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INTRODUCTION
Germination is the resumption of growth and development after a period of
dormancy (Hoefnagels, 2013). It may be defined as a series of events which take
place when dry quiescent seeds imbibe water resulting in an increase in
metabolic activity and the initiation of a seedling from the embryo. In order for
germination to be initiated the following criteria must be meet: (1) the seed must
first be viable (the embryo is alive and capable of germination). (2) Appropriate
environmental conditions such as available water, proper temperature, oxygen,
and, in some cases, light must be supplied. (3) Primary dormancy in the seed
must be overcome (Arteca, 1997).
Germination, which is the beginning of growth of a seed, depends on the
interplay of a number of internal and external factors. In order to germinate, a
seed must first be viable (alive) (Stern, 2011). When conditions are favorable for
the growth of a particular seed, germination (sprouting) begins. The ability of
seeds to germinate is called viability. The conditions favorable for germination
include (1) a suitable temperature (between 16
moisture, and (3) sufficient oxygen dissolved in water (Capco and Yang, 2010).
Germination depends upon imbibition, the uptake of water due to the low
water potential of the dry seed. Imbibing water causes the seed to expand and
rupture its coat and also triggers metabolic changes in the embryo that enable it
to resume growth. (Campbell, 2011). Basic necessities in order to commence
germination may be affected by some factors which inhibit the growth of the
seed.
The researcher hypothesize that if the optimum level for each of the basic
requirements (e.g. water, temperature, osmotic concentration, and oxygen) for
germination is met then a high percentage of germination with longer roots and
shoots could be yielded. This could be derived from the activity conducted
wherein best results of germination transpired from set ups which provided the
soaked seeds with enough medium which enable it to sprout with longer shoots
and roots.
The study aims to meet the following objectives: (a) know some physical
requirements for germination, (b) know the optimum levels of the physical
parameters under which normal germination can take place, and (c) know some
chemicals that affect seed germination.
The experiment was conducted at the Microbiology Laboratory of the
Southern Luzon State University in Lucban, Quezon from 24 th of July up to 31st of
July 2015.
The length of the roots and shoots were measured in millimeters (mm).
The average and other data were recorded in Table 1-B.
C. Temperature and Germination
A twenty (20) one-day old soaked with mongo seeds were obtained. It was
rolled up in strip of moist paper towel. The roll was put in a plastic bag and was
sealed. Three bags were prepared which were labeled A, B, and C respectively.
Set-up A was placed in the refrigerator (about 4 , B was left upright in the
laboratory room (about 25 ), and C was placed in an incubator set at 37
. The set-up was examined on the seventh (7 th) day. The number of seeds
computed. The length of the roots and shoots were measured in millimeters
(mm) and its average was taken. The results were recorded in Table 1-C. The
growth
of
the
seedlings
were
compared.
The
temperature(s)
that
Treatment
s
Group
Number
Soaked
seeds,
Moist
lining
Soaked
seeds,
Covered
with water
Dry seeds,
Dry lining
Number of
Seeds
Germinate
d
N=15
1
2
3
Percentage
(%) of
Germination
Average Length
(mm) of Roots
Average Length
(mm) of Shoots
13
11
15
86.6
7
7
3
10
0
56.5
4
23
77.
6
33.3
8
29.5
8
48.6
7
14
9
3
20
35.9
3
41
43
73.3
15
14
15
100
9
3
10
0
2.79
8.6
7
7.79
4.6
25 mL of 25% KOH + 25
mL of 25% pyrogallic acid
50 mL 25% KOH
50 mL distilled water
Figure
B.1.Seed
Germination and
the Effect
of Oxygen Results of
Group 1
Figure
B.2.Seed
Germination
and the
Oxygen
Effect of
Results of Group 2
25 mL of 25% KOH
5050
mLmL
distilled
+ 25
mL
of
25%
water
pyrogallic
acid
KOH
and the
mL
distilled
water
2550
mL
of
25%
+ 25
50
mL
25%KOH
KOH
mL of 25% pyrogallic acid
Treatments
Group
Number
25 mL of
25% KOH
+ 25 mL of
25%
pyrogallic
acid
50 mL of
25% KOH
50 mL of
distilled
water
Number of
Seeds
Germinated
N=20
1
2
3
Percentage
(%) of
Germinatio
n
1
2
3
Average Length
(mm) of Roots
Average Length
(mm) of Shoots
11
55
4.27
19
19
95
95
6.25
5.1
4.42
19
20
19
95 100 95
27.9
30.8
36.03
27.5
23.65 45.10
Figure C.1.a.Seeds in 4
Result of Group 1
Figure C.1.b.Seeds in 25
Figure C.1.c.Seeds in 37
Result of Group 1
Result of
Group 1
Figure C.2.a.Seeds in 4
Result of Group 2
Figure C.2.b.Seeds in 25
Result of Group 2
Figure C.2.c.Seeds in 37
Result of Group 2
Figure C.3.a.Seeds in 4
Result of Group 3
Figure C.3.b.Seeds in 25
Result of Group 3
Figure C.3.c.Seeds in 37
Result of Group 3
Treatments
Group
Number
Number of
Seeds
Germinate
d
N=20
1
2
3
Percentage
(%) of
Germination
Average Length
(mm) of Roots
18
90
80
10
9.72
7.05
35.05 56.35
29
41.39
16 20
4
20
20
12 100 100
0
60
15
17
17
85
Average Length
(mm) of Shoots
25
75
85
35.8
37
Table 1-C: Seed Germination and the Effect of Temperature
Figure D.1.E.
