Method for improving vigor of sweet corn seeds through cooperation of chemical regulation and pathogen resistance and control

Abstract

The invention relates to the technical field of agricultural seed treatment, in particular to a method for improving the vigor of sweet corn seeds by cooperating chemical regulation and pathogen resistance and control, which comprises the following steps: chemical regulation: before sowing, selecting full and undamaged sweet corn seeds, and sequentially carrying out specific chemical activator treatment and functional organic nutrient treatment; and pathogen prevention and control: after harvesting the seeds, carrying out surface and superficial layer sterilization treatment by adopting a sterilization reagent, and drying to a safe water content. Through the synergistic effect of screened and matched chemical reagents and organic reagents, seed dormancy is broken, physiological metabolism is activated, surface and shallow pathogenic bacteria are removed through sterilization after harvesting, the germination rate and germination potential of the sweet corn seeds are remarkably increased, the storage period of the seeds is prolonged, and a foundation is laid for high quality and high yield of sweet corn. The method is simple and convenient to operate, controllable in cost, wide in applicability and suitable for large-scale seed treatment application.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of agricultural seed treatment technology, specifically to a method for enhancing the vigor of sweet corn seeds through synergistic chemical regulation and pathogen control. Background Technology

[0002] Sweet corn is in high demand due to its sweet taste and rich nutrition. However, sweet corn seeds generally suffer from low vigor, long dormancy periods, and unstable germination rates, resulting in slow emergence, low seedling establishment rates, and uneven plant growth in the later stages, which seriously affects the yield and quality of sweet corn.

[0003] Currently, most existing seed treatment methods use a single chemical reagent or physical treatment, which has the following limitations: Limited effectiveness: Chemical treatments (such as hormone soaking) can only stimulate germination in the short term and cannot improve seed vigor in the long term; physical treatments (such as hot water soaking) are not effective in killing pathogens.

[0004] Potential risks: Chemical reagents can easily cause pesticide damage or environmental pollution, and physical treatment may damage the seed embryo.

[0005] Storage risks: Sweet corn seeds are prone to carrying pathogens after harvest. If they are not sterilized in a timely and effective manner, mold can easily grow during storage, further reducing seed viability and increasing the risk of disease occurrence after sowing.

[0006] Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop a combined treatment method that synergistically enhances seed vigor and sterilizes and preserves the seeds. Summary of the Invention

[0007] The purpose of this invention is to overcome the shortcomings of the prior art and propose a method for enhancing the vigor of sweet corn seeds through synergistic chemical regulation and pathogen control. This method combines chemical-organic reagent compound activation with post-harvest sterilization and protection to solve the problems of low seed vigor and susceptibility to pathogens in sweet corn.

[0008] To achieve the above objectives, the technical solution specifically adopted by the present invention is as follows: The method for enhancing sweet corn seed vigor through synergistic chemical regulation and pathogen control includes the following steps: Chemical regulation: Before sowing, select plump, undamaged sweet corn seeds and treat them sequentially with a specific chemical activator and a functional organic nutrient agent; Specifically: S1.1 Seed screening: Remove damaged, shriveled, or diseased sweet corn seeds manually or mechanically, and keep plump and uniformly sized seeds for later use.

[0009] S1.2 Chemical Reagent Treatment: The screened seeds are completely immersed in a specific chemical activator at 26-29℃ for 7-10 hours, stirring once every 3 hours to ensure that all seeds are fully and evenly contacted with the reagent, effectively breaking the dormancy of sweet corn seeds and activating their initial physiological metabolism. The specific chemical activator is one or more of the following: a 40-150 mg / L solution of anisole fluoropurine, a 40-150 mg / L solution of 5-aminolevulinic acid, and a 0.8-1.2 mg / L solution of hydrogen-rich water. Preferred formulation: Anisole fluoropurine and hydrogen-rich water are mixed at a mass ratio of 1:0.5.

[0010] The mechanism of action is as follows: Fennel fluoropurine, a novel cytokinin-based plant growth regulator, primarily inhibits the activity of cytokinin oxidase / dehydrogenase, thereby significantly promoting embryonic cell division and differentiation, achieving efficient dormancy breaking. Compared to traditional gibberellins, it is more effective and less toxic. Hydrogen-rich water, as a reactive oxygen species regulator, indirectly activates seed germination vitality by upregulating the expression of gibberellin synthesis genes.

[0011] In this technical approach, 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA) acts as a "metabolic initiator," systematically activating seeds and breaking dormancy through the synergistic action of multiple core pathways. Its mechanism of action primarily includes: (1) Start the energy engine: As a precursor to chlorophyll synthesis, 5-ALA can be rapidly promoted to build up the "energy factory" chloroplasts after being absorbed by the embryo, thus accumulating energy for germination.

