‘兰箭3号’箭筈豌豆荚果发育动态及腹缝线结构研究

箭筈豌豆(Vicia sativa)是高海拔地区重要的一年生豆科牧草,但荚果成熟时的开裂现象会造成种子的严重损失。该研究以栽培品种‘兰箭3号’为对象,对其荚果在发育过程中的形态特征、水分含量、腹缝线表面结构及腹缝线横截面解剖结构的动态变化进行观察分析,以探讨箭筈豌豆荚果的裂荚机理,为生产中确定种子收获的适宜时间提供理论依据。结果显示:(1)‘兰箭3号’约在盛花后25~30d荚果变为浅棕色,此时荚果已完成生理成熟,且荚果的大小和干重均达到最大值,含水量降到最小值;盛花后25d荚果腹缝线出现裂缝,盛花后35d腹缝线完全裂开。(2)‘兰箭3号’于盛花后20d腹缝线处离层细胞开始解体;盛花后25d,内、中、外果皮的薄壁细胞均开始失水皱缩,其中内果皮的薄壁细胞部分已开始破裂,离层细胞及其下面的薄壁细胞完全解体,外部果瓣缘细胞内侧细胞壁破裂,但外侧异常加厚的细胞壁仍然保持完整并连接两个果瓣,使荚果不开裂;盛花后30~35d,内、中、外果皮的薄壁细胞完全失水,细胞壁皱缩在一起,同时外部果瓣缘细胞外侧细胞壁断裂成两部分,荚果的两个果瓣裂开。研究表明,盛花后25~30d荚果失去绿色变为浅棕色时是‘兰箭3号’的适宜收获时间,且离层和细胞失水产生的机械拉力是导致箭筈豌豆荚果开裂的主要原因,推测外部果瓣缘细胞外侧增厚融合的细胞壁很可能是‘兰箭3号’抵抗裂荚的关键结构。     

种子萌发的积温效应——以青藏高原东缘的12种菊科植物为例

温度是影响种子萌发的重要的环境因素之一。该文以青藏高原东缘的12种菊科植物为研究对象, 结合Logistic函数和积温公式, 通过非线性回归方法估算种子萌发的最低温度和积温, 研究了种子萌发对不同温度的响应。研究结果表明: (1)青藏高原东缘的12种菊科植物种子萌发的最低温度的平均值为0 ℃, 积温的平均值为94.5 ℃·d。与前人的研究相比, 该研究中萌发的最低温度较低, 积温较高, 这是该区域菊科植物长期适应青藏高原特殊的温度环境的结果; (2)种子萌发的最低温度与积温之间存在着显著的负相关关系(p = 0.04)。萌发最低温度较低的物种积温较高, 避免了种子在多变的温度环境下较早萌发所遇到的风险; (3)种子大小与积温之间存在着显著的正相关关系(p = 0.01)。在萌发最低温度差别不大的情况下, 与大种子相比, 小种子萌发所需的积温较低, 萌发较快, 在群落演替的早期占有优势。     

控水对饲草作物间作群体产量、根冠比及水分利用效率的影响

黄土高原半湿润易旱区降水资源短缺且年际分配不均,研究水分供应对饲草作物生长的影响对该区饲草栽培具有重要的指导意义。在遮雨棚中采用盆栽控水的方法,研究了箭筈豌豆单作、燕麦单作、饲用玉米单作、燕麦/箭筈豌豆间作、燕麦/饲用玉米间作5种种植模式在高水(70%田间持水量)、中水(55%田间持水量)、低水(40%田间持水量)3个供水水平下的群体产量、根冠比以及水分利用效率。结果表明: 在高、中、低3个供水水平下,燕麦/箭筈豌豆间作群体的土地当量比分别为1.20、1.21和1.19,燕麦/饲用玉米间作群体的土地当量比分别为1.17、1.11和1.03,均表现为间作优势。同一供水水平下,5种种植模式中单作饲用玉米总干物质产量最高,单作箭筈豌豆最低。单作燕麦的干物质产量和粗蛋白产量均随水分供应量的减少而增加,而单作箭筈豌豆和单作玉米则表现出相反的趋势。在个体水平上,间作提高了燕麦干物质产量和粗蛋白产量,而降低了箭筈豌豆和饲用玉米的产量,燕麦表现为间作优势。燕麦/箭筈豌豆间作群体干物质产量在中水和低水处理下比高水处理分别增加4.1%和4.8%,但差异不显著;而燕麦/饲用玉米间作群体干物质产量在中水和低水处理比高水处理分别显著降低8.0%和13.0%。燕麦/箭筈豌豆间作群体的根冠比在中水和低水处理下分别比高水处理显著增加33.4%和58.4%,中水和低水处理显著降低了燕麦/饲用玉米间作群体的根冠比。燕麦/箭筈豌豆间作群体的水分利用效率在中水和低水处理下分别比高水处理显著增加11.7%和12.9%,而燕麦/饲用玉米间作群体的水分利用效率在中水和低水处理下与高水处理相比变化不显著。单作玉米和燕麦/饲用玉米间作群体的产量较高,但其对水分变化较为敏感、产量稳定性差,燕麦/箭筈豌豆间作群体在水分变化条件下产量稳定、粗蛋白产量占优、水分利用效率较高,建议在研究区使用。     

