Seeds were divided into three groups: (1) grown in modi- fied HGZ-145 (control, C); (2) treated with the exudates of M. aeruginosa; (3) treated with the extracts of M. aeruginosa (five con- centrations T1–T5 as mentioned in Section 2.3). Fifty seeds per treatment (three replicates each) were cultivated in a petri dish containing a piece of filter paper and 20 mL of nutrient solution, exudates or extracts, respectively. The seeds were incubated at
25 ± 1 ◦C, in continuous light of 80 mol quanta m−2 s−1 (PPFD),
with a 12:12 h light–dark cycle in the greenhouse. After 4 days,
the numbers of germinated seeds were noted daily until day 30 (based on the observation that the radicle had escaped the seed coat by 1 mm) for calculating germination percentage. Three mL of fresh nutrient solution, extract, or exudates, respectively, were added daily to each petri dish.