Effect of mushroom compost smoke solution on germination and emergence of pepper seeds under salt stress

Abstract

In this study, the effects of smoke solution obtained from mushroom compost waste on germination, seedling emergence, and physiological parameters of Capsicum annuum L. (hot pepper) seeds subjected to salt stress (100 mM NaCl) were investigated. The smoke solution was prepared by burning Pleurotus species mushroom compost and applied at four different concentrations [0% (control), 0.1%, 0.3% and 0.5%]. Seeds were soaked in these solutions for 24 hours, and germination and seedling emergence were evaluated. The results indicated that salt stress had a pronounced inhibitory effect on germination rate, seedling emergence, and growth. Smoke solution treatments, particularly at low concentrations (0.1–0.3%), provided partial improvements in germination and emergence rates; however, these effects were not always statistically significant. At the highest concentration (0.5%), reductions in pigment content and growth parameters were observed, suggesting potential toxic effects. Although the smoke solutions demonstrated a capacity to reduce oxidative damage caused by salt stress, as supported by MDA data, their protective role under stress conditions was limited. In conclusion, although the smoke solution exhibited some positive effects at low doses, its negative impact was more pronounced at high doses. Therefore, more comprehensive studies are needed to further elucidate the potential effects of the smoke solution on pepper plants.

Keywords

• Capsicum annuum
• salt stress
• smoke solution
• mushroom compost
• Germination and emergence

Mantar kompostu duman solüsyonunun tuz stresi altındaki biber tohumlarında çimlenme ve çıkış üzerine etkisi

Öz

Bu çalışmada, mantar kompostu atığından elde edilen duman solüsyonunun tuz stresine (100 mM NaCl) maruz kalan Capsicum annuum L. (sivri biber) tohumlarının çimlenme, fide çıkışı ve fizyolojik parametreleri üzerine olan etkileri belirlenmiştir. Pleurotus türü mantar kompostu yakılarak hazırlanan duman solüsyonunun dört farklı konsantrasyonu [%0 (kontrol), %0.1, %0.3 ve %0.5] kullanılan denemede, tohumlar 24 saat süre ile bu solüsyonlarda bekletilmiş ve çimlenme ile fide çıkışı değerlendirilmiştir. Bulgular, tuz stresinin çimlenme oranı, fide çıkışı ve büyüme üzerinde baskılayıcı etkisinin belirgin olduğunu göstermiştir. Duman solüsyonu uygulamaları, özellikle düşük dozlarda (%0.1–0.3), çimlenme ve çıkış oranlarında kısmi iyileşmeler sağlamış ancak bu etkiler her zaman istatistiksel olarak anlamlı bulunmamıştır. Yüksek doz (%0.5) uygulamalarında ise pigment içeriklerinde ve büyüme parametrelerinde azalma gözlenmiş, olası toksik etkiler ima edilmiştir. Duman solüsyonlarının tuz stresine bağlı oksidatif hasarı azaltıcı etkisi MDA verileriyle desteklenmiş olsa da, stres koşullarındaki koruyucu rolü sınırlı kalmıştır. Sonuç olarak, duman solüsyonu düşük dozlarda bazı olumlu etkiler gösterse de, yüksek dozda olumsuz etkisi daha belirgindi. Bu sebeple yapılacak daha kapsamlı çalışmalarla duman solüsyonunun biber bitkisi üzerindeki olası etkilerinin detaylandırılması gerekmektedir.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Capsicum annuum
• tuz stresi
• duman solüsyonu
• mantar kompostu
• çimlenme ve çıkış

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