*2.1.1 Germination and emergence of cucumber (Cucumis sativus) and tomato plants (Solanum lycopersicum)*

Horticultural fruit crops are of great interest in agricultural industry due to their high consumption worldwide either fresh or canned, so it is important to increase their production. At the Universidad Técnica Estatal de Quevedo (UTEQ, Ecuador, FOCICYT Project), the effect of HOM treatments on tomato and cucumber was studied during germination and emergence from certified seeds of tomato and cucumber (Floradade and Marketmore varieties, respectively). The bioassays were carried out in the experimental area of the Plant Biotechnology Laboratory (germination) and in 'La María' farm (emergence) at UTEQ.

For germination and emergence, a completely randomised design was applied with a 2 axis bifactorial arrangement where factor A was dynamisations (7CH and 13CH) and B was homoeopathic medicines. HOM treatments T1 (NaM 7CH), T2 (SiT 7CH), T3 (MaP 7CH), T4 (ArA 7CH), T5 (NaM 13CH), T6 (SiT 13CH), T7 (MaP 13CH) and T8 (ArA 13CH) were applied in cucumber and T1 (NaM 7CH), T2 (SiT 7CH), T3 (ZiP 7CH), T4 (PhA 7CH), T5 (NaM 13CH), T6 (SiT 13CH), T7 (ZiP 13CH) and T8 (PhA 13CH) in tomato. For both species, distilled water (DW) was applied as a control. Each experimental treatments included six repetitions, each one with 30 seeds. The seed were previously disinfected and washed and then submerged for 20 min in each of the corresponding HOM treatments. The germination tests were carried out in sterilised Petri dishes (150 × 15 mm) placing filter paper as a substrate on the dish bottom. In each dish, 5 ml of the corresponding HOM treatment was initially added, and humidity of the paper substrate kept adding distilled water daily. The germination tests were carried out under controlled conditions with a 12:12 h photoperiod and 27 ± 1°C temperature. The seeds were considered germinated when the radicle is measured around 2 mm in length. To evaluate emergence, the seeds were also previously submerged in the HOM treatments and then planted in 200-well polystyrene trays with commercial substrate (Novarbo®). The seeds were considered emerged when the seedling broke the surface and emerged through the substrate.

Germination was recorded daily, determining the final percentage at 24 h in cucumber and 7 days in tomato. Emergence was also recorded daily, and the final percentage was determined at 4 days for cucumber and at 15 days for tomato. The germination and emergence rates were calculated using Maguire's equation [36]: (M = n1/t1 + n2/t2 + … n30/tn (1)), where n1, n2, … n30 are the number of seeds germinated and emerged at times t1, t2, … tn. From each treatment/repetition, ten

**161**

**Figure 1.**

*Agricultural Homoeopathy: A New Insight into Organics DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.84482*

random seedlings were taken for measurement of the morphometric variables at 14 days after emergence. After separating the tissues (radicle, stem and leaves), the length of the stem from the base to the apical part was measured with a graduated ruler (mm). *Idem*, after having washed the roots with drinking water and finally with distilled water, the length of the radicle was measured from the base of the stem where root hairs start up to where the main root ends. To determine fresh and dry biomass of the aerial part (stems + leaves) and radicle, each one was weighed separately in analytical balance (Mettler Toledo®, model AG204). Then aerial part and radicle were placed separately in paper bags in a drying oven (80°C) during 72 h until complete dehydration and then weighed in the same analytical balance. The

*Effect of HOM treatments on cucumber (Cucumis sativus) germination (% and rate; left) and emergence (% and rate; right); average values with different literals correspond to statistically different treatments (p ≤ 0.05).*

**Test 1**. In cucumber the results revealed that germination rate and percentage reached the highest value with T8 (**Figure 1**) with 53% in comparison to the control (40%). The highest germination rate (9 seeds/h) was also obtained with this HOM treatment, compared to control (4 seeds/h). The emergence percentage was similar for T1 and for the control (65%), which was lower than in other treatments. The emergence rate for T1 was higher than the other treatments and without difference with the control (**Figure 1**). During germination, the plants treated with T7 reached the longest stem length (6.5 cm) without statistical difference from other HOM treatments: T1, T2, T4, T5, T6 and T8. In those cases, significant statistical differences were found with the control (4.5 cm). The longest radicle was obtained with T7 (10.9 cm), with respect to the control (8.4 cm). Regarding biomass, the aerial part with the highest fresh biomass was recorded with T2 (0.18 g), which was statistically different from the control (0.12 g). The plants treated with T8 had the highest fresh radicle biomass (0.08 g), compared to the control (0.06 g). Also with T8 treatment, the highest dry radicle biomass (0.0032 g) was recorded with respect to the control (0.0018 g). During the emergence stage using T3, the longest stem length (12.3 cm) was reached, compared to control (9 cm). The greatest radicle length (6.0 cm) was obtained with T4, and no statistical difference was recorded with the rest of the treatments (5.0–5.9 cm). The highest yield in fresh biomass production of the aerial part was obtained with T2 (0.79 g) with respect to the control (0.47 g). Seedlings with the highest fresh radicle biomass (0.12 g) were obtained with T7, showing statistical differences compared to other experimental interactions (0.04–0.07 g). Finally, the highest radicle dry weight (0.0049 g) was attained with HOM treatment

