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A smoke-derived butenolide improves early growth of tomato seedlings

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Abstract

3-Methyl-2H-furo[2,3-c]pyran-2-one is an active compound isolated from plant-derived smoke water. It has a stimulatory role during seed germination similar to that of smoke or aqueous extracts of smoke. The present study was undertaken to gain insight into the physiological events involved in seed germination and seedling development and which are affected by butenolide using tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) cultivar “Heinz 1370” seeds. No stimulatory role on the seed germination of tomato was recorded following the use of the butenolide, however, post-germinative growth of tomato seedlings was significantly improved over the control (P ≤ 0.05). The emergence of the radicle and elongation of the hypocotyls and radicles were accelerated in seeds imbibed with butenolide at 10−7 M. Flow cytometry studies showed that in butenolide-treated seeds the ratio of cells with replicated DNA was increased. Seedling vigour and weight were significantly increased by the butenolide (P ≤ 0.05). An inverse correlation was observed between the weight of cotyledons and the weight of the hypocotyls and radicle during seedling development. This is an indication that the butenolide is implicated in mobilization and utilization of stored reserve materials in developing tomato seedlings.

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Acknowledgements

Financial assistance was provided by the National Research Foundation (NRF), South Africa.

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  1. Research Centre for Plant Growth and Development, School of Biological and Conservation Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal Pietermaritzburg, Private Bag X01, 3209, Scottsville, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

    Neeru Jain & Johannes Van Staden

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  1. Neeru Jain
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  2. Johannes Van Staden
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Correspondence to Johannes Van Staden.

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Jain, N., Van Staden, J. A smoke-derived butenolide improves early growth of tomato seedlings. Plant Growth Regul 50, 139–148 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10725-006-9110-x

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