不同小麦进化材料生育后期光合特性和产量

以二倍体野生一粒小麦(Triticum boeoticum)、栽培一粒小麦(T. monococcum)、节节麦(Aegilops tauschii)和黑麦(Secale cereale)、四倍体野生二粒小麦(T. dicoccoides)、栽培二粒小麦(T. dicoccum)、硬粒小麦(T. durum)、六倍体普通小麦(T. aestivum)‘扬麦9号’和‘扬麦158’及八倍体小黑麦(Triticale)为材料,采用盆栽试验研究了不同小麦进化材料生育后期旗叶光合特性的演变及产量的差异。结果表明,与六倍体普通小麦和八倍体小黑麦相比,二倍体和四倍体材料在开花前具有较高的光合速率(P_n)、气孔导度(G_s)、最大光能转换效率(F_v/F_m)和实际光化学效率(Φ_PSⅡ)。开花以后,二倍体和四倍体材料受非气孔因素的影响,光合能力下降较快;除黑麦外,旗叶光合速率在开花10 d后都低于普通小麦和小黑麦,胞间CO₂浓度(C_i)迅速增加,F_v/F_m、Φ_PSⅡ和叶绿素含量快速下降。二倍体和四倍体材料开花前单株总叶面积和旗叶叶面积较大,花后下降迅速,功能期短;单株穗数也较多,但穗粒数、千粒重、产量和收获指数却显著低于普通小麦。因此,小麦长期进化过程中,普通小麦花后较高的光合能力及较长的光合持续期是提高千粒重,进而提高产量的重要生理基础。     

北疆地区15种豆科植物种子对绵羊消化道作用的响应

为揭示北疆地区豆科植物种子对绵羊消化道作用的响应, 采集了北疆地区天然草地中常见的15种豆科植物种子。首先测定种子的长、宽、厚和质量, 并计算种子的形状指数。其次, 用种子饲喂绵羊, 收粪试验在种子摄食后的第6、12、24、36、48和72 h进行, 测定种子经绵羊消化道作用后的回收率、种子在绵羊消化道内的平均滞留时间以及消化道作用前后种子的萌发行为, 并研究了种子大小及形状指数对平均滞留时间和种子回收率的影响。结果如下: 15种植物种子质量在1.50-37.68 mg之间, 形状指数在0.001-0.12之间, 均为中等或较大类型的球(圆)形种子; 种子被绵羊采食后的排放动态符合高斯模型: Y = 0.02 + 0.74e ^{-0.5(( X - 29.61)/9.41)2}, 种子排放高峰期集中在采食后的24-36 h时间段内; 种子回收率最大的是洋甘草(Glycyrrhiza glabra)(39.25%), 最小的是草木犀(Melilotus officinalis)(4.28%); 平均滞留时间最长的是草木犀(37.19 h), 最短的是新疆棘豆(Oxytropis sinkiangensis)(22.33 h); 种子回收率与种子大小和形状指数之间分别具有符合形如Y = 6.45 + 2.05X - 0.04X ²和Y = 2.59 + 36.97e ^{-24.47 X}的函数关系模型; 平均滞留时间与种子大小和形状指数之间分别具有符合形如Y = 12.48 + 37.44e ^{-0.07 X}和Y = 3.93 + 2055.33X - 21757.99X ²的函数关系模型, 此结果表明, 较大、较小和形状不规则的豆科种子较易被绵羊消化和排泄。经绵羊消化道作用后, 多叶锦鸡儿(Caragana pleiophylla)种子的萌发率由消化前的96.22%显著降低至35.17%, 野火球(Trifolium lupinaster)和狐尾黄耆(Astragalus alopecurus)种子萌发率和消化前相比差异不显著, 其余12种种子的萌发率均显著提高(p < 0.05)。     

