Effects of protatranes on the germination of wheat and triticale seeds after their long-term storage

Abstract

The article studies the chemical compounds of a number of protatranes as biostimulants of the germination of wheat and triticale seeds after their long-term storage. The relevance of the study is determined by the need to restore the germination of unique samples of grain crops from the collection of the N.I. Vavilov All-Russian Institute of Plant Genetic Resources (VIR) (Saint Petersburg). The research objects were the seeds of different years of reproduction with various levels of original germination, as well as those with an initially high germination and subjected to accelerated aging. The experiments were conducted in the presence of the following physiologically active non-toxic protatranes 2-Me-C6H4OCH2COO- • HN+(CH2CH2OH)3 (1) and 4-Cl-C6H4SCH2COO-•HN+(CH2CH2OH)3 (2) across a wide range of concentrations (1•10-2 – 1•10-9M). At the first stage, the effect of protatrane 1 on the germination of soft spring wheat was investigated. It was observed that, under the influence of protatrane 1 at concentrations from 10-4 to 10-9 M, the seed germination and the germination energy increased by 8.7-20.0% and 4.7-8.0%, respectively. The use of protatrane 1 at higher concentrations (10-2M) resulted in a decrease in germination. Subsequently, experiments were carried out on 3 samples of soft winter wheat seeds stored for 52 years and having the germination of 19-26%. The 20-hour exposure of seeds to water solutions of protatrane 1 at concentrations of 5 • 10-7-10-9 M increased their germination by 3.7-10.0%. The best stimulating effect was achieved at a concentration of 5 • 10-7 M. At the next stage, the seeds with a high original germination (86-96%) and subjected to accelerated aging were investigated. The treatment of such samples with protatrane 1 at concentrations of 10-6 and 10-4 M turned out to be less effective: the germination and its energy either remained the same or increased insignificantly (by 3.5% and 7.5%, respectively). The treatment of triticale seeds with pro-tatranes 1 and 2 at a concentration of 5 • 10-7 M was carried out in a similar manner. It was shown that the action of protatranes 1 and 2 led to an increase in the germination by 3-7% and a significant increase in the germination energy by 7-45%. By further optimising the production process and selecting the most active protatranes, the described approach can provide for a significant recovery of seed germination.