TheEffectofTemperatureinSeedGermination&TheEffectofIndole3acetic

acid(IAA)HormoneonPaddyandBarleyDevelopment.

Nor Baiti Bt Ahmad, Amirah Binti Azman

Department of Biology, Faculty of Science and Mathematics, Universiti Pendidikan Sultan
Idris, 35900 Tanjong Malim, Perak Darul Ridzuan, Malaysia.
1

ABSTRACT
There are three growth phases of paddy and barley. First is vegetative phase. This phase begins with the
seed germination, which is signified by the emergence of radicle or coleoptile in the germinating embryo.
Seedling stage follows seed germination and the seedling develops germinal and lateral roots. During this
stage, the seedling absorbs food from the endosperm. Tillering stage starts with the appearance of the first
tiller from the auxiliary bud in one of the lower most modes. The plant stops tillering after the tertiary
tillers have been produced. Temperature can affect the percentage and rate of germination through at least
three separate physiological processes. Paddy and barley seeds had highest rate of germination when
placed in room temperature (27C) followed by placed in refrigerator (4C). In freezer (-20C) and in
incubator (40C) shows no sign of germination at all. A plant growth experiment was conducted to
determine whether a plant hormone, indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), could influence the growth of paddy and
barley. Four treatments were utilized: (i) control, (ii) 3 mol, (iii) 5 mol (iv) 10 mol. IAA may work mainly
on improving plant growth, the Flu uptake, and eventually leading to enhanced remediation of Flu
polluted soil. We conclude that high levels of IAA stimulates shoot growth and inhibits roots growth
while low concentration of IAA stimulates root growth and have no effect on the shoot.

INTRODUCTION
Germination is the growth of a plant contained within a seed; it results in the formation of the seedling, it
is also the process of reactivation of metabolic machinery of the seed resulting in the emergence of radicle
and plumule. The seed of a vascular plant is a small package produced in afruit or cone after the union of
male and female reproductive cells. All fully developed seeds contain an embryo and, in most plant
species some store of food reserves, wrapped in a seed coat. Some plants produce varying numbers of
seeds that lack embryos; these are called empty seeds and never germinate. Dormant seeds are ripe seeds
that do not germinate because they are subject to external environmental conditions that prevent the
initiation of metabolic processes and cell growth. Under proper conditions, the seed begins to germinate
and the embryonic tissues resume growth, developing towards a seedling.
Seed germination depends on both internal and external conditions. The most important external
factors include right temperature, water, oxygen orair and sometimes light or darkness. Various plants

require different variables for successful seed germination. Often this depends on the individual seed
variety and is closely linked to the ecological conditions of a plant's natural habitat. For some seeds, their
future germination response is affected by environmental conditions during seed formation; most often
these responses are types of seed dormancy.

A plant's sensory response to external stimuli relies on hormones, which are simply chemical
messengers. Plant hormones affect all aspects of plant life, from flowering to fruit setting and maturation,
and from phototropism to leaf fall. Potentially, every cell in a plant can produce plant hormones. The
hormones can act in their cell of origin or be transported to other portions of the plant body, with many
plant responses involving the synergistic or antagonistic interaction of two or more hormones. In contrast,
animal hormones are produced in specific glands and transported to a distant site for action, acting alone.

Plant hormones are a group of unrelated chemical substances that affect plant morphogenesis.
Five major plant hormones are traditionally described: auxins, cytokinins, gibberellins, ethylene,
and abscisic acid. In addition, other nutrients and environmental conditions can be characterized
as growth factors.

Auxins are the main hormones responsible for cell elongation in phototropism and gravitropism.
They also control the differentiation of meristem into vascular tissue and promote leaf development and
arrangement. While many synthetic auxins are used as herbicides, indole acetic acid (IAA) is the only
naturally-occurring auxin that shows physiological activity. Apical dominance (the inhibition of lateral
bud formation) is triggered by auxins produced in the apical meristem. IAA is used as a rooting hormone
to promote growth of adventitious roots on cuttings and detached leaves.