Effect of sheep digestive tract on the recovery and germination of seeds of fifteen leguminous plants in the northern Xinjiang region,China

为揭示北疆地区豆科植物种子对绵羊消化道作用的响应, 采集了北疆地区天然草地中常见的15种豆科植物种子。首先测定种子的长、宽、厚和质量, 并计算种子的形状指数。其次, 用种子饲喂绵羊, 收粪试验在种子摄食后的第6、12、24、36、48和72 h进行, 测定种子经绵羊消化道作用后的回收率、种子在绵羊消化道内的平均滞留时间以及消化道作用前后种子的萌发行为, 并研究了种子大小及形状指数对平均滞留时间和种子回收率的影响。结果如下: 15种植物种子质量在1.50-37.68 mg之间, 形状指数在0.001-0.12之间, 均为中等或较大类型的球(圆)形种子; 种子被绵羊采食后的排放动态符合高斯模型: Y = 0.02 + 0.74e ^{-0.5(( X - 29.61)/9.41)2}, 种子排放高峰期集中在采食后的24-36 h时间段内; 种子回收率最大的是洋甘草(Glycyrrhiza glabra)(39.25%), 最小的是草木犀(Melilotus officinalis)(4.28%); 平均滞留时间最长的是草木犀(37.19 h), 最短的是新疆棘豆(Oxytropis sinkiangensis)(22.33 h); 种子回收率与种子大小和形状指数之间分别具有符合形如Y = 6.45 + 2.05X - 0.04X ²和Y = 2.59 + 36.97e ^{-24.47 X}的函数关系模型; 平均滞留时间与种子大小和形状指数之间分别具有符合形如Y = 12.48 + 37.44e ^{-0.07 X}和Y = 3.93 + 2055.33X - 21757.99X ²的函数关系模型, 此结果表明, 较大、较小和形状不规则的豆科种子较易被绵羊消化和排泄。经绵羊消化道作用后, 多叶锦鸡儿(Caragana pleiophylla)种子的萌发率由消化前的96.22%显著降低至35.17%, 野火球(Trifolium lupinaster)和狐尾黄耆(Astragalus alopecurus)种子萌发率和消化前相比差异不显著, 其余12种种子的萌发率均显著提高(p < 0.05)。     

冷层积和室温干燥贮藏对河西走廊8种荒漠植物种子萌发的影响

不同贮藏和处理条件对不同植物的种子萌发有不同的影响。该文以河西走廊干旱半干旱区8种荒漠植物为研究对象, 探讨了种子经历不同冷层积(4 ℃、-5 ℃、-26 - 10 ℃)和室温干燥贮藏后的萌发响应。研究结果表明: 1)冷层积可使种子萌发率提高、保持不变或降低, 冷层积的有效温度下界可降至-5 ℃或更低。4 ℃和-5 ℃的冷层积使多裂骆驼蓬(Peganum multisectum)和驼蹄瓣(Zygophyllum fabago)种子的萌发率升高、萌发速度加快, 冬季过低的气温以及较大的温度变幅(-26 - 10 ℃)使部分种子萌发率升高。3种冷层积和室温干燥贮藏使黑果枸杞(Lycium ruthenicum)种子萌发率达到90%-100%。唐古特白刺(Nitraria tangutorum)、甘草(Glycyrrhiza uralensis)、苦马豆(Sphaerophysa salsula)种子经过3种冷层积和室温干燥贮藏后萌发率变化较小。中亚紫菀木(Asterothamnus centrali-asiaticus)种子对各种贮藏条件的响应不明显, 部分种子活性丢失。刺沙蓬(Salsola ruthenica)种子扩散时有较高的萌发率(84%), 经-5 ℃和-26 - 10 ℃冷贮藏后, 种子仍具有较高的萌发率, 经4 ℃冷贮藏后几乎不萌发, 大部分种子活性丢失。2)不同物种的种子经过不同方式的贮藏后, 萌发对温度的响应不同。经冷层积后的多裂骆驼蓬种子萌发响应于恒温, 驼蹄瓣和刺沙蓬种子萌发更加响应于变温条件; 多数植物种子在变温培养下萌发速度慢于恒温下。     

