We carried out a seed germination experiment using two thrush species in captivity. We compared the number of germinated seeds and germination time of control seeds (manually removed from fruits) and ingested seeds of Miconia prasina by two bird species, Turdus albicollis and T. amaurochalinus, and also compared retention times of seeds by both thrush species. Control seeds germinated more freq...

Background: Lead and cadmium are toxic heavy metals found as major contaminants in food products and edible oils. The aims of this study were to investigate the lead and cadmium contaminations in seeds and extracted oils from Brassica napus L and Carthamus tinctorius grown in the vicinity of industrial sites (Isfahan Zobe Ahan) near Isfahan province/Iran. Methods: In this study, the seeds of B...

The effects of storage and deep desiccation on structural changes of DNA in orthodox seeds are poorly characterized. In this study we analyzed the 5-methylcytosine (m(5)C) global content of DNA isolated from seeds of common pear (Pyrus communis L.) that had been subjected to extreme desiccation, and the seedlings derived from these seeds. Germination and seedling emergence tests were applied to...

Background and objectives: Sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) seeds have been a well-known oil crop in the world for many centuries. Lignans are functionally important compartments of sesame. Sesamin and sesamol are the main sesame lignans, which have recently shown various activities with health benefits, like anti-oxidative, anti-proliferative, anti-atherosclerotic, anti-in...

The Florida harvester ant, Pogonomyrmex badius, is one of many ant species and genera that stores large numbers of seeds in damp, underground chambers for later consumption. A comparison of the sizes of seeds recovered from storage chambers with those of seed husks discarded following consumption revealed that the used seeds are far smaller than stored seeds. This difference in use-rate was con...

The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of pruning in different developmental stages on growth, development, seed yield and active substances of medicinal pumpkin (these active substances are uses for remedy the Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH)). The experiment was performed in a RCB design. Five pruning treatments in different developmental stages (no pruning, after 3-5 nod...

Background and objectives: Nigella sativa L. is one of the most important species in Iranian traditional medicine (ITM). According to ITM, the plant seeds can cause bronchospasm in patients with hot temperament; therefore it is recommended to process the seeds with grape vinegar before usage. This process may influence some components of the seeds; thus, in the present...

galbanum (ferula gummosa bioss) is a medicinal, commercial and industrial plant in iran but its cultivation is restricted by seed dormancy. therefore, a study was conducted to determine class and environmental requirements for breaking of seed dormancy. during imbibition study, both scarified and intact seeds exhibited similar pattern in water uptake and it seems there is not physical dormancy....

It is generally accepted that seedlings from large seeds are more tolerant to defoliation than those from small seeds due to the additional metabolic reserves present in the large seeds. However, information on the effects of amount of seed reserves (cotyledon removal) from seedlings resulting from large vs. small seeds on seedling growth and long-term survival in the field is limited. Five leg...

abstract angelica archangelica, tanacetum cinerariaefolium and chelidonium majus are valuable medicinal plants for which there is no comprehensive information about their seed germination in review of literatures. with regarding of the importance of simple propagation of medicinal plants and the role of seed in production of these plants, this study was set out in order to analyzing of the effe...