Germination and the Initial Seedling Growth of Lettuce, Celeriac and Wheat Cultivars after Micronutrient and a Biological Application Pre-Sowing Seed Treatment

Seed treatments with zinc, boron, biostimulant Coveron and MIX (zinc + boron + Coveron) were applied to three lettuce and three celeriac cultivars. Seeds of three wheat cultivars were treated under laboratory conditions with Trichoderma harzianum and eight Bacillus spp. Seed germination, seedling growth, and the presence of the following pathogens were determined: Fusarium sp., Alternaria sp., Penicillium sp., and Mucor sp. The Coveron treatment was the most effective on lettuce seeds tested in the germination cabinet. Seed germination was higher by 4% than in the control. Alternatively, germination of seeds treated with boron in the greenhouse was higher by 12% than in the control. The Coveron treatment had the highest effect on the shoot length, which was greater by 0.7 and 2.1 cm in the germination cabinet and the greenhouse, respectively. This treatment was also the most effective on the root length. Zn, B, and MIX treatments increased celeriac seed germination by 14% in the germination cabinet. The Zn treatment was the most efficient on seeds tested in the greenhouse. The germination was higher by 15%. A significant cultivar x treatment interaction was determined in both observed species under both conditions. The maximum effect on wheat seed germination (8%) was achieved with the T. harzianum treatment in the Salazar cultivar. A significant interdependence (p <= 0.01 to p <= 0.001) was established between seed germination and the seedling growth. The interrelationship between seed germination and pathogens of all cultivars was negative.

Automated summary

Seed treatments with zinc, boron, biostimulant Coveron and MIX have shown positive effects on seed germination and seedling growth of various lettuce, celeriac, and wheat cultivars, while also inhibiting the growth of pathogens. Different cultivars showed varying responses to the seed treatments, with significant interactions observed between cultivars and treatments. The relationship between seed germination and seedling growth was found to be significant, while the relationship between seed germination and pathogens was negative for all cultivars.