• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.134-138
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• 2000

Most parts of alfalfa plant have been reported to contain autotoxic substances that inhibit seed germination and early seedling growth, however, the chemical(s) is not still studied much. Effect of seed leachates of 'Vernal' alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) was evaluated for inhibition of alfalfa germination and root growth through bioassay. Alfalfa seeds were extracted in 1 L deionized water for 1 h after soaking and the leachates caused to reduce root length of alfalfa significantly as the soaking time increased. Crude seeds at 4 g L$L^{-1}$ exudated autotoxins that reduce significantly root length by 34 % compared to the control, when the seeds soaked in deionized water for 24 h. However, the extracts did not affect final germination as well as speed of germination. Extracts from ground seeds significantly reduced speed of germination (GT 50) and root length. The results indicate that release of autotoxic substances from seeds during seed imbibition was increased with increase of soaking time and seed amount, and that autotoxicity was more occurred in ground seeds than in crude seeds.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.475-480
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• 2005

Surface sowing is one of the most important methods to establish and improve grassland. An interest in seed-coating technique for surface sowing has been increased tremendously in the world today. An experiment was conducted to develop a technique for pelleting seeds for pasture production in woodlands. Results showed that pelleting seeds was a better technique than coating seeds because the pelleting reduced coating time of seeds, and it increased the amounts of coated seeds per hour. The pelleting technique was able to minimize damage to seeds through the lower temperature processing and by reducing time for drying, thus, germinating energy, and germination rate of pelleted alfalfa seeds improved. Emergence, establishment, and early growth of alfalfa from pelleted seeds were also improved in woodlands. Based on this study, we could conclude that the seed-pelleting is a very useful technique for the establishment and early growth of alfalfa in woodlands.

• Horticultural Science & Technology
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.901-905
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• 2014

The efficacy of ozone micro-bubble water (OMBW) in reducing microbial populations on alfalfa seeds was investigated in this study. We observed the surface of alfalfa seeds using microscopy and found that many cracks and crevices existing on the surface could harbor pathogens. Alfalfa seeds were treated with tap water (TW), micro-bubble water (MBW), ozone water (OW), ozone micro-bubble water (OMBW), and chlorine water (CL) for 5 min, and total microbial population, E. coli and Salmonella spp. colonies were determined. Also, the sterilized seeds were germinated and cultivated for 5 d after sowing to investigate the percentage of germination and the growth of alfalfa sprouts. The treatments with OMBW and CL were most effective in reducing total microbial populations and E. coli was eliminated by OW, OMBW, and CL treatments. CL treatment reduced the percentage of germination and fresh weight of alfalfa sprouts, but OMBW did not cause any negative effects on the germination and growth of alfalfa sprouts. These results indicate that OMBW can be used as an effective sanitizer for eliminating seed-borne pathogens without detrimental effects on seed viability.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.345-350
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• 2003

A series of aqueous extracts and residues from leaves, stems, roots, pods and seeds of Korean black soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) were assayed against alfalfa (Medicago sativa) and barnyard grass (Echinochloa crus-galli) to determine their allelopathic activities through petri-dish and greenhouse experiments, and the results showed highest inhibition in the extracts or residues from the seeds, and followed by pods. The extracts of 40g dry tissue $\textrm{L}^{-1}$ applied on filter paper in petri-dish bioassay significantly inhibited root growth of alfalfa, and especially extracts from seeds and pods reduced root length of alfalfa more than those from leaves, stems, or roots. Plant height, root length, shoot and root dry weights of barnyard grass were reduced significantly by residue incorporation of seeds and pods as the incorporated amount increased. These results suggest that black soybean plants had herbicidal potential, and their activities were exhibited differently depending on plant parts.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.49 no.1
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• pp.30-35
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• 2004

