Germination and seedling development are essential stages in a plant’s life cycle, greatly influenced by temperature and moisture conditions. The aim of this study was to determine maize (Zea mays L.) seeds’ germination and seedling development under various abiotic stresses. Eight different temperature levels, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, and 40 °C, were used. Drought and waterlogging stresses were tested using 30 water levels based on one-milliliter intervals and as percentages of thousand kernel weight (TKW) at 20 and 25 °C. Seedling density and the use of antifungals were also examined. Temperature significantly affected germination duration and seedling growth, and 20 °C was found to be ideal with an optimal range of less than 30 °C. Germination occurred at 25% of the TKW. The optimal water range for seedling growth was higher and broader than the range for germination. Seed size assisted in defining germination water requirements and providing an accurate basis. The present research established an optimum water supply range of 150–325% of the TKW for maize seedling development. A total of 6 seeds per 9 cm Petri dish may be preferable over greater densities. The technique of priming seeds with an antifungal solution before planting was observed to have a better effect than applying it in the growth media.

Winter wheat is one of the most important crops globally and also in Hungary. Hungary has excellent crop production potential including seed production. The aim of our experiment is to determine the effects of different amounts and proportions of nutrients and those of the seed size of winter wheat in laboratory seed tests on the seed parameters (germination percentage, germination power, seedling health and vigour), as well as in field tests of the seed parameters (emergence percentage and yield of next crop year). Laboratory seed tests of winter wheat variety GK Petur were conducted with seeds that underwent ten nutrient treatments and of three seed size fractions over four crop years, together with field experiments in three growing seasons. Compared to the untreated control group, N treatments significantly decreased the health of the seedlings in the next generation of winter wheat. PK treatments without N increased the germination percentage, vigour value and emergence percentage significantly, but the health of the seedlings decreased. In contrast, NPK treatments with a ratio of 2:1:1 improved all the tested parameters compared to those of the control group. The increase in seed sizes significantly increased the germination power, seedling health, vigour value, emergence percentage and the yield of the next crop year. It can be concluded that the factors of nutrient supply, crop year of the seed production and the seed size significantly influence the quality of the seed (germination percentage, germination power, seedling health, vigour and emergence percentage), thus also the yield of the next generation.

Temperature and salinity stress are currently spreading widely across the globe and have been proven to have a negative impact on maize (Zea mays L.) crops as early as the germination stage. However, more research must be conducted on the interactive or combined effects of salinity and temperature stress on maize germination. This study aims to determine the impact of combined temperature and salinity stress on 16 different maize varieties. The maize seeds were incubated at three different temperatures (15 °C, 20 °C, and 35 °C) and two sodium chloride (NaCl) levels (0 mM and 100 mM) simultaneously. Germination percentage, root and shoot growth, root:shoot length ratio, and seed vigor index (SVI) were recorded and analyzed. The presence of salinity reduced maize germination qualities at all three temperatures tested. However, at high 35 °C temperatures, significant reductions in germination performances were observed compared to lower temperatures with salt stress. Three varieties (V1, V10, and V16) had the best overall germination performance in all three temperatures under saline stress, while V4, V5, V12, and V14 showed higher salt tolerance at 35 °C than at lower temperatures. In conclusion, increased temperature amplifies the salt stress in maize germination, and the varietal effect influences the seed tolerance towards a combination of salt and temperature stress.

The practice of cultivating crops in a controlled environment using a soilless culture method is seeing an increasing level of popularity. The aforementioned challenges include addressing climate change, combating pests and diseases, mitigating falling soil fertility, and ensuring constant production and quality. One of the potential crops that could be grown with such a method is soybean. Soybean cultivation in a controlled environment using soilless culture still needs more information, especially regarding nutrient solution management of certain soybean varieties. Thus, this study investigated the impact of nutrient concentrations and variety on soybean growth, yield, and chemical composition. This research was carried out in a plant growth chamber using expanded clay aggregate as a soilless substrate. The treatments were four nutrient concentrations: 0% (control), 50%, 100%, and 150%, and two different varieties: Martina and Johanna. The findings of this research revealed that there were significant differences in nutrient treatments on all parameters measured. Application of nutrient concentration at 50% resulted in the most profound root size for both varieties. Applying 100% nutrient concentration produced a higher 100-grain weight for the Johanna variety. Application of nutrient concentration at 150% resulted in the highest shoot weight and shoot:root ratio for both varieties, with varietal differences. Furthermore, applying nutrient concentration at 150% also produced the highest grain yield/pot, protein yield, and lipid yield for both varieties. Thus, the nutrient concentration between 100% and 150% gave a positive effect and can be applied for planting Martina and Johanna using this system.

After wheat and rice, maize is one of the most significant cereal crops worldwide. However, high-quality seed materials are prerequisites for stable yields, and low-quality maize seeds significantly contribute to low yields and deteriorate over time. Therefore, the present investigation aims to investigate the effects of seed quality and hybrid types on maize germination by emphasizing seed viability and vigor and their impact on maize crops’ overall performance and productivity. The study was separately conducted in the laboratory and on a field experiment plot under the Department of Crop Production, Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences, in spring 2022. Nine parental lines, six hybrids, and a controlled hybrid were tested in this study. The studies were laid out using a complete randomization design (CRD) and a randomized complete block design (RCBD) in the laboratory and in the field. The results of the study showed that there was a statistically significant difference between genotypes and number of days and their interaction in seed vigor. The parental lines showed better performance in terms of germination percentage and radicle elongation, whereas single-cross hybrids (SC) produced better plumule length. The radicle and plumule length also expanded significantly as incubation days increased. In field evaluations, as expected, hybrid lines produced better performance than parental lines, and SC hybrids were more prevalent than the other hybrids. In addition, the number of rows per ear, number of kernels per ear, 1000-kernel weight, and ear weight directly affected the final grain yield. However, further research is needed on new approaches that can assist researchers in advancing their work by considering biotic and abiotic factors to address seed-quality issues and enhance yield production.

Soilless cultivation systems in a controlled environment are increasingly being used due to several global issues such as climate change, pest and disease problems, declining soil fertility quality and limited agricultural land. Soybean is one of the potential crops that can be grown using the soilless planting system in a controlled environment. Therefore, a study was conducted to investigate the effect of nutrient concentrations on the early development of two soybean varieties. Four different nutrient concentrations (0%, 50%, 100% and 150%) were applied, and two soybean varieties (Martina and Johanna) were tested. This study was designed in a split-plot experimental design where the nutrient concentration was the main plot and the variety was the sub-plot. The data record was started after fertilization. The plant growth data were collected for five weeks. All the data were analyzed statistically using SPSS V.23 software. The results of the study found that the nutrient concentration affected the number of leaves and leaf area. The number of leaves was higher in the treatment using 100% and 150% nutrients. Meanwhile, the leaf area increased with increasing nutrient concentration from 0% to 150%. The nutrient concentration then interacted with the variety in influencing the plant height. The plant height of the Martina variety was higher than the Johanna variety when 0% and 100% nutrients were applied. The variety also affected the leaf area and interacted with the number of weeks in affecting the SPAD readings and number of leaves. Thus, the two tested varieties (Johanna and Martina) have distinct early growth patterns that differ from one another as affected by the nutrient concentrations and plant age (number of weeks).