Enhancing Seed Germination and Seedling Establishment in High-Value Plants Using Natural Medicinal Plant Extracts as Biostimulants

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Department of Agriculture, Minab Higher Education Complex, University of Hormozgan, Bandar Abbas, Iran

2 Department of Soil and Water, Faculty of Water Engineering, Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Gorgan, Iran

3 National University of Skills, Tehran, Iran

4 Department of Horticultural Sciences and Landscape, Faculty of Agriculture, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran

10.22126/atic.2026.12162.1220

Abstract

The establishment of a uniform and vigorous seedling stand is a critical bottleneck in the commercial cultivation of high-value plants, such as medicinal and industrial crops. Relying on synthetic chemicals to enhance germination often raises concerns regarding cost, environmental toxicity, and sustainability. This study investigated the efficacy of natural plant-derived biostimulants as a sustainable alternative to improve seed germination and seedling establishment. A factorial experiment was conducted in a completely randomized design with three replications. Treatments included hydro-alcoholic extracts of four medicinal plants—thyme (Thymus daenensis), marjoram (Satureja hortensis), rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis), and peppermint (Mentha piperita)—applied at concentrations of 10 and 20 mL L-1 as seed priming agents to six high-value species: Echinacea purpurea, Digitalis purpurea, Osteospermum ecklonis, Dianthus caryophyllus, Antirrhinum majus, and Zinnia elegans. Key metrics measured were germination percentage (GP), mean germination time (MGT), germination rate index (GRI), seedling vigor index (SVI), and seedling establishment rate. Analysis of variance indicated significant main effects of extract type and plant species, as well as their interaction (p<0.01), on most germination and seedling growth parameters. Notably, peppermint extract at 10 mL L-1 significantly enhanced GP and SVI across most species, except for Osteospermum, where thyme extract (10 mL L-1) was most effective. The results demonstrate that specific plant extracts can effectively reduce mean germination time and increase seedling uniformity and robustness. This research provides evidence that targeted seed priming with natural plant extracts can optimize the early growth phase, leading to more synchronized germination and stronger seedling stands. These findings offer a practical, eco-friendly strategy to increase propagation efficiency, reduce seedling production costs, and improve crop uniformity in commercial nurseries and large-scale cultivation of medicinal and industrial plants.

Graphical Abstract

Enhancing Seed Germination and Seedling Establishment in High-Value Plants Using Natural Medicinal Plant Extracts as Biostimulants

Highlights

  • In our study, successful results were obtained, highlighting the importance of seed priming with medicinal plant extracts.
  • This research demonstrated the positive potential of different plant extracts as natural biostimulants and their beneficial effects on germination and post-germination traits of various plant species.
  • Our findings revealed that medicinal plant extracts had a positive impact on growth indicators such as seedling emergence and growth, indicating their potential for broader agricultural applications using these bioactive compounds.

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

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Agrotechniques in Industrial Crops

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Available Online from 29 July 2026

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