The Effects of Seaweed Extract on Corn Seed Germination and Seedling Growth

Abstract: Appropriate concentration of seaweed extract can promote seed germination and seedling growth. After soaking corn seeds with 1000 times, 2000 times and 3000 times dilution of seaweed extract, all of them can promote the germination of seeds and the growth of seedlings. Among them, the effect of diluting 2000 times and 3000 times is better, compared with the pure water control, the germination rate, germination energy, seedling growth index and chlorophyll content all increased significantly.

Seaweed is an important part of marine biological resources. It is rich in mineral elements, seaweed polysaccharides, sugar alcohols, amino acids, vitamins, betaine and phenolic compounds, and also contains auxin, cytokinin, gibberellin and other natural hormones substance. Studies have shown that seaweed extracts have general growth-promoting and yield-increasing effects on vegetables, fruits, grains and other crops.

Through the soaking test of corn seeds, the seaweed extract was diluted 1000 times, 2000 times and 3000 times respectively, and the pure water group was used as the control, and the following phenomena were found.

1. Effects on the germination of corn seeds

The germination rate and germination energy of corn seeds were significantly promoted by different dilution ratios of seaweed extract. However, there were significant differences among treatments with different dilution ratios. The germination rate and germination energy of seeds in the treatments of 2000 times and 3000 times dilution of seaweed extract were significantly higher than those in 1000 times treatments. Compared with the control, the seeds treated with 2000 times and 3000 times dilution of the seaweed extract increased the germination rate by 7.6% and 8.0%, and the germination energy by 21.7% and 37.0%, respectively.

2. Effects on the growth of corn seedlings

Compared with the control, there were significant differences in the plant height, stem diameter, number of leaves, root length and dry weight of corn seedlings after different dilution ratios of seaweed extract were treated with corn seeds. But different dilution ratios showed that the effect of 2000 times and 3000 times was better than that of 1000 times. Compared with the control, the plant height, stem diameter, number of leaves, root length and dry weight of the whole plant of corn which seeds treated with 2000 times and 3000 times dilutions were increased by 28.0%-28.6%、30.9%-33.0%、36.4%、52.4%-59.5%、39.3%-39.9%, respectively.

3. Effects on chlorophyll content of maize seedlings

The chlorophyll content of seedling leaves was increased to a certain extent after soaking corn seeds with different dilution times of seaweed extract. Compared with the control, the 2000 times and 3,000 times dilution of seaweed extract significantly increased the chlorophyll content of leaves. Among them, the best treatment effect was 2000 times of seaweed extract dilution, which increased by 31.4% and 29.1% respectively.

Using 1000-3000 times dilution of seaweed extract to soak corn seeds can promote the germination rate and germination energy of seeds, promote the growth of seedlings and increase the chlorophyll content of leaves. Among them, the treatments of 2000 times and 3000 times dilution can promote seed germination and strong seedlings. In practical application, it is recommended to soak corn seeds with seaweed extract diluted 2000 to 3000 times.