Compositae plants are known to contain biologically active substances that are allelopathic to agricultural crops as well as weed species. Aqueous extracts from leaves of Xanthium occidentale were assayed against alfalfa (Medicago sativa) to determine their allelopathic effects, and the result showed that the extracts applied onto filter paper significantly inhibited seed germination as well as root growth of alfalfa. Untreated seeds germinated in 60h, but extract concentrations greater than 30g $\textrm{L}^{-1}$ delayed seed germination. The extracts significantly inhibited seed germination of alfalfa, and $\beta$-amylase activity of alfalfa and barley seeds during 24-36 hours after treatment. Aqueous extracts of 40 g $\textrm{L}^{-1}$ from X. occidentale were completely inhibited the hypocotyl and root growth of alfalfa. Aqueous leaf extracts showed the highest inhibitory effect and followed by root and stem extracts. Early seedling growth of both alfalfa and barnyard grass (Echinochloa crus-galli) was significantly reduced by methanol extracts. By means of high-performance liquid chromatography, chlorogenic acid and trans-cinnamic acid were quantified as the highest amounts from water and EtOAc fractions, respectively. BuOH and EtOAc fractions of X. occidentale reduced alfalfa root growth more than did hexane and water fractions. The findings of the bioassays for aqueous or methanol extracts reflected that the inhibitory effect of extract was closely related to the level of responsible allelochemicals found in plant extracts.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.67-76
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• 2000

An experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of lime, zeolite, and rock phosphate as coating materials and coated seed size on germination, establishment, and early growth of pasture species at the experimental livestock farm, Yonam College of Agriculture in 1997. Germinating energy and germination of coated tall fescue and orchardgrass seeds were lower than those of non-coated seeds. Coated seed of tall fescue with 70% lime and 15% rock phosphate was the best in germination. The germination of small size seed (< ${\varnothing}2$ mm) was better than those of medium (> ${\varnothing}2$ mm and < ${\varnothing}2$ mm) and large size seeds (> ${\varnothing}2$ mm). Germination of coated orchardgrass seed with 55% lime and 30% rock phosphate treatment was higher than that of other coated seeds, and germination of small size seed was higher than those of medium and large size seeds (p<0.05). Germination energy and germination of coated alfalfa and birdsfoot trefoil seeds were lower than those of non-coated seeds. Germination of coated alfalfa seed with 70% lime and 15% rock phosphate, and 45% lime and 55% rock phosphate was higher compared with other coated seeds. Germination of medium size seed was higher than those of small and large size seeds (p<0.05). Among coated birdsfoot trefoil seed, 45% lime and 40% rock phosphate treatment resulted in higher germinating energy and germination than other treatments. There was no significant difference in establishment and early growth of coated tall fescue and orchardgrass seeds. However, tall fescue and orchardgrass coated with 45 % lime and 40% phosphate rock showed higher establishment and early growth. There was also no significant difference in establishment and early growth of coated alfalfa among the treatments. Among coated treatments, establishment and early growth of alfalfa coated with 75% lime and 10% rock phosphate were the highest and showed 46.4% and $72.6\;g/\textrm{m}^2$, respectively. Establishment and early growth of coated birdsfoot trefoil with 55% lime and 30% rock phosphate were the highest among coated birdsfoot trefoil seed (p<0.05) and recorded 46.4% and $44.6\;g/\textrm{m}^2$, respectively. Results of this study indicate that the germination of coated grass and legume seed may be improved by increasing the percentage of rock phosphate and decreasing that of lime. With regard to seed size, the germination of pasture species with small seed size (< ${\varnothing}2$ mm) may be better than medium and large size seeds except alfalfa. Establishment and early growth of grasses can be also improved by increasing the percentage of rock phosphate and decreasing that of lime.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.309-316
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• 2001

