Nanomaterials (NMs), with a particle size less than 100 nm, influence key life events of the plants that include seed germination, seedling vigor, root initiation, growth and photosynthesis to flowering.
In our study, we used a completely randomized design to assess the allelopathic effects of Desmodium uncinatum and Desmodium intortum leaf (DuL, DiL respectively) and root (DuR, DiR respectively) extracts on germination and seedling vigor of the invasive weed Tagetes minuta.
A total of 34 QTL for seedling vigor were identified among these RIL.
Takagi et al. ([2013]) identified two QTLs for seedling vigor using 531 F2 individuals of Dunghan Shali/Hitomebore.
Rice varieties suitable for direct seeding should include high germination ability, seedling vigor, fast root growth, early tillering ability, and lodging resistance (Lee et al. 2002; Tang 2002).
Prasad et al. [2] recorded application of ZnO-NPs (25 nm @ 1000 ppm) enhanced seed germination, seedling vigor, plant and root growth in peanuts.
For instance, 11,700 (34%) (Fig. 8a), 9097 (38%) (Fig. 8d) and 4046 (24%) (Fig. 8e) accessions were found highly tolerant in the respective screening of seedling vigor, rate of recovery after the first and second stress, respectively.
Interestingly, leaf width is often used as an indirect selection tool for embryo size, a trait that is consistently associated with seedling vigor and water use efficiency in the cereals (Condon et al. 2004).
In addition, 9 QTLs for seedling vigor traits, including coleoptile emergence, were detected under two field conditions drained and flooded soil and 2 QTLs for coleoptile emergence were identified on chromosomes 1 and 3 under flooded soil condition (Zhou et al. 2007).
Zouher et al. [ 28] have shown that VSR1, VSR3 and VSR4, but not the remaining VSRs or RMRs, participate in vacuolar sorting of VAC2 in vegetative tissues, and 12S globulins and 2S albumins in seeds, an activity that is essential for seedling germination vigor.
In the late 1990s, researchers at the IRRI completed a series of pioneering studies to investigate how seed sowing conditions, cultivar genotypes, seedling physiological characteristics, and seed vigor affected the germination and development of seedlings in hypoxic conditions (Yamauchi et al. 1993; Yamauchi et al. 1994; Yamauchi & Chuong 1995; Yamauchi & Biswas 1997).