[0012] (2) Clearing germination obstacles: It can optimize the balance of reactive oxygen species inside the seed, effectively remove harmful oxidative substances, and create the best cellular environment for metabolic activation.

[0013] (3) Issuing growth instructions: 5-ALA acts as a “signal switch” by working synergistically with endogenous hormones (such as increasing gibberellin and inhibiting abscisic acid) to ultimately prompt seeds to switch from dormancy to growth.

[0014] S1.3 Organic reagent treatment: After chemical reagent treatment, rinse the seeds with clean water 1-2 times, drain the surface water, and then soak them in 0.18%-0.42% Gluck tonic solution, 0.18%-0.42% brown algae oligosaccharide or 0.18%-0.42% compound amino acid chelated zinc solution at 21-24℃ for 3.5-5 hours. After treatment, take them out and drain them (there should be no obvious water droplets on the seed surface).

[0015] Mechanism of action: Gluck supplement: As a complex biostimulant, it is rich in various natural plant active ingredients and minerals. Its core function lies in bidirectionally regulating the balance of endogenous hormones in seeds (such as increasing the levels of auxin and cytokinin), while enhancing mitochondrial respiration efficiency, providing sufficient energy (ATP) for the breakthrough and elongation of the radicle, and effectively improving germination potential.

[0016] Fucoidan: As a highly efficient elicitor, its mechanism of action lies in its ability to mimic pathogen attacks, gently activating the seed's innate immune system (i.e., inducing systemic resistance, ISR), thereby "training" and enhancing the seedling's resilience. Furthermore, it can promote the reproduction of beneficial soil microorganisms and improve the rhizosphere microenvironment.

[0017] Complex amino acid chelated zinc: Its core function is to precisely supplement the trace elements such as zinc necessary for seed germination. Zinc is a cofactor for many key enzymes (such as alcohol dehydrogenase and superoxide dismutase) and directly participates in protein synthesis and auxin (IAA) metabolism. This treatment can significantly strengthen the cell walls of the plumule and radicle, and enhance the seedling's tolerance to environmental stresses such as low temperature and drought.

[0018] Synergistic Effect Overview: This step forms a sequential synergy with the aforementioned chemical activation treatment. The chemical treatment is mainly responsible for "awakening" (breaking dormancy), while the organic nutrient treatment in this step focuses on "nourishing" and "strengthening." The three work together to ensure that the germinated seedlings can establish robust root systems and plants, thus providing comprehensive support from "germination" to "seedling maturity," laying a solid foundation for a high seedling survival rate in the field.

[0019] Pathogen control: After seed harvest, surface and shallow layer sterilization is performed using fungicides, followed by drying to a safe moisture content. This step is not an isolated one; it forms a complete system with the pre-planting "chemical regulation" step, complementing each other in time sequence and synergistically in function. "Pathogen control" is responsible for external defense (treating surface and shallow pathogens), while "chemical regulation" is responsible for internal activation (activating physiological metabolism). This synergistic effect of "external defense and internal activation" constitutes the core technological pillar for enhancing the vitality of sweet corn seeds throughout the entire process from storage to germination. Specifically: The choice of solution depends on the type of pathogen carried by the seed. For Aspergillus pathogens, use a 600-900 times dilution of fludioxonil; for Penicillium pathogens, use a 700-800 times dilution of iprodione; and for green production requirements, use a 1.2×10⁻⁶ solution. 8 - 8×10 8 CFU / mL Bacillus amyloliquefaciens inoculum, or fludioxonil and Bacillus amyloliquefaciens in a 1:1 volume ratio. Sterilization procedure: Soak the harvested sweet corn seeds (pre-treated or directly harvested seeds) in the targeted sterilization agent for 12-25 minutes, or spray the agent evenly onto the seed surface using a sprayer (10-15 mL / 100g seeds), ensuring that the seeds are in full contact with the agent. Drying and storage: After sterilization, place the seeds in a ventilated environment at 28-33℃ to dry until the seed moisture content drops to 9%-11% (using a grain moisture meter). During this period, turn the seeds over every 2 hours to avoid local high temperature and mold growth. Then, transfer them to a cool and dry place for storage.

[0020] This invention has the following characteristics and beneficial effects: 1) Excellent synergistic activation effect on seed vitality This invention achieves a complementary and synergistic physiological regulatory mechanism through the sequential treatment of novel chemical activators and functional organic nutrients. Specifically, by utilizing an optimized compound of fennel fluoropurine and hydrogen-rich water, the efficiency of breaking seed dormancy can be increased by more than 40%. In practice, germination rate is increased by 20%-35%, germination potential by 25%-45%, and seed vigor index is comprehensively improved, with the overall effect being 15%-20% better than traditional single-reagent treatment.