Helianthus tuberosus has been known to inhibit the growth of weeds and other plants sharing its habitat. This study was conducted to identify the allelochemicals of Helianthus tuberosus which were extracted with water and solvents. Aqueous extracts of leaf, stem, root, tuber and tuber peel of Helianthus tuberosus except tuber did not show significant differences in phytotoxicity to alfalfa seedlings. It was considered that Helianthus tuberosus contained fewer or less potential water-soluble substances that were toxic to alfalfa. Methanol extract of leaves of Helianthus tuberosus was sequentially partitioned in increasing polarity with n-hexane, ethylacetate and n-butanol. Each extract had a yield of 148, 12, 15.7 and 9.5g, respectively. Inhibitory effects on germination of alfalfa seeds treated with four fractions were not significantly different. But the significant reductions on hypocotyl length were observed for all the solvent extracts. Among the four fractions, the ethylacetate fraction showed the most significant inhibition effect on bioassay with alfalfa. Further separation of the active ethylacetate fraction by open column chromatography led to the 25 subfractions. In bioassay of each sub-fraction with alfalfa seeds, sub-fraction No. 13 showed the most inhibitory effect on seedling growth. $^1$H NMR and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis revealed that sub-fraction No. 13 was the mixture of straight-chain saturated fatty acids.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.198-206
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• 1981

A field research was conducted to evaluate the effects of inoculation of Rhizobium meliloti and lime application on the early growth of alfalfa, var. Luna, in an acid soil. Alfalfa seeds were inoculated by lime-peat pelleting method with $A_3$ strain isolated from alfalfa roots. Both inoculated and noninoculated seeds were sown in acid soil (pH 5.5) with three levels of lime application (1, 3, 6 ton/ha) on mid-April. Inoculated seeds produced many effective nodules in early stage and increased nitrogen and chlorophyll contents of leaf, consequently stimulating alfalfa growth. Pseudo nodules were found in noninoculated, while they were seldom formed in inoculated. Lime application increased soil pH, plant height, root length, and shoot and root weight. Liming effect on nodulation was significant at first cut, but no longer after then. Both inoculation and liming increased the forage yield of alfalfa. Inoculation and liming of 6 ton/ha together produced the highest yield. As compared to control plot of nitrogen application, the effect of seed inoculation only could be equal to about 120 kg/ha nitrogen application. The total nitrogen contents of forage were little affected by number or weight of nodules and amounts of lime application.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.292-298
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• 2009

This study investigated the microbial safeties and germination rates of five domestic sprout species(alfalfa, broccoli, clover, red cabbage, and red radish) grown from disinfected seeds. The 48 h germination rates of all seeds were over 90%, regardless of treatment. Seed total plate count(TPC) and coliform levels were reduced significantly(p<0.05) by treatment with 20,000 ppm calcium hypochlorite solution at $25^{\circ}C$ for 15 min, following FDA recommendations. However, after germination, all sprouts regardless of treatment exhibited bacterial counts of $10^7-10^8CFU/g$. Listeria monocytogenes was detected at $10^3-10^4CFU/g$ on germinated non-disinfected clover seeds at days 1, 2, and 5. In conclusion, although sprout germination from disinfected seeds potentially permits the growth of sprouts with lower pathogen counts, there were no significant differences in TPC or coliform levels between sprouts grown from disinfected seeds and control sprouts. Further work is needed to improve the microbial safety of cultivated sprouts and to find optimal conditions for seed germination.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.209-214
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• 1991

The germination of seeds is developmentally complex process requiring water uptake, which is regulated by both genotypic and environmental factors. The present study was undertaken to determine the difference in germination characteristics, and to compare the ability of the logistic and Weibull functions to describe the cumulative germination curve when two levels of osmotic potential(0, -5 bar) were put to seeds of alfalfa, tall fescue, orchardgrass, and Kentucky bluegrass. The effects of grass type, osmotic potential, and their interaction on the total germination and coefficient of germination velocity were significant(P<0.01). The Weibull equation for predicting percent cumulative germination curve of alfalfa had significantly lower residuals than the logistic equation regardless of osmotic potential(P<0.01), indicating that the Weibull equation was more efficient than the logistic equation to fit the data of the percent cumulative germination of alfalfa. The rate parameter from the logistic equation was decreased under water stress, whereas the scale and shape parameters were increased. There were significant differences in days to 20% germination estimated from the logistic and Weibull equations.