data were expressed in grams of plant material (fresh or dry).

T5, which was statistically higher than that of the control (0.0017 g).

**Test 2**. In tomato, no significant differences were recorded regarding germination rate and percentage. However, with HOM treatment T2, the highest rate and percentage of emergence were obtained (3 and 26%), unlike the control group

*Agricultural Homoeopathy: A New Insight into Organics DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.84482*

**Figure 1.**

*Multifunctionality and Impacts of Organic and Conventional Agriculture*

ingredients can provoke favourable responses in plants [34].

nation) and in 'La María' farm (emergence) at UTEQ.

surface and emerged through the substrate.

*plants (Solanum lycopersicum)*

*2.1.1 Germination and emergence of cucumber (Cucumis sativus) and tomato* 

Horticultural fruit crops are of great interest in agricultural industry due to their high consumption worldwide either fresh or canned, so it is important to increase their production. At the Universidad Técnica Estatal de Quevedo (UTEQ, Ecuador, FOCICYT Project), the effect of HOM treatments on tomato and cucumber was studied during germination and emergence from certified seeds of tomato and cucumber (Floradade and Marketmore varieties, respectively). The bioassays were carried out in the experimental area of the Plant Biotechnology Laboratory (germi-

For germination and emergence, a completely randomised design was applied with a 2 axis bifactorial arrangement where factor A was dynamisations (7CH and 13CH) and B was homoeopathic medicines. HOM treatments T1 (NaM 7CH), T2 (SiT 7CH), T3 (MaP 7CH), T4 (ArA 7CH), T5 (NaM 13CH), T6 (SiT 13CH),

T7 (MaP 13CH) and T8 (ArA 13CH) were applied in cucumber and T1 (NaM 7CH), T2 (SiT 7CH), T3 (ZiP 7CH), T4 (PhA 7CH), T5 (NaM 13CH), T6 (SiT 13CH), T7 (ZiP 13CH) and T8 (PhA 13CH) in tomato. For both species, distilled water (DW) was applied as a control. Each experimental treatments included six repetitions, each one with 30 seeds. The seed were previously disinfected and washed and then submerged for 20 min in each of the corresponding HOM treatments. The germination tests were carried out in sterilised Petri dishes (150 × 15 mm) placing filter paper as a substrate on the dish bottom. In each dish, 5 ml of the corresponding HOM treatment was initially added, and humidity of the paper substrate kept adding distilled water daily. The germination tests were carried out under controlled conditions with a 12:12 h photoperiod and 27 ± 1°C temperature. The seeds were considered germinated when the radicle is measured around 2 mm in length. To evaluate emergence, the seeds were also previously submerged in the HOM treatments and then planted in 200-well polystyrene trays with commercial substrate (Novarbo®). The seeds were considered emerged when the seedling broke the

Germination was recorded daily, determining the final percentage at 24 h in cucumber and 7 days in tomato. Emergence was also recorded daily, and the final percentage was determined at 4 days for cucumber and at 15 days for tomato. The germination and emergence rates were calculated using Maguire's equation [36]: (M = n1/t1 + n2/t2 + … n30/tn (1)), where n1, n2, … n30 are the number of seeds germinated and emerged at times t1, t2, … tn. From each treatment/repetition, ten

**2.1 Promotion of plant growth health, nutrition and performance**

The application of homoeopathy in agriculture is known as agricultural homoeopathy, which offers an ecologically and economically viable model with the potential to reduce the use of agrochemicals in world agriculture. Homoeopathy in plants contributes to the improvement of internal processes to optimise their growth and development [34]. Scientifically proven results in crops have validated their ability to modify the physiological response of the plant, abundance of foliage and amount of fruit [30]. Recently the homoeopathic medicines *Sulphur*, *Silicea terra* and *Nux vomica* have been assessed on different plants of commercial interest, including corn [35], while the use of other HOM treatments is recommended, such as *Calcarea carbonica*, *Carbo vegetabilis* and *Magnesia carbonica*, because their active

