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Homeopathy 2013; 102(03): 179-186
DOI: 10.1016/j.homp.2013.05.005
Original Paper
Copyright © The Faculty of Homeopathy 2013

Stimulative influence of germination and growth of maize seedlings originating from aged seeds by 2,4-D potencies

Vesna Dragicevic
1   Maize Research Institute “Zemun Polje”, Slobodana Bajica 1, 11185 Zemun Polje, Serbia
,
Mihajlo Spasic
2   Institute for Biological Research “Sinisa Stankovic”, Bld. Despota Stefana 142, 11060 Belgrade, Serbia
,
Milena Simic
1   Maize Research Institute “Zemun Polje”, Slobodana Bajica 1, 11185 Zemun Polje, Serbia
,
Zoran Dumanovic
1   Maize Research Institute “Zemun Polje”, Slobodana Bajica 1, 11185 Zemun Polje, Serbia
,
Bogdan Nikolic
3   Institute for Plant Protection and Environment, Teodora Drajzera 9, 11040 Belgrade, Serbia
› Author Affiliations
Subject Editor:
Further Information

Publication History

Received21 November 2011
revised04 May 2013

accepted09 May 2013

Publication Date:
20 December 2017 (online)

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Background: The 2,4-D (2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid) is using as a growth regulator in tissue culture media. Maize seeds have poor ability to maintain germination rate in the long term.

Objective: To examine the possible restorative effect of homeopathic 2,4-D potencies on maize seedlings originating from seeds damaged by accelerated aging.

Methods: Seeds of four maize lines were subjected to accelerated aging stress treatment. Seed samples were treated with distilled water (control) and a range of potencies of 2,4-D: 3C, 3.75C, 4.5C, 5.25C and 6C. The germination capacity, fresh substance (FS) and length of root and shoot were determined. Hydrolysis and biosynthesis, GSH/GSSG ratio and redox capacity were calculated.

Results: Induced seed aging decreased germination rate and growth of seedlings. 2,4-D potencies did not have a statistically significant effect on germination. However, there were statistically significant effects on FS production, root and shoot length and redox capacity. The 3C potency had the largest effect on the FS accumulation, 4.5C increased root and shoot length, compared to control (statistically significant). The GSH/GSSG ratio and the redox capacity were decreased by aging. The 3C and 4.5C potencies tended to reverse the GSH/GSSG ratio (statistically significant) in the root and shoot, (i.e., shifted the redox balance to the reduced state).

Conclusion: Homeopathic potencies of 2,4-D appear to have a beneficial effect on artificially aged maize seeds: they stimulate growth through better substance conversion from seed rest, and shift the redox capacity towards a reduced environment. Further work is required to determine if this is an useful means of improving maize seed germination and growth.

Keywords

Maize - 2,4-D - Seed aging - Growth - Redox capacity
 

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