Abstract
The series of experiments summarized here were conducted with the objective to evaluate the benefits of using biochar for coating corn seeds. Seeds coated with a slurry containing bio-based ingredients and biochar were tested for germination and vigor, and for their potential to being infected by the fungus Aspergillus flavus, using a novel single seed incubator specifically designed for these purposes. Biochar-treated seeds were also planted for two years in experimental fields in the Mississippi Delta to evaluate their effect on corn yield and aflatoxin contamination of kernels. Experiments were conducted with two types of commercial biochar; one was obtained from hardwood residues and the other from coconut shells. Application of both types of biochar for coating the seeds did not affect seed germination and vigor. However, treated seeds showed increased wettability and a more rapid water uptake. This resulted in a 8.5% shortening of germination time. Microbiological analysis using plate culturing and qPCR methods showed that biochar was not conducive to the growth of A. flavus. This was also confirmed by analyzing soil samples that were collected from experimental fields located in the Mississippi Delta. Most importantly, although aflatoxin contamination was different in the two experimental years, aflatoxin contamination of corn kernels was not affected by biochar-based formulations.
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Claims 6
Claim · model-written summary
Both commercial biochars did not affect corn seed germination.
- Taxon
- corn
Zea mays subsp. mayst0 - Treatment
- both types of biochare0
- Outcome
- seed germinatione0
- Direction
- did not affecte0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Application of both types of biochar for coating the seeds did not affect seed germination and vigor”
t0“corn seeds”
Claim · model-written summary
Both commercial biochars did not affect corn seed vigor.
- Taxon
- cornZea mays subsp. mayst0
- Treatment
- both types of biochare0
- Outcome
- vigore0
- Direction
- did not affecte0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Application of both types of biochar for coating the seeds did not affect seed germination and vigor”
t0“corn seeds”
Claim · model-written summary
Biochar-treated corn seeds had increased wettability.
- Taxon
- cornZea mays subsp. mayst0
- Treatment
- treated seedse0
- Outcome
- wettabilitye0
- Direction
- increasede0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“treated seeds showed increased wettability and a more rapid water uptake”
t0“corn seeds”
Claim · model-written summary
Biochar-treated corn seeds took up water more rapidly.
- Taxon
- cornZea mays subsp. mayst0
- Treatment
- treated seedse0
- Outcome
- water uptakee0
- Direction
- more rapide0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“treated seeds showed increased wettability and a more rapid water uptake”
t0“corn seeds”
Claim · model-written summary
Biochar did not promote Aspergillus flavus growth in microbiological analysis.
- Taxon
- cornZea mays subsp. mayst0
- Interactor
- A. flavus
Aspergillus flavuse0pathogen - Outcome
- growth of A. flavuse0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“biochar was not conducive to the growth of A. flavus”
t0“corn seeds”
Claim · model-written summary
Biochar did not affect aflatoxin contamination of corn kernels.
- Taxon
- cornZea mays subsp. mayse0
- Treatment
- biochar-based formulationse0
- Outcome
- aflatoxin contamination of corn kernelse0
- Direction
- not affectede0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“aflatoxin contamination of corn kernels was not affected by biochar-based formulations”
e1“fungus Aspergillus flavus”
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