Role of nitric oxide in seed biology and seed production: A review

Nitric oxide (NO) is an important signalling molecule employed by plants to control many physiological aspects. This review summarizes that crosstalk between NO/H2O2/Ca2+ signalling pathways that drive pollen tube for sexual reproduction in flowering plants. NO is produced in seeds by both enzymatic and non-enzymatic sources that control many physiological aspects of seeds. The interplay of NO and Reactive oxygen species are likely important players in hormonal crosstalk controlling seed germination and dormancy. Mechanism of seed germination and dormancy is mainly regulated by plant hormones like Abscisic acid (ABA) and Gibberellic acid (GA). Based on mode of action of NO with reference to triggering the germination of crop seeds under abiotic stress condition it is infer that there is a linkage between NO and plant growth regulator production. NO cross-talk with reactive oxygen species (ROS) during abiotic stress condition, modulate the light and hormone depended developmental process in the early stage of plant development. NO action to enhancing abiotic stress tolerance by improving antioxidant enzymes and protection against oxidative damage in many crops are discussed in detail

Survey to Assess the Quality of Groundnut Seeds Sowed by the Farmers of Tiruvannamalai District of Tamil Nadu

A drill-box survey was carried out during 2020 in three villages in Thurinjapuram and one village in Thandrampattu of the Tiruvannamalai district with the objective of determining the seed quality of groundnut sowed by local farmers. Ninety samples were collected, but 31 samples (34.44 %) were TMV-7, 58 samples (64.44 %) were TMV-13, and one sample was VRI-2. This indicated that TMV 13 is the primary variety being grown (Red kernal type). The Hollow-heart symptoms were a symptom that boron content of the soil is low, which is meant to reduce germination. The symptoms of hollow heart might be anywhere from 0% to 20%. The prevalence of hollow-heart symptoms was highest in Randam and Thenkarambalur villages. Furthermore, dark-plumule seeds were a smptom of calcium deficit in the soil, which is intended to reduce germination. In 90 samples, this symptom was reported by nearly all of the villagers, ranging from 0 to 20%. The importance of germination percentage in determining seed quality: only 53 samples (58.90%) were found to exceed the minimum necessary to seed certification of 70%. The percentage of diseased seeds in the samples ranged from 3-22.5 percent; the village of Vallivagai in Thurinjapuram Block had the highest infection rate. These findings imply that the quality of groundnut seed sown by farmers in Tamil Nadu's Tiruvannamalai area was excellent. However, farmers must be better knowledgeable about the importance and advantages of using high-quality certified seeds and must receive training in maintaining seed quality by using pre- and post-harvest methods to harvest high yields of the desired varieties

Exploring the Storage Potential of Groundnut Var.TMV (Gn) 13 under Modified Atmospheric Storage Conditions

The aim of the study is to identify the suitable modified atmospheric storage condition required for long term storage of groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) variety TMV (Gn) 13. The experiment was conducted during 2022 at Department of Seed Science and Technology, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore.  The groundnut pods and kernels were subjected into different storage conditions viz., pods stored in gunny bag, kernels stored in gunny bag, kernels stored in polythene bag, kernels stored with N₂gas and kernels stored in vacuum conditions.  The results revealed that pod storage recorded the maximum germination percentage (73%), root length (14.5cm), shoot length(14.3cm), dry matter production (3.47 g 10 seedlings -1) and vigour (2136). Similarly, enzymes viz., dehydrogenase( 0.72 OD value), peroxidise (1.29U mgˉ¹ protein minˉ¹), alpha amylase (13.60mg maltose min-1) and catalase activity (1.253 µmolH₂O₂ minˉ¹gˉ¹ protein) were also maximum in pod storage with minimum harmful effect of pest(0.6%) and fungus incidence(17%). The nitrogen storage conditions also have maximum enzyme activity viz., dehydrogenase (0.64 OD value), peroxidise (1.24U mgˉ¹ protein minˉ¹), alpha amylase (13.58 mg maltose min-1) and catalase activity (1.220 µmolH₂O₂ minˉ¹gˉ¹ protein) with minimum harmful effect of pest (0.6%) and fungus incidence (20%). Present study, it is concluded that groundnut kernels stored under modified atmospheric storage i.e. nitrogen gas storage can maintain the seed longevity by minimizing the deterioration process in groundnut equally as that of pod storage. Further, it will helps to minimize the expenditure towards transport and storage

Assessment of Quality of Farm Saved Paddy Seeds Collected from Cauvery Delta Region

Paddy is cultivated on a large scale in Cauvery delta region of Tamil Nadu. Due to non-availability of adequate quantity of certified seeds at their village level most of the farmers of this region using their farm saved seeds to raise the next season crop. In order to know the quality of farm-saved paddy seeds of delta region, a total of 20 seed samples from 17 distinct varieties were collected from various villages in the Thanjavur district of Tamil Nadu during Rural Agricultural Work Experience programme. The samples were subjected to physical and physiological seed quality parameters evaluation at Seed Science and Technology laboratory of Anbil Dharmalingam Agricultural College and Research Institute, Thiruchirappalli. Only 15% of samples such as Seeraga samba, Karuppukavuni and RNR 1548 alone showed 80% seed germination. The average germination percent was 50.05. Based on our observations, farmers of this region store their seeds in gunny bags without proper drying and not following any pre-storage seed treatment to protect the seeds against storage pathogens and insects.  Hence, awareness should be made among the farmers of this region regarding post harvest handling and management of farm produce harvested and stored for seed purpose. The government of Tamil Nadu should educate farmers about post-harvest handling of seeds through the Department of Agriculture to increase productivity and production of our country

Poly(o-anisidine)–anion composite films as sensing platform for biological molecules

Polyanisidine films doped with two different anions, viz., perchlorate and paratoluene sulphonate anions are prepared electrochemically on a gold substrate. Polyanisidine films doped with the anions aid in retaining the redox conductivity of the polyanisidine films. This behaviour is similar to that of polyaniline films. Unlike polyaniline films, even smaller ions like perchlorate and paratoluene sulphonate are sufficient for retaining the redox conductivity of the film, which may be primarily due to the compact, non-permeant films formed during electropolymerization. The films are found to be suitable for the immobilization of glucose oxidase enzyme and are found to be an efficient sensing matrix for glucose. The films also exhibited catalytic activity towards the oxidation of NADH. These studies indicate the usefulness of polyanisidine–anion films as sensing platform for biomolecules