Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-8bhkd Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-19T23:54:22.174Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Responses of Redroot Pigweed (Amaranthus retroflexus) and Witchgrass (Panicum capillare) Seeds to Anesthetics

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 June 2017

Ray B. Taylorson
Ray B. Taylorson*
Affiliation:
Agric. Res. Serv., U.S. Dep. Agric., Beltsville Agric. Res. Ctr.–West, Beltsville, MD 20705
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Substances having anesthetic-like properties were examined for stimulation of redroot pigweed and witchgrass seed germination. Chemicals included the n-alcohols through C-5, 2-propanol, benzyl alcohol, diethyl ether, chloroform, and 2-bromo-2-chloro-1,1,1-trifluoroethanol. Redroot pigweed seeds required the far-red absorbing form of phytochrome (Pfr) for an anesthetic substance to increase germination, but in witchgrass seeds the active anesthetic substances stimulated germination without added Pfr. The correlation coefficient comparing relative activity (RA) versus the membrane/buffer partition coefficient (M/B) of the active substances was very poor (−0.37) for pigweed seeds but was −0.91 for witchgrass. Leakage of cellular materials, including electrolytes, substances absorbing at 280 nm, and amino acids from seeds treated with either active or inactive anesthetics, was not particularly indicative of effects on germination in both species. Application of increased pressure (0.965 MPa) during anesthetic treatment, which in animals prevents anesthesia, was found to act oppositely and increase seed response to ethanol in redroot pigweed seeds, but in witchgrass seeds pressure suppressed the stimulatory action of ethanol. In both species, pressure appeared to have an action of its own, but for this action to be expressed the presence of a stimulatory anesthetic was also required. The results do not appear to support a good relationship of anesthetic activity with seed membrane lipophilic components in redroot pigweed seeds, but the relationship seems likely for witchgrass seeds.

Keywords

Redroot pigweed (Amaranthus retroflexus L. # AMARE)witchgrass (Panicum capillare L. # PANCA)Weedsdormancygerminationphytochromegermination stimulants
Type
Weed Biology and Ecology
Information
Weed Science , Volume 37 , Issue 1 , January 1989 , pp. 93 - 97
Copyright
Copyright © 1989 by the Weed Science Society of America 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Literature Cited

1. Adkins, S. W., Naylor, J. M., and Simpson, G. M. 1984. The physiological basis of seed dormancy in Avena fatua VI. Respiration and the stimulation of germination by ethanol. Physiol. Plant. 62:148–152.Google Scholar
2. Belmans, D. L., van Laere, A. J., and van Assche, J. A. 1983. Effect of n-alcohols and high pressure on the heat activation of Neurospora tetrasperma ascospores. Arch. Microbiol. 134: 49–51.Google Scholar
3. Chadouef-Hannel, R. and Taylorson, R. B. 1985. Anesthetic stimulation of Amaranthus albus seed germination: interaction with phytochrome. Physiol. Plant. 65:451–454.Google Scholar
4. Fink, B. R., ed. 1975. Molecular Mechanisms of Anesthesia. Raven Press, New York. 652 pp. ISBN: 0-911216-94-04.Google Scholar
5. Franks, N. P. and Leib, W. R. 1984. Do general anesthetics act by competitive binding to specific receptors? Nature 310:599–601.Google Scholar
6. Hendricks, S. B. and Taylorson, R. B. 1980. Reversal by pressure of seed germination promoted by anesthetics. Planta 149:108–111.Google Scholar
7. Norris, W. E. Jr. and Wilkinson, M. N. 1980. The effect of centrifugation and hydrostatic pressure on Avena germination and seedling development. Z. Pflanzenphysiol. 98:311–319.Google Scholar
8. Seeman, P. 1972. The membrane actions of anesthetics and tranquilizers. Pharmacol. Rev. 24:583–655.Google Scholar
9. Smith, E. B., Bowser-Riley, F., Daniels, S., Dunbar, I. T., Harrison, C. B., and Paton, W.D.M. 1984. Species variation and the mechanism of pressure-anesthetic interactions. Nature 311: 56–57.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
10. Taylorson, R. B. 1988. Anaesthetic enhancement of Echinochloa crus-galli (L.) Beauv. seed germination: possible membrane involvement. J. Exp. Bot. 39:50–58.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
11. Taylorson, R. B. and Hendricks, S. B. 1981. Anesthetic release of seed dormancy – an overview. Isr. J. Bot. 29:273–280.Google Scholar