Abstract
Abstract Carob ( Ceratonia siliqua L.) is a relevant element of the Mediterranean spontaneous vegetation. Moreover, it is useful in reforestation, and it is currently re-valued for sustainable agriculture in dryland areas. However, the difficulties tied to carob propagation (mainly seed dormancy) hamper its large-scale cultivation. In this paper, the effects of four seed treatments (no treatment [control], soaking at 70 °C and 90 °C in water, or in 96% sulphuric acid) on five carob genotypes germination were studied. As compared to the very low germination of untreated seeds (0–13% germination), sulphuric acid (93–100% germination) and 90 °C water soaking (from 72 to > 90% germination in four out the five genotypes) were effective in promoting germination. Soaking at 90 °C resulted in the leaching of a higher amount of total polyphenols from the genotypes seed coat as compared to soaking at 70 °C. A significant correlation (0.75**) was ascertained between polyphenol leaching of the different genotypes and germination. These results suggest that dormancy in this species is not primarily associated with seed coat hardness, as it is generally thought, but also with the release of polyphenols. Polyphenols determination of the dormant and the few non-dormant seeds of the different genotypes also seem to confirm this hypothesis since these last showed an almost halved total polyphenols content (on average 17.0) as compared to dormant ones (34.8 mg g −1 of seed FW). Further studies may determine the polyphenols involved, but also assess new, easier to carry out, seed treatments. The important role of the galactomannans on seed germination of carob is also discussed. Finally, similar studies may enhance the knowledge of dormancy processes in other Fabaceae species whose germination is positively affected by hot water treatments.
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Claims 6
Claim · model-written summary
Sulphuric acid increased carob seed germination to 93–100% from untreated germination of 0–13%.
- Taxon
- carob
Ceratonia siliquat0 - Treatment
- sulphuric acide0
- Outcome
- germinatione0
- Direction
- promotinge0
- Value
- 93–100% germinatione0
- Qualifier
- 0–13% germinatione0
- Comparator
- untreated seedse0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
t0“carob (Ceratonia siliqua L.)”
e0“very low germination of untreated seeds (0–13% germination), sulphuric acid (93–100% germination) and 90 °C water soaking (from 72 to > 90% germination in four out the five genotypes) were effective in promoting germination”
Claim · model-written summary
Soaking in 90 °C water promoted germination to 72 to over 90% in four of five carob genotypes.
- Taxon
- carobCeratonia siliquat0
- Treatment
- 90 °C water soakinge0
- Outcome
- germinatione0
- Direction
- promotinge0
- Value
- from 72 to > 90% germinatione0
- Qualifier
- four out the five genotypese0
- Comparator
- untreated seedse0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
t0“carob (Ceratonia siliqua L.)”
e0“very low germination of untreated seeds (0–13% germination), sulphuric acid (93–100% germination) and 90 °C water soaking (from 72 to > 90% germination in four out the five genotypes) were effective in promoting germination”
Claim · model-written summary
Soaking carob seeds at 90 °C leached more total polyphenols than soaking at 70 °C.
- Taxon
- carobCeratonia siliquat0
- Organ / stage
- seed coate0
- Treatment
- Soaking at 90 °Ce0
- Outcome
- leaching of a higher amount of total polyphenolse0
- Direction
- highere0
- Comparator
- soaking at 70 °Ce0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
t0“carob (Ceratonia siliqua L.)”
e0“Soaking at 90 °C resulted in the leaching of a higher amount of total polyphenols from the genotypes seed coat as compared to soaking at 70 °C”
Claim · model-written summary
Polyphenol leaching and germination across carob genotypes were significantly correlated at 0.75.
- Taxon
- carobCeratonia siliquat0
- Material
- different genotypese0
- Outcome
- germinatione0
- Value
- 0.75**e0
- Qualifier
- polyphenol leachinge0
Not reportedDirection
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
t0“carob (Ceratonia siliqua L.)”
e0“A significant correlation (0.75**) was ascertained between polyphenol leaching of the different genotypes and germination”
Claim · model-written summary
Nondormant carob seeds had nearly half the total polyphenol content of dormant seeds.
- Taxon
- carobCeratonia siliquat0
- Outcome
- total polyphenols contente0
- Direction
- almost halvede0
- Value
- 17.0e0
- Qualifier
- 34.8 mg g −1 of seed FWe0
- Comparator
- dormant onese0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
t0“carob (Ceratonia siliqua L.)”
e0“these last showed an almost halved total polyphenols content (on average 17.0) as compared to dormant ones (34.8 mg g −1 of seed FW)”
Claim · model-written summary
The authors suggest that carob seed dormancy also relates to polyphenol release.
- Taxon
- carobCeratonia siliquat0
- Outcome
- dormancye0
- Qualifier
- release of polyphenolse0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
t0“carob (Ceratonia siliqua L.)”
e0“dormancy in this species is not primarily associated with seed coat hardness, as it is generally thought, but also with the release of polyphenols”
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sulfuric acid · growth · Ceratonia siliqua (carob)Results agree
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See all 6 papers →Claims are grouped by organism, treatment and what was measured or targeted. A paper counts as positive when any of its claims in the group is positive.