[0021] 2) Pathogen control and storage performance are significantly improved. Immediate surface and shallow targeted sterilization treatment after harvest provides excellent control over various common pathogens carried by seeds (such as Aspergillus and Penicillium). In particular, when using a chemical-biological combined strategy, the sterilization rate can reach over 95%, effectively controlling the mold rate during storage to below 3%. Compared to traditional carbendazim treatment (which typically results in a mold rate of 5%-8%), the safe storage period of seeds can be extended by 8-15 months, providing key technical support for cost reduction and efficiency improvement in agricultural production.

[0022] 3) High environmental compatibility and safety in use The novel chemical activators used (such as anisole fluoropurine) have the advantage of low toxicity, while the hydrogen-rich water leaves no chemical residue. Simultaneously, the introduced biological bactericidal components (such as Bacillus amyloliquefaciens) have the potential to completely replace chemical fungicides. The entire treatment process has proven to cause no phytotoxicity to seeds and no significant decrease in germination rate, embodying the concept of green plant protection.

[0023] 4) Easy to operate No complex equipment is required, and the processing steps are easy to standardize, making it suitable for large-scale seed production enterprises. Detailed Implementation

[0024] The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to specific embodiments. These embodiments will help those skilled in the art to further understand the present invention, but do not limit the invention in any way. It should be noted that, unless otherwise specified, the embodiments and features described in the present invention can be combined with each other.

[0025] Example 1 Seed selection: Select plump seeds of the sweet corn variety "Anke Sweet No. 1" and remove damaged or shriveled seeds to ensure that the difference in weight per thousand seeds is ≤5%. Chemical activator treatment: Prepare a compound solution of 100 mg / L fennel fluoropurine and 0.1 mg / L hydrogen-rich water at a mass ratio of 1:0.5. Soak the seeds completely in the mixed solution at 28℃ for 8 hours. During this period, gently stir the solution at a rate of 50 r / min every 3 hours to ensure uniform contact between the seeds and the reagent and avoid local concentration differences. Organic nutrient treatment: Rinse the seeds treated with chemical activator once with sterile water (30s), drain, and then soak in 0.3% Gluck tonic solution at 22℃ for 4 hours. Remove and drain. Post-harvest sterilization: Prepare a 750-fold dilution of fludioxonil, immerse the seeds treated with organic nutrients in the solution for 20 minutes, remove them and dry them at 30℃ in a ventilated place until the moisture content is 12% (turn them over once every 2 hours), and store them for later use. Example 2 Seed selection: Select plump seeds of the sweet corn variety "Jintiannuo No. 6" and remove damaged or shriveled seeds to ensure that the difference in weight per thousand seeds is ≤5%. Chemical activator treatment: Prepare an 80 mg / L solution of 5-aminolevulinic acid and soak the seeds at 27°C for 9 hours. During this period, gently stir the solution at a rate of 50 r / min every 3 hours to ensure uniform contact between the seeds and the reagent and avoid local concentration differences. Organic nutrient treatment: Rinse the seeds treated with the chemical activator twice with clean water (45s each time), drain, and then soak them in a 0.25% brown algae oligosaccharide solution at 23℃ for 4.5h. Post-harvest sterilization: 1.5×10 8 Spray the seeds with a CFU / mL Bacillus amyloliquefaciens inoculum until the seed surface is moist (12mL / 100g seeds), and dry them at 29℃ in a ventilated environment until the moisture content is 12%. Comparative Example 1 The pre-sowing treatment and post-harvest sterilization treatment of the present invention were not performed; only conventional screening of dried sweet corn seeds was conducted.

[0026] Comparative Example 2 The pre-seeding treatment of this invention was not performed; the remaining treatments were the same as in Example 1.

[0027] Comparative Example 3 The post-harvest sterilization treatment of this invention was not performed; the remaining treatments were the same as in Example 1.

[0028] Standard germination test: Germination bed preparation: Use a standard germination box, with two layers of sterilized germination paper inside as the germination bed.

[0029] Quantitative seeding: 100 seeds were randomly selected from each treatment group and control group, and 4 replicates were set to reduce random error.

[0030] Culture condition control: Temperature: The standard germination temperature for sweet corn seeds is set at 25±1℃.

[0031] Humidity: Ensure the germination bed is always moist but without standing water by regularly adding sterile water.

[0032] Light: Follow standard procedures and cultivate under appropriate photoperiods.

[0033] Germination data is observed regularly: Germination potential statistics: On day 4, count the number of seeds that germinated normally in each replicate.

[0034] Germination rate statistics: At the end of the experiment on the 7th day, the total number of germinated seeds was counted.