油页岩废渣地12种木本植物光合作用的季节变化

研究了引种在油页岩工业废渣地12种木本植物冬、夏季光合作用特征,根据此评价引种植物的光合作用效率,测定的主要参数包括净光合速率(P_n)、蒸腾速率(T_r)和气孔导度(G_s)。结果表明:1) 冬、夏季各项测定指标差异很大,P_n、T_r、G_s均是夏季高于冬季,而且,夏季平均P_n、T_r和G_s值要比冬季均值分别高60.9%、77.7%和85.7%,但水分利用效率(WUE)却是冬季高于夏季26.8%~77.2%。2) P_n日变化节律冬、夏季有异,夏季较多的种出现“双峰型”,而冬季较多出现“单峰型”。但也有例外,樟树(Cinnamomum camphora)冬、夏季均出现“单峰”;油榄仁(Terminalia bellirica)、红胶木(Tristania conferta)和柚木(Tectona grandis)冬、夏季均出现“双峰”;海南蒲桃(Syzygium cumini)则冬季为“双峰”,夏季为“单峰”。3) 若某一植物种在冬、夏季都表现出有较高的P_n日均值,相对于另一种植物其中有一季有较高的P_n,说明前者更适应当地环境生长。据此,以冬、夏季P_n日均值的平均值高低排序,评价参试植物在当地自然光照条件下的光合作用效率高低,树种的排序为:大叶相思(Acacia auriculiformis)、油榄仁、铁刀木(Cassia siamea)、云南石梓(Gmelina arborea)、柚木、红胶木、樟树、海南红豆(Ormosia pinnata)、铁冬青(Ilex rotunda)、海南蒲桃、双翼豆(Peltophorum ptetocarpum)和海南翅萍婆(Pterygota alata)。     

砂仁光合作用的CO2扩散限制与气孔限制分析

目前常用从气体交换参数计算的胞间CO₂浓度(C_i)来计算气孔限制值(L_s),但由于胁迫情况下计算的C_i偏高常导致结果不准确。该文引入扩散限制分析概念,以砂仁为例介绍了一种不需 C_i的计算扩散限制值(L_d)的新方法。同时通过叶绿素荧光参数间接估算受干旱胁迫植株的C_i(用C_i'表示)计算气孔限制值(L_s')。采用这3种方法分析了生长在100%和40%土壤相对湿度(RSM)下的砂仁(Amomum villosum)净光合速率的限制因素。结果表明两种水分状况下砂仁午后净光合速率的限制因素不同。100%RSM下,午后砂仁L_s没有升高,说明光合作用气孔限制并未增强;午后其L_d升高表明光合作用的CO₂扩散限制增强,这主要是由叶肉阻力相对增大所致。40%RSM下,午后砂仁L_s'升高比L_d升高明显,说明气孔阻力在所有扩散阻力中占主导作用,是限制净光合速率的主要原因;而其 L_s午后并未升高,暗示传统的气孔限制分析会得出非气孔限制的错误结论。C_i'低于C_i,说明干旱胁迫时传统的气体交换方法高估了C_i。上述结果都证明水分胁迫情况下传统方法不可靠,该文介绍的两种新方法比较准确可靠,同时使用两种新方法还可定性推测叶肉阻力的变化方向。     

基于树干液流测定值进行尺度扩展的马占相思林段蒸腾和冠层气孔导度

应用Granier热消散探针,长期监测华南丘陵地马占相思(Acacia mangium)林14棵样树的树干液流(Sap flow),由此计算整树和林段的蒸腾速率,结合同步记录的环境因子,求算冠层平均气孔导度(G_c)。Granier探针的灵敏度较高,能精确测定即使是微弱的液流活动。观测结果显示,树木个体之间的液流密度(J_s)和整树蒸腾(E_t)受树形特征影响较大。马占相思林径级大的树木个体数较少,但占据林段边材总面积和林段蒸腾的比例较大。J_s和E_t的日变化主要受光合有效辐射(Q_o)和空气水蒸气压亏缺(D)的控制,土壤含水量(θ)对较大胸径树木E_t的影响大于胸径较小的树木,个体之间J_s和E_t的差异随θ的下降而缩小。一年中,林段蒸腾(E)在光照和水热条件较好的7月最高,9~12月,由于土壤水分供应的减少致使E值降低,E对D的敏感性下降。G_c与主要环境因子的关系与E相似,如果θ长期偏低,G_c会明显下降,是造成E降低的主要原因。成熟马占相思林在光照充足、水热条件较好的情况下的蒸腾活动旺盛,但对土壤水分胁迫的忍受力较低。     

