ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Improvements in Germination, Growth,
and Metabolic Activity of Corn Seedlings
by Grain Conditioning and Root Application
with Cyanobacteria and Microalgae
Mieczyslaw Grzesik1, Zdzislawa Romanowska-Duda2
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1Research Institute of Horticulture, Konstytucji 3 Maja 1/3, 96-100 Skierniewice, Poland
2Department of Ecophysiology and Plant Development, University of Łódź, Banacha 12/16, 90-237 Łódź, Poland
Pol. J. Environ. Stud. 2014;23(4):1147-1153
KEYWORDS
ABSTRACT
Latest publications indicate that Cyanobacteria and green algae can play an important role in symbiosis
with other organisms and can produce active compounds (classified as secondary metabolites) that inhibit the
growth of pathogenic bacteria and fungi and increase plant growth. Some strains of Cyanobacteria can also
assimilate atmospheric nitrogen, which enriches the soil and then is taken up by plants. Due to the lack of
information concerning their application in energy crop production, the aim of the presented research was to
evaluate the possibility of increasing growth of corn seedlings by grain conditioning and root application with
Cyanobacteria and green algae. The obtained results show that monocultures of Microcystis aeruginosa MKR
0105, Anabaena sp. PCC 7120 (Cyanobacteria), and Chlorella sp. (microalgae) significantly increase germination
and growth of corn seedlings and also intensify some metabolic processes.