The Effect of Forage Turnip (Brassica rapa L.) Extract on Maize (Zea mays L.) Germination, Seedling Development, and Quality

Authors : Zahide Gül Gürkan, Erdem Gülümser
Pages : 559-564
Doi:10.15316/selcukjafsci.1706965
View : 102 | Download : 135
Publication Date : 2025-12-27
Article Type : Research Paper
Abstract :This study aimed to determine the effect of forage turnip (Brassica rapa L.) extract on germination, seedling development, and quality of maize (Zea mays L.). The forage turnip was harvested during the flowering period, and 500 grams of the sample was weighed and soaked in 3 liters of pure water for 7 hours. Four different concentrations of turnip (FT) extracts were obtained: 100%, 75%, 50%, and 25%. As a control, 100% pure water (PW) was used. The experiment, conducted for 21 days in petri dishes, was designed according to a Randomized Complete Plots Design with three replications. Germination rate, root and stem lengths (cm), root and stem fresh and dry weights (g), crude protein content (%), potassium (K), phosphorus (P), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), total phenolic, total flavonoid, radical scavenging activity (DPPH), and condensed tannin contents were determined. The highest germination rate was found with 100% pure water and 25FT+75PW% treatments (99.00%), while the lowest was observed with 100FT% (94.00%) and 75FT+25PW% (94.00%) treatments. ADF, NDF, K, P, Ca, and Mg contents varied between 24-25-29.75%, 46.88-60.60%, 2.94-3.60%, 0.42-0.55%, 0.54-0.92%, and 1.9-0.26%, respectively. The longest root and stem lengths, and the highest root and stem fresh weights, were observed in the treatments irrigated with 25% forage turnip. Besides, the bioactive components in maize increased with the increase of forage turnip extract. As a result, 25% extract of forage turnip had a positive effect on the germination and seedling development of the maize plant, while above this dose, it performed an inhibitory role.
Keywords : Maize, forage turnip, extract, germination, seedling development

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