Mathematical description of the seed germination dependency on time and temperature

Abstract. A mathematical model which describes the germination percentage dependency on time and temperature of a seed population was derived from the experimental results with a seed population of Amaranthus patulus Bertol. under sub-optimal temperature conditions (Washitani & Takenaka, 1984). The equation of the model which is a modified thermal time model is where G is germination percentage at a certain time after the start of imbibition ( t ) at a certain temperature ( T ), μ _{T 1} and σ _{T 1} are the mean and standard deviation of lower limit temperature among the seeds belonging to the seed population, and Tb, m , and A are the parameters characterizing the linear relationship between the rate and temperature, namely, Tb is the base temperature, m , the median of the required thermal time and A , a parameter determining the pattern of the variation of the required thermal time within seed population, respectively. The equation yields time courses for germination which are very similar to those observed by experiment.     

The Effects of Priming and 'Natural' Differences in Quality amongst Onion Seed Lots on the Response of the Rate of Germination to Temperature and the Identification of the Characteristics under Genotypic Control

Ellis, R. H. and Butcher, P. D. 1988. The effects of primingand ‘natural’ differences in quality amongst onionseed lots on the response of the rate of germination to temperatureand the identification of the characteristics under genotypiccontrol —J. exp. Bot. 39: 935–950. A screening procedure was applied to define the response ofthe rate of seed germination to sub-and supra-optimal temperaturesfor different lots or sub-lots of two onion (Allium cepa L.)cultivars.Three sub-lots of the cultivar White Lisbon were derived froma control lot by osmotic priming (–1.4 MPa, 20 °C.7 d) alone, by priming and drying and by priming, drying andsubsequently storing the seeds for 7 weeks at 2–5 °C.The major effect of priming was to reduce the thermal time forgermination at both sub- and supra-optimal temperatures. Primingalone also altered the distribution of thermal times at sub-optimaltemperatures. A new equation is presented to describe this variation.In contrast, priming had no consistent effect on base temperature(T_b and little effect on the distribution of ceiling temperatures[T_e(G)]. For the control lot of White Lisbon T_b was 4°C,whilst the best common estimate of T_b for all four sub-lotswas 3.5°C. The mean estimate of T_c(50) for the control,primed and primed and dried sub-lots was 35.5°C.Comparisonof three lots of the cultivar Senshyu Semi Globe Yellow of widely-differingviability showed substantial differences in the thermal timefor germination at sub-optimal temperatures, but no significantdifferences in T_b (P>0.10), the common estimate being 4°C.There was a significant negative correlation between probitpercentage viability and the logarithm of the thermal time for50% germination at sub-optimal temperatures amongst the threelots (P<0.05). The work suggests that base temperature forgermination is a genotypic characteristic which is unaffectedby differences in seed quality. It also shows that the effectof priming, quantified as a reduction in thermal time requirementsfor germination, varies amongst the seeds within a lot. Key words: -Onion, seed germination rate, temperature, priming     

Development of a Threshold Model to Predict Germination of Populus tomentosa Seeds after Harvest and Storage under Ambient Condition

Effects of temperature, storage time and their combination on germination of aspen (Populus tomentosa) seeds were investigated. Aspen seeds were germinated at 5 to 30°C at 5°C intervals after storage for a period of time under 28°C and 75% relative humidity. The effect of temperature on aspen seed germination could not be effectively described by the thermal time (TT) model, which underestimated the germination rate at 5°C and poorly predicted the time courses of germination at 10, 20, 25 and 30°C. A modified TT model (MTT) which assumed a two-phased linear relationship between germination rate and temperature was more accurate in predicting the germination rate and percentage and had a higher likelihood of being correct than the TT model. The maximum lifetime threshold (MLT) model accurately described the effect of storage time on seed germination across all the germination temperatures. An aging thermal time (ATT) model combining both the TT and MLT models was developed to describe the effect of both temperature and storage time on seed germination. When the ATT model was applied to germination data across all the temperatures and storage times, it produced a relatively poor fit. Adjusting the ATT model to separately fit germination data at low and high temperatures in the suboptimal range increased the models accuracy for predicting seed germination. Both the MLT and ATT models indicate that germination of aspen seeds have distinct physiological responses to temperature within a suboptimal range.     