1.00%
and F.
2.50% of
10 mL NaCl
Results of Group 1
Figure
D.1.G. 5.00% and H. 7.50% of 10 mL NaCl Results of
Group 1
Figure D.1.I.
10.00% 10 mL
and D. 0.75% of 10
mL NaCl Results
Group 2
Figure
D.2.E.
1.00%
and
F. 2.50% of 10 mL NaCl
Results of Group 2
Figure
Figure D.2.I.
10.00% 10 mL NaCl
Results of Group 2
Figure
0.75% of 10 mL
NaCl
Results of
Group 3
Figure
2.50%
of 10
mL
NaCl
Group
Results of
Figure
Figure
10.00% 10 mL
D.3.I.
NaCl
Results
of Group 3
Table 1-D:
Germination and
Effect of Osmotic
Seed
the
Concentration
Treatments
Group
Number
Distilled
Water
0.00%
Number of
Seeds
Germinate
d
N=20
1
2
3
Percentage
(%) of
Germination
Average Length
(mm) of Roots
Average Length
(mm) of Shoots
20
10
95
95
54.
54.5
57.3
77.4
69.2
91.0
5.40
60.6
65.1
19
19
0
20
20
20
0.25%
19
19
19
10
10
10
1.6
33.9
53.3
95
95
95
6.5
30.7
60.2
4.5
12.7
19.1
6.5
7.89
20
0.50%
20
18
17
0.75%
10
90
85
0
14
20
20
80
1.00%
10
10
5
1
95
59.8
4
6.95
11.55
13.2
9
5.57
10.5
10.9
5
30
2.50%
5.00%
7.50%
10.00%
DISCUSSION
three groups. It could be infer to the fact that it gave the optimal amount of water
for the mongo seeds. Truth be known that water is one of the initial necessities
before a seed could germinate. According to Miller McDonald, water is a basic
requirement for germination. It is essential for enzyme activation, breakdown,
translocation, and use of reserve storage material. In their resting state, seeds
are characteristically low in moisture and relatively inactive metabolically. That is,
they are in a state of quiescence. Thus, quiescent seeds are able to maintain a
minimum level of metabolic activity that assures their long-term survival in the
soil and during storage. A lack of water during the germination process can
reduce the germination percentage due to water stress (Doneen and
MacGillivray 1943; Hanks and Thorp 1956). Exposure to excess water results in
the production of a substance which reduces oxygen supply to the embryo and
elevates inhibitory substances in the seed which reduce germination (Atwater
1980; Heydeker 1977).
Carbon dioxide is a product of respiration and when gas exchange is poor can
accumulate in the soil, resulting in an inhibition of germination (Arteca, 2004).
The results showed that the mongo seeds suspended in the flask which
contained H2O continued to germinate and give rise to more roots while the
mongo seeds suspended in the flask which contained pyrogallic acid (C6H6O3)
and Potassium hydroxide (KOH) were not able to germinate. C6H6O3 together
with KOH absorbs the oxygen, carbon dioxide and water needed for respiration.
Because the chemicals absorbed everything needed for respiration, the mongo
seeds were not able to germinate. Unlike the other flask filled with distilled water,
the seeds were able to germinate because nothing hinders the uptake of oxygen
(Lestran et al., 2014).
35.05 mm for the roots and 11.15 mm for the shoots. Group 2 yielded 20 (100%)
germinated mongo seeds with an average length of 56.35 mm and 9.34 mm for
the roots and shoots respectively. The third group only got 12 (60%) seeds that
germinated with an average length of 29 mm for the roots and 34.92 mm for the
shoots.
Set up C was put inside an incubator to have a temperature of 37. There
should have been no growth of seeds on this set up but an error occurred for the
incubator was turned off and thus the aim to keep the set ups at the said
temperature for seven days was not achieved. Group 1 had 15 (75%) seeds that
germinated with an average of 41.39 mm for the roots and 30.28 mm for the
shoots. Group 2 observed that there were 17 (85%) seeds that had germinated
with an average length of 35.8 mm for the roots and 24.6 for the shoots. There
were also 17 (85%) seeds that sprouted in the third group with an average of
45.29 mm for the roots and 21.53 mm for the shoots.
