# Wood Distillate Enhances Seed Germination of Chickpea, Lettuce, and Basil
## 1 Introduction
For optimal WD yield when compared to biochar, the most effective production method involves utilizing fast pyrolysis at temperatures ranging from 350 to 500 \({}^{\circ}\)C.  
This process initiates with the rapid and precise heating of woody biomass, which induces a cascade of thermal decomposition reactions, leading to the desired products. Subsequently, the process culminates in an expeditious cooling phase, finalizing the transformation. Remarkably, the resultant product displays a dynamic and multifaceted composition: an estimated 60-75% of the resulting material comprises the liquid phase, while the solid counterpart encompasses a substantial proportion, typically ranging from 15 to 25%. The gaseous fraction, though comparatively smaller, contributes to approximately 10-20% of the overall composition. The production of WD also yields positive environmental benefits. The materials employed in WD production comprise woody biomass sourced from the second cutting of the forest. This results in a valuable product for fostering the growth of crops, effectively utilizing forest waste and aligning to reduce reliance on synthetic chemical fertilizers. Additionally, it is approximated that each liter of WD sequesters 1.5 kg of CO\({}_{2}\). This carbon capture occurs throughout the entire production process, which not only generates the two by-products but also thermal energy. This thermal energy, in turn, powers the system, creating a sustainable and integrated approach to resource utilization. Wood distillate exhibits a compositional profile rich in bioactive constituents, notably encompassing polyphenols, alcohols, acids, and esters. These compounds collectively have an important bio-stimulatory action, exerting profound influence within the domain of plant biology [11; 12]. For these reasons, this product has recently been included in the list of natural products that can be used in organic farming due to its composition [13]. It is worth noting that the chemical properties of WD are dependent not only on the plant feedstock, but also on the operating parameters used during pyrolysis, and the resulting WD may have quite different characteristics. Wood distillate unravels the multifaceted effects it exerts across various dimensions of plant physiology. These effects span a broad spectrum, encompassing enhancements in germination rates [14], the augmentation of crop yields, and the elevation of the nutritional quality of crops [15; 16; 17; 18; 19]. Moreover, they emerge as an indispensable ally in the endeavor for sustainable and ecologically conscientious agricultural practices. It is noteworthy that WD's benign footprint extends to human safety, having undergone rigorous scrutiny and conclusive validation as non-toxic to human health [20]. From an environmental point of view, WD was found to be safe even for non-target organisms [21; 22; 23; 24]. This is also fundamental for the sustainable development goals (SDGs) issued by the European Commission, given that objective 15 of the 2030 Agenda aims to \"_protect, restore and promote the sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems and biodiversity_\". These results are also of interest as the SDGs have also played a fundamental role in reducing both pesticides and synthetic fertilizers by 50% by 2030. As far as we know, there is currently no information available regarding the impact of WD on seed priming. In this study, we explore the influence of WD on priming seeds from three distinct crop plants: lettuce (_Lactuca sativa_ L.), basil (_Ocimum basilicum_ L.), and chicken (_Cicer arietinum_ L.). Our working hypothesis is that seeds pre-treated with WD perform better in terms of germination and early growth parameters.