Thermal buffering capacity of the germination phenotype across the environmental envelope of the Cactaceae

Recruitment from seeds is among the most vulnerable stage for plants as global temperatures change. While germination is the means by which the vast majority of the world's flora regenerate naturally, a framework for accurately predicting which species are at greatest risk of germination failure during environmental perturbation is lacking. Taking a physiological approach, we assess how one family, the Cactaceae, may respond to global temperature change based on the thermal buffering capacity of the germination phenotype. We selected 55 cactus species from the Americas, all geo‐referenced seed collections, reflecting the broad environmental envelope of the family across 70° of latitude and 3700 m of altitude. We then generated empirical data of the thermal germination response from which we estimated the minimum (T_b), optimum (T_o) and ceiling (T_c) temperature for germination and the thermal time (θ₅₀) for each species based on the linearity of germination rate with temperature. Species with the highest T_b and lowest T_c germinated fastest, and the interspecific sensitivity of the germination rate to temperature, as assessed through θ₅₀, varied tenfold. A left‐skewed asymmetry in the germination rate with temperature was relatively common but the unimodal pattern typical of crop species failed for nearly half of the species due to insensitivity to temperature change at T_o. For 32 fully characterized species, seed thermal parameters correlated strongly with the mean temperature of the wettest quarter of the seed collection sites. By projecting the mean temperature of the wettest quarter under two climate change scenarios, we predict under the least conservative scenario (+3.7°C) that 25% of cactus species will have reduced germination performance, whilst the remainder will have an efficiency gain, by the end of the 21st century.     

Seed germination as a thermobiological problem

Summary Thermal effects on seed germination are considered through the changes brought about by temperature in the germination capacity, in the germination rate, and in the distribution of the relative frequency of germination along the incubation time. A number of questions of general thermobiological interest are thus raised, entailing the need of an analysis of the temperature dependence of the seed germination rate.A treatment of these rates by the activation-energy approach cannot be general, for their Arrhenius plots are not always linear. Moreover, it is shown that any process displaying a temperature optimum (as happens in the germination of most seed species) cannot follow one of the fundamental tenets of the collision rate theory. The need of a theoretical treatment stressing the essential role of the partition of energy within the seed system has led to an analysis using the absolute reaction rate theory. New experimental prospects for the physiology of seed germination are thus raised, concerning the meaning of the temperature cardinal points, the growth pattern of the embryo in germinating seeds, the dual effect of protein thermodenaturation, the effects of high hydrostatic pressures, and a whole pharmacological line of work.The cybernetic counterpart of the thermodynamic view of seed germination appears in the study of the distribution of the relative frequency of germination along the isothermal incubation time. In some species of seeds the thermal communication between the environment and the seed growth effector can be shown to proceed by molecular collisions at all germination isotherms. In the seeds ofDolichos biflorus this communication through random thermal noise prevails only at temperatures close to both extreme limits of germination. Both in this species and inCalotropis procera there is a temperature range (encompassing the optimum) within which a temperature signal is superimposed upon the gaussian noise. An interpretation is proposed according to which the temperature signal is transduced in a protein-conformation code.     

Kinetics of dormancy release and the high temperature germination response in Aesculus hippocastanum seeds

The kinetics of primary dormancy loss were investigated in seeds of horse chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum L.) harvested in four different years. Freshly collected seeds from 1991 held for up to 1 year at temperatures between 2C and 42C exhibited two peaks in germination (radicle growth), representing a low temperature (2-8°C) and a high temperature response (31-36°C). Germination at 36°C generally occurred within 1 month of sowing, but was never fully expressed in the seedlots investigated. At low temperatures (2-8°C), germination started after around 4 months. Generally, very low levels of termination were observed at intermediate temperatures (11-26°C). Stratification at 6°C prior to germination at warmer temperatures increased the proportion of seeds that germinated, and the rate of germination for all seedlots. Within a harvest, germination percentage (on a probit scale) increased linearly with stratification time and this relationship was independent of germination temperature (16-26°C). However, inter-seasonal differences in the increases in germination capacity following chilling were observed, varying from 0.044 to 0.07 probits d^-1 of chilling at 6°C. Increased sensitivity to chilling was associated with warmer temperatures during the period of seed filling. The estimated base temperature for germination, Tb, for newly harvested seeds varied slightly between collection years but was close to 25°C. For all seedlots, Tb decreased by 1°C every 6 d of chilling at 6°C. This systematic reduction in Tb with chilling ultimately facilitated germination at 6°C after dormancy release.     

