with the increase in chitosan doses.
Growth parameters showed that plantlets treated with the 5 mg mL‑1 solution were smaller than the control, frozen-primed, and 1 mg mL‑1 dose.
Seeds treated with 10 mg mL‑1 did not produce viable plantlets.
Authors
G. Cáceres-Cevallos, A.A. Lozano-Pérez, A. Bayo-Canha, C. Martínez-Conesa, I. García-Aledo, L. Olivares, M. Quílez-Simón, J.J. Pérez-Cuadrado, P. Romero-Espinar, P. Ros, M. Jordán
Keywords
Lavandula latifolia, aromatic-medicinal plants, chitosan, nanoparticles, seed germination
Groups involved
- Division Plant Genetic Resources, Breeding and Biotechnology
- Working Group Genetic Transformation and Gene Editing
- Working Group Horticultural Biotechnology and Breeding
- Division Ornamental Plants
- Division Vegetables, Roots and Tubers
- Division Temperate Tree Fruits
- Division Vine and Berry Fruits
- Division Horticulture for Development
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