Among the three set ups, Set up B should have the best result of the
germination percentage and the length of the shoots and roots since it is the
closest one to the optimum temperature that a mongo seed needs in order to
germinate.
Temperature regulates the rate of germination, germination percentage, and
subsequent seedling growth. In general the germination rate is low at reduced
temperatures but increases as the temperature rises to an optimum level beyond
which there is a reduction due to seed injury. On the other hand the germination
percentage may remain constant over the middle part of this temperature range if
enough time is allowed for germination to occur (Arteca, 2004).
Mongo seed is a warm season plant, and will grow within a mean temperature
range of about 20 to 40. It is sensitive to low temperature and is killed by frost.
Poelhman (1978) suggested that mean temperatures of 20 to 20 may be the
minimum for productive growth, with mean temperatures in the range of 28 to
30 being optimum With temperatures above 28, increases in transpiration
and respiration could offset benefits from increases in photosynthesis and retard
plant growth Germination is inhibited by low temperature. In a germination
study, the rate of germination declined slowly below 25, dropped off sharply
below 14, and virtually ceased below 11.5 (Simon et al., 1976). Failure of
the seeds to germinate appeared to be due to low temperature inhibition of
mitosis since root elongation did not occur (Poehlman, 1991).
respectively. For the third group, the average length of the roots is 20 mm and
10.95 mm for the shoots.
Petri dish F which had 2.50% of NaCl had 1 (5%) seed that germinated for
Group 1 with 1 mm long in roots and 2 mm long for the shoots. There were no
seeds (0%) that sprouted in the second group. Six (30%) seeds germinated in
Group 3 whose shoots are 3 mm long.
For Petri dishes G, H, and I, which NaCl concentrations ranges from 5.00% to
10.00%, no seeds had germinated although formation of molds can be observed
on the mongo seeds which are halophiles that grow in the presence of NaCl.
Among the 9 Petri dishes, Petri dish A had given the best result considering
the percentage of germination and the size of the germinated seeds because
there was no presence of NaCl that can inhibit seed germination.
Laboratory experiment in Petri dishes was carried out to investigate the
effect of different salt concentration levels (0, 50, 10, 150 and 200) mMol / L of
sodium chloride on the seeds germination and growth of mung bean plant. The
results of the study showed that, the increase in salinity concentration caused a
decrease in seeds germination percentages (%97, %96, %95 and %82)
respectively as compared with germination percentage (%100) with a control
treatment; the stem lengths, fresh and dry matter weights decreased as a result
of the increase of salinity at all the treatments when salinity level increased
(Seedi and Gatteh, 2010).
ability of the roots to exclude salt, thus increasing the uptake rate of salt and its
accumulation in shoots (Munns, 1980).
average length of 36.03 mm for the roots and 45.10 mm for the shoots. The said
flask had given the best result among the three set ups. Enough oxygen is
needed in order for the seed to germinate. This happened through respiration
wherein oxygen was derived from the distilled water.
The third activity was set to know what temperature best suit seed
germination. Set up B was placed inside the laboratory to have a room
temperature of 25. The first group got 20 (100%) germinated seeds with an
average length of 35.05 mm for the roots and 11.15 mm for the shoots. Group 2
yielded 20 (100%) germinated mongo seeds with an average length of 56.35 mm
and 9.34 mm for the roots and shoots respectively. The third group only got 12
(60%) seeds that germinated with an average length of 29 mm for the roots and
34.92 mm for the shoots. It had given off the best result among the three set ups.
Room temperature served as the optimal temperature requirement for the seeds
to germinate because low temperature temporarily inactivate the production of
enzymes and high temperature kills the said enzymes.
The last experiment was conducted to determine the effect of osmotic
concentration on the germination of the mongo seeds. Petri dish A which had
0.00% of NaCl had 20 (100%) germinated seeds for Group 1 which have 54.9
mm and 77.45 mm average lengths for the roots and shoots respectively. Group
2 got 19 (95%) germinated seeds with an average length of 54.58 mm for the
roots and 69.26 mm for the shoots. There were also 19 (95%) seeds that
germinated in Group 3 with an average length of 57.34 mm for the roots and
91.05 for the shoots. It had given the best result among the 9 set ups. The lower
the salinity, the better for the germination of seeds because salt reduces the
ability of the seeds to imbibe water.
Therefore, if the optimum level for each of the basic requirements (e.g.
water, temperature, osmotic concentration, and oxygen) for germination is met
then a high percentage of germination with longer roots and shoots could be
yielded.
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