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. 2014 Feb 26;2(3):apps.1300097.
doi: 10.3732/apps.1300097. eCollection 2014 Mar.

An effective system to produce smoke solutions from dried plant tissue for seed germination studies

Janice Coons  1 , Nancy Coutant  1 , Barbara Lawrence  2 , Daniel Finn  1 , Stephanie Finn  1
Affiliations

An effective system to produce smoke solutions from dried plant tissue for seed germination studies

Janice Coons et al. Appl Plant Sci. .

Abstract

Premise of the study: An efficient and inexpensive system was developed to produce smoke solutions from plant material to research the influence of water-soluble compounds from smoke on seed germination. •

Methods and results: Smoke solutions (300 mL per batch) were produced by burning small quantities (100-200 g) of dried plant material from a range of species in a bee smoker attached by a heater hose to a side-arm flask. The flask was attached to a vacuum water aspirator, to pull the smoke through the water. The entire apparatus was operated in a laboratory fume hood. •

Conclusions: Compared with other smoke solution preparation systems, the system described is easy to assemble and operate, inexpensive to build, and effective at producing smoke solutions from desired species in a small indoor space. Quantitative measurements can be made when using this system, allowing for replication of the process.

Keywords: seed germination; smoke compounds; smoke solution system.

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Figures

Fig. 1.
Fig. 1.
Smoke solution system. The completed burning system including: (1) bee smoker with bellows, (2) hose clamp, (3) heater hose, (4) side-arm flask, (5) ring stand with clamp, (6) vacuum tubing, and (7) water aspirator. The working system was constructed and used in a fume hood.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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