Volume: 2, 2023
2nd International PhD Student’s Conference at the University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Poland:
ENVIRONMENT – PLANT – ANIMAL – PRODUCT
Abstract number: P013
DOI: https://doi.org/10.24326/ICDSUPL2.P013
Published online: 19 April 2023
ICDSUPL, 2, P013 (2023)
Evaluation of ecotoxicity of plant extracts as seed dressings
Weronika Kursa1*, Mariolina Gullì2, Agnieszka Jamiołkowska1, Francesca Degola2
1 Department of Plant Protection, Faculty of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, 7 St. Leszczyńskiego, 20-950 Lublin, Poland
2 Department of Chemistry, Life Sciences and Environmental Sustainability, University of Parma, Parco delle Scienze 11/A, 43124 Parma, Italy
* Corresponding author: weronika.kursa@up.lublin.pl
Abstract
Seed treatment is one of the forms of plant protection. Due to the withdrawal of many chemical substances, natural substances are sought that will be effective and safe for the environment and for the protected plant species. The general ecotoxicity criteria recommend that toxicity tests be carried out to detect the chronic effects of the tested substances on plants. This study aimed at determining the potential of plant extracts as a natural seed dressing agent. Two different plant extracts were utilized: hemp (H) and a mixture of sage, hemp and tansy (MIX) both in a liquid and dried form. A toxicity test was performed on dicotyledonous plants – winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and monocots – cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) to quantify the germination capacity and root elongation in the presence of extracts. Different concentrations of both extracts were used: 20%, 10%, 5% (high concentrations) and 1%, 0.5%, 0.1% (low concentrations). The extracts, H and MIX, did not reduce the germination capacity of the plants at any concentrations but significantly influenced the elongation of the roots of both plant species. Both extracts at the high concentrations significantly inhibited the growth of seedlings, and the MIX at 20% had the strongest effect on both species: the growth of wheat roots was 96.2%, wheat germ 86.5%, and cucumber seedlings 93.9% as compared to the control. The weakest inhibitory effect was shown by H at 5%, determining the inhibition down to 55.8%, 29.6% and 55,3% as compared to the control. Extracts at the low concentrations mostly stimulated the growth of seedlings or their effect did not differ significantly from the control. The most activating effect on wheat root elongation was the MIX at 0.1% (45.6%) and the H at 1%, 0.5%, 0.1%, reaching 18.8%, 44.3%, 43.9% respectively. The H extract at 0.5% stimulated also the growth of the wheat germ (26.4%). The use of the dried form of extracts with DMSO solvent stimulated the development of wheat seedlings to a lesser extent, but it never limited their growth. In the case of cucumber, MIX at 0.5% (liquid version) inhibited its growth (21.9%). The other combinations did not differ significantly from the control. In conclusion, the extracts at low concentrations could be utilized as seed coating agents without deleterious effects on seedlings’ growth, and in future experiments, the protective action against pathogenic microorganisms should be checked.
How to cite
W. Kursa, M. Gullì, A. Jamiołkowska, F. Degola, 2023. Evaluation of ecotoxicity of plant extracts as seed dressings. In: 2nd International PhD Student’s Conference at the University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Poland: Environment – Plant – Animal – Product. https://doi.org/10.24326/ICDSUPL2.P013