Priming bitter gourd seeds with selenium solution enhances germinability and antioxidative responses under sub-optimal temperature

Priming offers an effective means for counteracting sub-optimal temperature induced oxidative injury and raising seed performance in many crop species. In Taiwan, bitter gourd is frequently seeded when ambient temperatures are below the optimum. The objectives of the present study were to evaluate the effect of priming on germinability and antioxidative capacity in two bitter gourd cultivars germinated under 20 and 25°C conditions. Sodium selenite was also added to the priming solution. Priming was achieved by moistening the seeds with 1, 2, 5, or 10 mg l−1 sodium selenite solutions on germination paper at 25°C for 48 h and then air-drying them to their original moisture levels. A sub-optimal temperature of 20°C decreased seed performance by enhancing peroxidative injury. The sub-optimal temperature germinability was partially restored by priming the seeds with selenium solutions up to the 2 mg l−1 level. The improved seed performances were linked to the priming-enhanced free radical and peroxide-scavenging activities linked to the ascorbate-glutathione cycle. However, glutathione peroxidase was the only enzyme showing positive response with increasing selenium level up to 10 mg l−1, suggesting that this enzyme is selenium-inducible. The changes in germination and antioxidative activities in relation to selenium priming and sub-optimal temperature were similar for the two cultivars, despite differences in their germination performance and related antioxidative traits.     

Thiamine binding and metabolism in germinating seeds of selected cereals and legumes.

The basic characteristics of thiamine metabolism in germinating seeds of maize (Zea mays), oat (Avena sativa), faba bean (Vicia faba) and garden pea (Pisum sativum) are presented with a special emphasis of a possible thiamine storage function of seed thiamine-binding proteins (TBPs). Seeds were germinated for 6 d in the dark. Thiamine-binding activity in seeds decreased during germination by 50% in cereals and by 30% in legumes. The degradation of TBPs was also detected by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The total thiamine content decreased rapidly to 20-40% of the initial value in cereal seeds during first 3 d of germination while in legume seeds thiamine content started changing from the fourth day and dropped by 50% at the sixth day. A composite pattern was found for the changes in thiamine pyrophosphate (TPP) contribution to total thiamine during seed germination. A peak of the coenzyme percentage was usually detected at the second day of germination. Another gain of TPP was often seen toward the sixth day of germination. The activity of thiamine pyrophosphokinase (EC 2.7.6.2) was high in resting legume seeds and did not significantly change during germination. In contrast, the low activity of this thiamine-activating enzyme in cereal seeds progressively increased during germination. Thiamine phosphate synthase (EC 2.5.1.3) was also detected in seeds and was shown to contribute significantly to the balance of thiamine compounds during seed germination.     

A mathematical model that uses Gaussian distribution to analyze the germination of Manfreda brachystachya (Agavaceae) in a thermogradient

Germination of nondormant seeds of Manfreda brachystachya (Agavaceae) was analyzed at temperatures ranging from 11–35°C. Maximum germination (95%) occurred at 25°C. An exponential sigmoid relationship was found between time and cumulative germination. Germination rate for every subpopulation (10–90% germination) was estimated by means of a normal distribution analysis. The kurtosis indicated die amplitude of the range of temperatures where the highest germination rates were concentrated, and the skew indicated sharply inhibitory temperatures in the range of temperatures used. Based on analysis of the normal distribution models for each subpopulation, we calculated a theoretical function which described germination rate over the temperature range considered: F(T,χ) = A × exp[−B(C−1)²], where A is the function that describes germination rate for each subpopulation (characterized by the percentage [χ] at optimal temperature); B is a shape parameter, 1/(σG²); and C is the ratio between each germination temperature (T) and the optimal germination temperature. The Gaussian curves were used to calculate thermal time, and base and ceiling temperatures. Germination thermal time ranged from 1 333 to 2 373°C h, and base and ceiling temperatures were 10.44 ± 0.7°C and 39.54 ± 0.7°C, respectively. There was a linear relationship between thermal time and cumulative percentage of germination of the subpopulations. Based on fitted curves for each subpopulation, the use of a general model for all the subpopulations has been proven: F8 = A × exp[−5.9437(C−1)²], where changes in the curves for each subpopulation depended on temperature only.