Material and methods

2.1

Preparation of seed

The seeds were provided by lab assistant. First, 50 seeds were soaked in distilled water and left
for 30 minutes. Some cottons were moistened in petri dishes. Different petri dishes were used for
different seeds. The seeds were drained and placed on the moistened cotton and the petri dishes
were sealed. The seeds were left at room temperature (27 C), 40 C, -20 C, 4 C. The number of

seed germinates were counted and the stages of the seed germination were recorded. The rate of
germination in was recorded in 7 days and the graph of the result was drawn.
2.2

Preparation of plant

The soil was put into 25 polybags. After that, two germinated paddy and barley seeds were put
into each polybag and water was added. The number of leaves, length of internodes, length of
roots and length of leaf were counted.

2.2

Preparation of hormone

0, 3, 5 and 10 mol of Indole-3-Acetic Acid (IAA) were inserted into separate conical flasks. 40ml
of isopropyl alcohol were poured into the same conical flasks. The conical flasks were filled with
water until it achieved 100ml. The hormone was transferred into the bottles. Each bottle was put
at each paddy plant. This process is called drip system. The number of leaves, length of
internodes, length of roots and length of leaf were counted.

RESULT

Seed Germination

From the experiment we can see that barley and paddy that stored in room temperature which is
27C has the highest rate of germination. Barley that refrigerated (4C) shows second highest
growth meanwhile paddy under same condition does not have any sign of growth. Paddy and

barley in highest (40C) and lowest (-20C) temperature also showing no sign of growth. Some of
them even became contaminated after a few days. Freezer and incubator seems to prevent
germination process.

Plant growth
Paddy

Barley

From the experiment, we can see that barley has grown faster than paddy in terms of number of leaves.
Barley had more number of leaves than paddy. However, paddy plants were taller than barley in length of
leaves and length of internodes.

Plant growth hormone

We can see that paddy plants were

grown well throughout the experiment
while barley cannot survive till the end of the experiment. The hormone Indole-3-Acetid Acid (IAA)
improve the growth of the paddy. (elongation of leaves). Paddy with 5 mol IAA treatment has the highest
length of internodes and followed by paddy with control (water), paddy with 10 mol and paddy with 3
mol. Paddy with 10 mol of hormone has the lowest length of root, followed by water, 5 mol and 3 mol.

DISCUSSION
The three major functions that are basic to plant growth and development are photosynthesis which is the
process of capturing light energy and converting it to sugar energy, in the presence of chlorophyll using
carbon dioxide (CO2) and water (H2O), respiration which is the process of metabolizing (burning) sugars
to yield energy for growth, reproduction, and other life processes and lastly transpiration, the loss of water
vapor through the stomata of leaves. In the experiment, we let the barleys and paddys grow in front of our
lab where there were enough sunlight for it to grow. We also watered the plants everyday. That is why the
plants grown well because they had everything that they needed.
Auxins are a class of plant hormones (or plant growth substances) with some morphogen-like
characteristics. Auxins have a cardinal role in coordination of many growth and behavioral processes in
the plant's life cycle and are essential for plant body development. Auxins and their role in plant growth
were first described by the Dutch scientist Frits Warmolt Went. Kenneth V. Thimann isolated this
phytohormone and determined its chemical structure as indole-3-acetic acid (IAA). IAA is a derivative of
indole, containing a carboxymethyl substituent. It is a colorless solid that is soluble in polar organic
solvents. This hormone regulate many aspects of plant development, such as apical dominance, root

gravitropism, root hair, lateral root, leaf, and flower formation, and plant vasculature development. IAA
stimulates cell division, elongation and differentiation.
High levels of IAA stimulates shoot growth and inhibits roots growth. This allows IAA to be used
as a selective herbicide. It causes the plant shoots of broad-leaved plants to grow so rapidly that it
exhausts the plant, whilst having little effect on narrow leaved plants. Low concentrations of IAA
stimulates root growth and have no effect on the shoot. We can se in our results that the highest
concentration of IAA that is 10 mol has the lowest in length of root.

CONCLUSION
In conclusion, temperature can affect the percentage and rate of germination through at least three
separate physiological processes. Paddy and barley seeds had highest rate of germination when placed in
room temperature (27C) followed by placed in refrigerator (4C). In freezer (-20C) and in incubator
(40C) shows no sign of germination at all. When the seeds start to grow into plant, we can see that barley
has grown faster than paddy in terms of number of leaves. Barley had more number of leaves than paddy.
However, paddy plants were taller than barley in length of leaves and length of internodes. In last
experiment which is plant growth hormone, we conclude that high levels of IAA stimulates shoot growth
and inhibits roots growth while low concentration of IAA stimulates root growth and have no effect on
the shoot.

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