[0035] Calculation method: Germination potential (%) = (Number of normally germinated seeds on day 4 / Number of seeds tested) × 100.

[0036] Germination rate (%) = Number of germinated seeds ÷ Total number of seeds × 100% Vigor Index (%) = (Germination Potential × Germination Rate) ÷ 100 Storage period effect observation:

[0037] Seeds that have undergone compound treatment and dried to a safe moisture content were stored together with control group seeds under standard conditions of 25±2℃ and 60±5% relative humidity.

[0038] At 6, 10 and 12 months of storage, 100 seeds were randomly selected from each group (with replicates), and their mold rate was observed and calculated.

[0039] result: Example 1: Germination rate reached 95%, germination potential reached 88%, and vigor index was 33% higher than the control group. After 10 months of storage, the mold rate was only 2.7%.

[0040] Example 2: Germination rate reached 93%, germination potential reached 86%, vitality index increased by 30% compared with the control group, and mold rate was 2.8% after 12 months of storage.

[0041] Comparative Example 1: Germination rate was 68%, germination potential was 58%, and mold rate reached 18% after 6 months of storage.

[0042] Comparative Example 2: Germination rate was 82%, germination potential was 75%, and mold rate reached 8% after 6 months of storage.

[0043] Comparative Example 3: Germination rate was 94%, germination potential was 87%, and mold rate reached 17.5% after 6 months of storage.

[0044] In summary, this invention, through the combination of chemical-organic reagent compound activation and post-harvest sterilization and protection, can significantly improve the germination rate and germination potential of sweet corn seeds, extend the seed storage period, and there is a synergistic effect between the two.

[0045] The foregoing has shown and described the basic principles, main features, and advantages of the present invention. Those skilled in the art should understand that the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. The embodiments and descriptions in the specification are merely preferred examples and are not intended to limit the invention. Various changes and modifications can be made to the invention without departing from its spirit and scope, and all such changes and modifications fall within the scope of the present invention as claimed. The scope of protection of the present invention is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A method for enhancing sweet corn seed vigor through synergistic chemical regulation and pathogen control, characterized in that, Includes the following steps: Chemical regulation: Before sowing, select plump and undamaged sweet corn seeds and treat them sequentially with specific chemical activators and functional organic nutrients. Pathogen control: After seed harvest, surface and shallow sterilization are performed using a bactericidal agent, followed by drying to a safe moisture content.

2. The method for enhancing sweet corn seed vigor through synergistic chemical regulation and pathogen control as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The specific chemical activator is selected from one or more of cytokinins, amino acid derivatives, and reactive oxygen species regulators; the organic nutrient is selected from one or more of plant-derived oligosaccharides, amino acid chelated micronutrients, and biostimulants.

3. The method for enhancing sweet corn seed vigor through synergistic chemical regulation and pathogen control as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The specific chemical activator is selected from one or more of the following: fennel fluoropurine, 5-aminolevulinic acid, and hydrogen-rich water. The treatment method is seed soaking at a temperature of 26-29℃ for 7-10 hours.

4. The method for enhancing sweet corn seed vigor through synergistic chemical regulation and pathogen control as described in claim 3, characterized in that, The concentrations of fennel fluoropurine, 5-aminolevulinic acid, and hydrogen-rich water are 40-150 mg / L and 0.8-1.2 mg / L, respectively.

5. The method for enhancing sweet corn seed vigor through synergistic chemical regulation and pathogen control as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The functional organic nutrient is selected from one or more of Gluck supplements, brown algae oligosaccharides, and compound amino acid chelated zinc, with a reagent concentration of 0.18%-0.42%. The treatment method is spray mixing or soaking, with a treatment time of 3.5-5 hours and a temperature of 21-24℃.

6. The method for enhancing sweet corn seed vigor through synergistic chemical regulation and pathogen control as described in claim 1, characterized in that, After chemical treatment, rinse with clean water 1-2 times, drain the surface moisture, and then treat with functional organic nutrients. The rinsing time should be controlled at 30-60 seconds per rinse.

7. The method for enhancing sweet corn seed vigor through synergistic chemical regulation and pathogen control as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The bactericidal reagent is selected from one or a combination of fludioxonil, iprodione, and Bacillus amyloliquefaciens, wherein the concentration of the chemical bactericidal component is a 600-900 times dilution, and the concentration of the biological bactericidal component is 1.2 × 10⁻⁶. 8 - 8×10 8 CFU / mL.

8. The method for enhancing sweet corn seed vigor through synergistic chemical regulation and pathogen control as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The sterilization treatment method is to soak the seeds for 12-25 minutes or spray them until the seed surface is completely wet. After treatment, dry them in a ventilated place at 28-33℃ until the seed moisture content is 9%-11%. During the drying process, turn the seeds over once every 2 hours.