粘液繁殖体种子的粘液质形成、分泌及释放相关基因

种皮粘液质是在种皮外层细胞的高尔基体内产生并分泌到胞腔内或细胞壁层的一种果胶类多糖物质.当干燥种子遇水后,粘液质即刻被释放形成透明胶质并完全包被整个种子.粘液质对种子的扩散定居、种子萌发以及幼苗的存活和生长均具有重要作用.粘液质作为一种模型研究细胞壁的产生及其形成的分子机制已经成为植物种皮发育与环境变化相适应关系的研究...     

朱唇种子吸水特性及其在干旱胁迫下萌发特性

种子粘液质是植物在长期适应环境过程中形成的,该物质对于种子的扩散、定居、生存力的改善、萌发、幼苗生存乃至抵御有毒化学物质毒害等都具有重要的生态学意义。朱唇为唇形科鼠尾草属多年生草本植物,原产美洲热带地区,现已广泛栽植于世界各地。为了理解朱唇种子表面的粘液物质吸水特性和种子在干旱胁迫下的萌发特性,该研究以朱唇种子为材料,运用光学显微镜和扫描电子显微镜观察以及种子萌发试验的方法,对种子和粘液层的形态结构、粘液质对种子萌发的影响进行了研究。结果表明:朱唇种子为卵形,表面为负网状结构,千粒重为(1.611±0.0084)g,无粘液种子吸水倍数为3,粘液种子吸水倍数为25,粘液层吸水倍数为122。粘液和无粘液种子及粘液层的重量都随吸水时间的延长而增长,但脱水过程要远长于吸水过程。朱唇种子吸水2 h达到饱和,经过36 h可干燥失水恢复原重。不同浓度PEG对朱唇种子的萌发均有影响,发芽势随PEG浓度升高而显著降低。朱唇种子在5%PEG胁迫下发芽率最高达(90.00±8.66)%,20%PEG胁迫下发芽率最低为(76.67±10.41)%,低浓度PEG对朱唇种子萌发有一定促进作用。这说明朱唇种子为速萌型种子,其粘液质在种子吸水过程中起到举足轻重的作用,能保证短时间内有充足的水分供其萌发。     

异子蓬二型种子的萌发与休眠特性及其生态适应

异子蓬为中亚荒漠的特有种,其果实为胞果,花被片在结果时宿存包被果实形成浆果状的散布单位.对异子蓬的散布单位、果实形态进行比较观察,并在5/15℃、5/25℃、15/25 ℃(暗/光=12h/12h)3个温变周期下进行种子萌发实验,结果表明:(1)异子蓬的散布单位绿色、浆果状,有大小两种形态;大小两种散布单位内包被的果实在形状、大小、颜色上存在着明显差异.(2)大的散布单位内包被的果实圆形,扁平,褐色,无光泽,直径(2.64±0.03) mm,重量(3.68±0.04) mg;小的散布单位内包被的果实双凸镜形,黑色,有光泽,直径(2.40±0.04) mm,重量(2.86±0.06) mg.(3)褐色种子在3个温变周期下的萌发率都在81%以上,萌发速度快,而黑色种子萌发率低,萌发慢,具有休眠现象.(4)划破种皮及低温层积处理可显著提高黑色种子在3个温变周期下的萌发率,延长储存时间也可有效地促进黑色种子的萌发,表明黑色种子处于非深度生理休眠状态.异子蓬产生的两种不同类型的种子及其在时间和空间上的萌发差异对荒漠异质环境具有重要的适应意义.     

小车前（Plantago minuta Pall.）种子表面粘液物质的吸水特性及其对种子在干旱环境中萌发的影响

为了理解荒漠短命植物小车前(Plantago minuta Pall.)种子表面的粘液物质对种子在干旱环境中萌发的作用,在室内控制条件下研究了粘液物质的吸水保水特性、剥离粘液物质的种子(无粘液种子)和保留粘液物质的种子(粘液种子)在-1.15～-0.15 MPa不同渗透胁迫条件下的萌发状况.结果表明: (1)小车前种子表面的粘液物质干重占粘液种子干重的5.6%;在去离子水中,粘液物质可以吸收相当于其自身干重217.1倍的水分;粘液物质的存在使得小车前种子的吸水倍数由2倍增加至14倍,从而保证为种子萌发提供充足的水分;(2)干燥的粘液种子吸水2h后即达到饱和,而吸水饱和后的粘液种子在室温下晾置,经过48h后又干燥失水恢复至原重;(3)在去离子水中或低渗透胁迫(-0.33～-0.15 MPa) 条件下,粘液物质吸水作用能促进小车前种子萌发,粘液种子3d的发芽势和10d的总萌发率均显著高于无粘液种子;在高渗透胁迫(-1.15～-0.73MPa)条件下,粘液种子3d的发芽势显著低于无粘液种子的,而10d的总萌发率与无粘液种子的没有显著差别,表明粘液物质在干旱条件下可能从种子而非外界环境中吸取水分,减缓了种子萌发速率.通过上述结果可以认为小车前种子表面的粘液物质在早春干湿交替剧烈的荒漠生境中起到通过调节水分来调节种子萌发的作用,这种萌发策略大大降低了因大批种子同时萌发导致幼苗受旱甚至种群灭亡的潜在风险.     

