Effect of heterocystous cyanobacterium Calothrix parietina wsu11 on seed germination potential using Hordeum vulgare L. (barley) as an experimental crop

In this present study, a fresh water heterocystous cyanobacterium Calothrix parietina WSU11 was obtained from the department of Biology, Wolaita Sodo University, Wolaita Sodo, Ethiopia. The purity of the obtained cyanobacterium was analyzed by streaking plate and microscopically. The purified cyanobacterium C. parietinaWSU11 was further cultured at mass level under laboratory conditions. The mass cultured C.parietinaWSU11 was harvested and prepared different concentrations of aqueous extracts like 1%, 2%, 3%, 4% and 5% to determine the seed germinating potential using Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) seeds underseed germination experiments by plat method. All the concentrations of aqueous extracts of C.parietina WSU11 showed significantly higher results in seed germination percentage, radical length, coleoptile length and epicotyl length when compared to control. Similarly, the carbohydrates and protein content were highly reduced in the seeds treated with heterocystouscyanobacterial isolates C.parietina WSU11at 5% concentration which indicated that this cyanobacterial culture extracts influence the metabolism of reserve food for the germination process. Based on the above said results, the cyanobacterial culture C. parietina WSU11at 5% concentration can be used to influence the seed germination capacity of barley seeds.