**2. Effect of homoeopathy on plant species**

**160**

*Effect of HOM treatments on cucumber (Cucumis sativus) germination (% and rate; left) and emergence (% and rate; right); average values with different literals correspond to statistically different treatments (p ≤ 0.05).*

random seedlings were taken for measurement of the morphometric variables at 14 days after emergence. After separating the tissues (radicle, stem and leaves), the length of the stem from the base to the apical part was measured with a graduated ruler (mm). *Idem*, after having washed the roots with drinking water and finally with distilled water, the length of the radicle was measured from the base of the stem where root hairs start up to where the main root ends. To determine fresh and dry biomass of the aerial part (stems + leaves) and radicle, each one was weighed separately in analytical balance (Mettler Toledo®, model AG204). Then aerial part and radicle were placed separately in paper bags in a drying oven (80°C) during 72 h until complete dehydration and then weighed in the same analytical balance. The data were expressed in grams of plant material (fresh or dry).

**Test 1**. In cucumber the results revealed that germination rate and percentage reached the highest value with T8 (**Figure 1**) with 53% in comparison to the control (40%). The highest germination rate (9 seeds/h) was also obtained with this HOM treatment, compared to control (4 seeds/h). The emergence percentage was similar for T1 and for the control (65%), which was lower than in other treatments. The emergence rate for T1 was higher than the other treatments and without difference with the control (**Figure 1**). During germination, the plants treated with T7 reached the longest stem length (6.5 cm) without statistical difference from other HOM treatments: T1, T2, T4, T5, T6 and T8. In those cases, significant statistical differences were found with the control (4.5 cm). The longest radicle was obtained with T7 (10.9 cm), with respect to the control (8.4 cm). Regarding biomass, the aerial part with the highest fresh biomass was recorded with T2 (0.18 g), which was statistically different from the control (0.12 g). The plants treated with T8 had the highest fresh radicle biomass (0.08 g), compared to the control (0.06 g). Also with T8 treatment, the highest dry radicle biomass (0.0032 g) was recorded with respect to the control (0.0018 g). During the emergence stage using T3, the longest stem length (12.3 cm) was reached, compared to control (9 cm). The greatest radicle length (6.0 cm) was obtained with T4, and no statistical difference was recorded with the rest of the treatments (5.0–5.9 cm). The highest yield in fresh biomass production of the aerial part was obtained with T2 (0.79 g) with respect to the control (0.47 g). Seedlings with the highest fresh radicle biomass (0.12 g) were obtained with T7, showing statistical differences compared to other experimental interactions (0.04–0.07 g). Finally, the highest radicle dry weight (0.0049 g) was attained with HOM treatment T5, which was statistically higher than that of the control (0.0017 g).

**Test 2**. In tomato, no significant differences were recorded regarding germination rate and percentage. However, with HOM treatment T2, the highest rate and percentage of emergence were obtained (3 and 26%), unlike the control group

**Figure 2.** *Effect of HOM treatments on tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) emergence (% and rate).*

(≤2 and ≤23%, respectively). In general, most of the HOM treatments had a stimulating effect during the emergence stage (**Figure 2**) since significant differences were recorded in the morphometric variables evaluated. During germination, the length of stem (SL) was greater using T3 (5.5 cm) with respect to the control (4.3 cm). With HOM treatment T2, the highest root development was obtained with a length of 8.2 cm compared to the control (5.6 cm). Significant differences were observed in dry biomass of stem and root obtaining higher dry stem biomass with T3 and T5 (0.01 g) than that obtained with control and other HOM treatments (0.0027 g). When T1 was applied, a higher dry root biomass (0.002 g) was observed with respect to control (0.0005 g), and other HOM treatments (≤0.0013 g) were assessed. During the emergence stage, significant differences were found regarding stem length with HOM treatment T2 (6.6 cm), and with T3 a similar growth was obtained (5.9 cm). The length of the stem was smaller with the rest of the treatments (≤5.8 cm) but, even so, higher than the control (4.6 cm). Regarding root length, no significant differences were found; however, the seedlings treated with T4 and T7 had the highest root growth (4.5 and 4.6 cm, respectively) beyond the control (3.3 cm). Finally, with regard to biomass, no significant differences were observed between HOM treatments and the control.