腺苷酸库及能荷变化与白菜种子萌发的关系

我们测定了大白菜种子萌发时 ATP、ADP、AMP 及E.C.值的变化。结果表明,干种子中 ATP 的含量很低,大量的是 AMP,E.C.值很低。吸胀1小时后 AMP 迅速转变成ATP,E.C.值急速地上升。吸胀2小时后 ATP 增加为干种子时的35倍多,E.C.值超过0.5。24小时仍未萌发的种子,其 ATP 含量比24小时内已萌发的种子低4倍,E.C.值也明显低。在3%O_2中萌发的种子内源 ATP 水平下降,只有将种子再转入空气继续萌发,ATP 恢复到对照(在空气中萌发)的水平时,发芽率才提高到76%。最初1至2小时在3%O_2中或在5×10~(-4)M DNP、1×10~(-5)M CCCP、5×10~3 M IAC 中浸种,ATP 的合成受到抑制,E.C.值也显著降低,其中尤以碘代乙酸处理为甚。实验表明种子萌发与 ATP 水平、E.C.及能库的大小有密切的关系。     

NaCl胁迫对疣苞滨藜种子萌发和早期幼苗生长的影响

在光/暗(12 h/12 h)条件下研究了温度、苞片和NaCl浓度对疣苞滨藜种子萌发及其恢复的影响,同时观察萌发后幼根在NaCl中的生长和恢复情况.结果显示:(1)疣苞滨藜种子在温度周期为5℃/2℃、15℃/5℃、20℃/10℃、25℃/5℃、25℃/15℃中处理12 d后种子萌发率均达到80%以上,其最适萌发温度为25℃/15℃.(2)苞片对种子萌发不存在抑制作用,但能够延缓萌发时间.(3)低浓度的NaCl能促进种子萌发和幼根的伸长,且在0.2 mol/L时达到最大,在0.8 mol/L时完全抑制种子萌发和幼苗的生长.(4)经过不同浓度NaCl预处理后的种子,其萌发恢复率随原处理浓度的升高而升高,且最终萌发率都高于对照.研究表明,NaCl处理对疣苞滨藜种子没有造成伤害,其抑制萌发是通过渗透效应而不是离子毒害;疣苞滨藜种子和幼苗对盐分的耐性是其适应盐渍荒漠环境的重要原因.     

条叶百合种子萌发的研究

研究了不同光、温对条叶百合(Lilium callosum)种子萌发的影响。研究结果表明:(1)避光条件下温度对栽培4年生条叶百合种子萌发影响最大,其种子萌发最适宜温度为25℃, 4~5天开始萌动, 1~2周萌发完全。随着温度的升高或降低其种子萌发率下降。但在5℃时萌发率又有大幅升高, 35℃种子萌发完全受到抑制。(2)同一果序不同位置果实的种子萌发以最下部果实为好,中间果实次之,上部最差。(3)同一果实内中部种子萌发最好,下部种子次之,上部种子最差,上、中、下三部分种子萌发率与其千粒重呈正相关。(4)在相同实验条件下,野生条叶百合与栽培4年生条叶百合种子萌发率一致,但萌发完全时间比栽培条叶百合多14天。(5)贮藏一年后条叶百合种子萌发率没有下降。     

