Seeds

Direct seeded rice, being less water- and labor-intensive, can be an alternative approach to conventional rice planting methods. However, uneven and poor stand establishment caused by deep sowing in the field is one of the major hurdles in the adoption of direct seeding technology. Varieties with the potential to emerge from deeper layers of soil may have a positive impact on crop establishment. To evaluate the behavior of ten rice cultivars against their potential to emerge from different soil depths (0, 2.5, and 5.0 cm), a pot experiment was conducted under semi-controlled conditions at the PARC Rice Programme, Kala Shah Kaku, Lahore. Data on different seedling parameters were collected. The results showed that the highest mean seedling emergence percentage (95%) was achieved by the tested genotypes at a 2.5 cm seeding depth, while surface sowing and placement of seeds at a 5 cm depth demonstrated a similar mean emergence percentage (89%). Seeding depth, genotypes, and their interactions significantly affected mean emergence time, mesocotyl and coleoptile lengths, and root and shoot lengths. Sowing seeds at a 5 cm depth increased mean emergence time by 28%. However, increasing sowing depth increased the coleoptile length, mesocotyl length, first leaf sheath length, and shoot length of rice seedlings. Mesocotyls and coleoptile lengths showed a linear relationship with mean emergence time. Mesocotyl and coleoptile are key structures of the apical–basal axis in grasses that elongate to facilitate the emergence of germinating seeds under deep sowing. The longest coleoptiles (1.47 cm) and mesocotyls (3.27 cm) were measured from seedlings sown at a depth of 5 cm. Among genotypes, PK-1121 exhibited maximum coleoptile elongation (2.10 cm) under deep sowing (5 cm), while the longest mesocotyls were recorded from deep-sown (5 cm) seedlings of Chenab Basmati. Root length was found to be inversely proportional to sowing depth. PK-1121 aromatic, Kisan Basmati, Punjab Basmati, and Chenab Basmati produced longer shoots (22.61, 23.37, 23.32, and 21.05 cm, respectively) and took a relatively short time for emergence when sown deep. These varieties may have better potential to emerge from deeper soil layers, which may have a positive impact on even germination and better crop stand establishment.

California sage scrub is an endangered, shrub-dominated, southern California ecosystem threatened by increasing fire frequencies and type-conversion to non-native grasslands. Once non-native grasses become established, their presence promotes more frequent fires, perpetuating grass dominance. To better understand how fire influences soil seed bank assemblages, we examined soil seed banks in burned and adjacent unburned sage scrub at the Robert J. Bernard Field Station (BFS) in two areas that burned in September 2013 and May 2017. In contrast to a previous soil seed bank study in California sage scrub, we found that unburned soil seed banks in sage scrub at the BFS were primarily composed of native seeds (88% of sprouts in unburned areas were native), highlighting that soil seed bank dynamics differ among California sage scrub sites. Despite burned areas supporting elevated densities of non-native seeds (the majority of which included Festuca myuros, a non-native grass), soil seed banks in our burned areas retained native seeds (21% of sprouts in burned areas were native), including native shrub species, suggesting that not all sage scrub habitats are primed to transition to non-native grasslands following disturbances. However, elevated densities on non-native seedlings in burned areas highlight the vulnerability of sage scrub to fire disturbances and the subsequent establishment of non-native grasses.

Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) is an important legume, valued for its nutritional and bioactive components. In this study, seven chickpea advanced breeding lines, an elite line, and a cultivar were evaluated under field conditions to assess superior agronomic performance, seed quality traits, nutritional composition, and phenolic profile. A combined approach was used, integrating field phenotyping, seed quality assays, and LC–MS-based phenolic profiling. Significant genotype-dependent variation was observed in plant height, biomass yield, and 1000-seed weight, with P9/14 and P10/14 advanced lines performing strongly in yield-related traits. Seed functional properties also differed, with P8/14 showing superior hydration and seed coat characteristics, while cv. Blanco Sinaloa exhibited the highest hydration and swelling capacities. Protein content ranged from 22.6% to 25.4%, with P9/14 being the most protein-rich advanced line. Phytochemical and antioxidant analyses revealed substantial differences among genotypes: Blanco Sinaloa and M-15370 showed the highest total phenolics and ABTS activity, whereas P14/14 exhibited the strongest DPPH scavenging capacity. LC–MS profiling identified six major phenolic subclasses, with isoflavones predominating and biochanin A and its derivatives being the most abundant compounds. Overall, the integration of agronomic, nutritional, and phytochemical data highlights the advanced lines P14/14 and P9/14 as promising candidates for future breeding programs aimed at enhancing chickpea nutritional quality and functional seed attributes.