温度及盐胁迫对地梢瓜种子萌发及抗氧化酶活性的影响

以地梢瓜种子为试料,研究不同温度(5~45℃)及不同浓度NaCl胁迫(0~300mmol·L~(-1))对种子萌发及其抗氧化酶活性的影响。结果表明:(1)随着温度升高,种子各萌发指标呈先升高后降低的趋势,过高或过低均显著抑制种子正常萌发,萌发最适温度为25℃,在5℃和35℃条件下种子恢复萌发率均达95%以上。(2)随着NaCl浓度升高,种子萌发率、萌发势、活力指数呈显著下降趋势,而其相对盐害率呈增加趋势,且在300mmol·L~(-1)NaCl时萌发受到完全抑制;种子根系活力仅在高浓度NaCl(150mmol·L~(-1))下受到显著抑制;种子在解除盐胁迫后可一定程度恢复萌发,但最终依然受到盐胁迫的显著抑制,且盐浓度越高抑制越严重,其耐盐适宜浓度为65.25mmol·L~(-1)。(3)种子萌发率与盐胁迫下POD、APX活性呈显著正相关关系,而与相应O_2~生成速率、MDA含量呈显著负相关关系;种子活力指数与盐胁迫下CAT活性呈显著负相关关系。研究发现,地梢瓜种子萌发受到NaCl胁迫的显著抑制,保护酶POD与APX在盐胁迫种子萌发过程中发挥着主要抗氧化作用;地梢瓜适于在中度盐渍土中萌发生长。     

沙葱种子的萌发特性和几种贮藏物质含量的变化

研究沙葱种子的萌发和贮藏物质含量变化的结果表明:(1)沙葱种子萌发的温度范围为5~30℃,最适温度为19℃;(2)浸种8~24h可提高沙葱种子的发芽率,最佳浸种时间为12h,浸种超过24h,发芽率下降;(3)每天0h光照下的种子发芽势和发芽率比每天光照24h的高65.6%和74.5%,显示沙葱种子萌发有嫌光性。(4)在萌发过程中的种子蛋白质含量下降,可溶性糖含量增加,淀粉含量先降低后升高,脂肪含量在萌发的2d内急剧下降,6d后呈缓慢升高的趋势。     

干旱胁迫对鹿角杜鹃种子萌发和幼苗生理特性的影响

为探明鹿角杜鹃种子萌发和幼苗生长期的耐旱性,以鹿角杜鹃干种子和90d苗龄幼苗为材料,采用聚乙二醇(PEG-6000)模拟不同程度的干旱胁迫,研究干旱胁迫对其种子萌发、早期幼苗生长及幼苗的细胞膜透性、MDA含量、有机渗透调节物质和抗氧化酶活性的影响,并对种子萌发率、早期幼苗生长量与PEG胁迫浓度间进行了回归分析。结果表明:(1)5%~25%PEG胁迫范围内,随着干旱胁迫程度的增加,鹿角杜鹃种子的发芽启动时间推迟,发芽持续时间延长,发芽率、发芽势、发芽指数、活力指数和幼苗生长量显著降低;重度干旱胁迫(25%PEG)下,鹿角杜鹃种子完全未萌发。(2)发芽率、发芽势、发芽指数、活力指数以及幼苗生长量的变化均与干旱胁迫程度呈极显著负相关关系,回归分析求得鹿角杜鹃种子萌发的半致死PEG干旱胁迫浓度为15.68%、半致矮PEG干旱胁迫浓度为15.37%。(3)随着PEG胁迫浓度的增加,鹿角杜鹃幼苗叶片SOD活性呈先升后降的趋势,但各胁迫处理仍显著高于CK(0%PEG);细胞膜透性、MDA、脯氨酸、可溶性糖含量、POD和CAT活性则在中度(15%~20%PEG)和重度胁迫下显著升高,与干旱胁迫程度呈极显著正相关关系。研究表明,干旱胁迫显著抑制了鹿角杜鹃种子萌发和早期幼苗生长,使其细胞膜受到损伤,同时鹿角杜鹃可通过体内渗透调节物质和抗氧化酶活性的增加来适应干旱环境,使得自身受抑制、损伤程度降到最低。     

Effects of mucilage on seed germination of the desert ephemeral plant Plantago minuta Pall. under osmotic stress and cycles of wet and dry conditions

To test the role of the seed mucilage of Plantago minuta Pall. in regulating germination under osmotic stress and cycles of hydration and dehydration, two experiments were carried out using seeds with intact mucilage and mucilage‐free seeds. In Experiment 1 seeds were immersed in a range of iso‐osmotic polyethylene glycol solutions (?1.15 to 0 MPa) for 14 days; any ungerminated seeds were transferred to deionized water to investigate the recovery germination. In Experiment 2 seeds were immersed in deionized water for 24 h, and were then incubated on filter paper for an additional 13 days to ensure complete desiccation before reimbibition to test the germination recovery percentage. Under mild osmotic stress (?0.73 to 0 MPa), the intact seeds with mucilage were shown to have higher germination rates than the mucilage‐free seeds, indicating that the mucilage led to a “fast sprouting” germination strategy under mild osmotic stress. However, when seeds were exposed to high osmotic stress (?1.15 MPa), the mucilage apparently slowed the germination rate, resulting in a “risk‐balancing” germination strategy. Extreme drought induced by polyethylene glycol solution and the desiccation pretreatment accelerated germination rates compared to non‐pretreated seeds; both germination potential and recovery percentage of the mucilage seeds were significantly higher than that of the mucilage‐free seeds. Our results revealed that the seed mucilage of P. minuta plays a crucial role in regulating seed germination rates and the germination strategies adopted by controlling seed water absorption when the seeds experience different osmotic stresses or alternating wet and dry conditions.     

Fruit and seed heteromorphism in the cold desert annual ephemeral Diptychocarpus strictus (Brassicaceae) and possible adaptive significance

Background and Aims

Diptychocarpus strictus is an annual ephemeral in the cold desert of northwest China that produces heteromorphic fruits and seeds. The primary aims of this study were to characterize the morphology and anatomy of fruits and seeds of this species and compare the role of fruit and seed hetermorphism in dispersal and germination.

Methods

Shape, size, mass and dispersal of siliques and seeds and the thickness of the mucilage layer on seeds were measured, and the anatomy of siliques and seeds, the role of seed mucilage in water absorption/dehydration, germination and adherence of seeds to soil particles, the role of pericarp of lower siliques in seed dormancy and seed after-ripening and germination phenology were studied using standard procedures.

Key Results

Plants produce dehiscent upper siliques with a thin pericarp containing seeds with large wings and a thick mucilage layer and indehiscent lower siliques with a thick pericarp containing nearly wingless seeds with a thin mucilage layer. The dispersal ability of seeds from the upper siliques was much greater than that of intact lower siliques. Mucilage increased the amount of water absorbed by seeds and decreased the rate of dehydration. Seeds with a thick mucilage layer adhered to soil particles much better than those with a thin mucilage layer or those from which mucilage had been removed. Fresh seeds were physiologically dormant and after-ripened during summer. Non-dormant seeds germinated to high percentages in light and in darkness. Germination of seeds from upper siliques is delayed until spring primarily by drought in summer and autumn, whereas the thick, indehiscent pericarp prevents germination for >1 year of seeds retained in lower siliques.

Conclusions

The life cycle of D. strictus is morphologically and physiologically adapted to the cold desert environment in time and space via a combination of characters associated with fruit and seed heteromorphism.     

Toward understanding the ecological role of mucilage in seed germination of a desert shrub Henophyton deserti: interactive effects of temperature, salinity and osmotic stress

Aims

Seeds of Henophyton deserti (Brassicaceae), an endemic saharan shrub in south Tunisia, produce a pectinaceous mucilage layer that can imbibe a large amount of water when wetted. The aim of this study was to explore the role of mucilage in seed germination of this shrub under heterogeneous stressful environments.

Methods

Germination of both intact and demucilaged seeds was tested over wide ranges of temperature, and in iso-osmotic solutions of NaCl and PEG. Recovery of germination after NaCl and Polyethylene Glycol (PEG)-6000 treatment was also tested. The effect of mucilage on water uptake was measured and the structure of the seed investigated.

Results

A considerable proportion of seed mass (30 %) is made up of mucilage, which is extremely hydrophilic and able to increase seed mass by 550 % over dry seeds. Mucilage water uptake appears to be unaffected by salt concentration, while higher concentrations of PEG inhibit mucilage hydration. Mucilage decreases germination specifically at 10 °C and this effect can be interpreted in relation to oxygen uptake. High concentrations of NaCl and PEG decrease both germination percentage and rate, with some greater tolerance at 15 °C and 20 °C versus 25 °C. Recovery was higher from higher concentrations of NaCl and PEG and lower temperatures, with a clear inhibitory effect of mucilage.

Conclusions

The study has shown that the mucilage of H. deserti may act as a physical barrier for regulating diffusion of water and oxygen to the inner tissue of the seed and thereby prevent germination under unsuitable conditions.     

荒漠植物种子粘液的生态学意义

种子粘液是在种皮外层细胞的高尔基体内产生并分泌到胞腔内或细胞壁层的吸湿膨胀的一类果胶类多糖物质。具粘液种子的植物大多生长在荒漠地区,广泛存在于十字花科、菊科和车前科等类群中。粘液的存在对荒漠植物种子的扩散、萌发、防御以及幼苗的生长等都具有重要的生态学意义,是荒漠植物适应干旱少雨的生态环境的有效对策之一。对粘液种子的研究不仅可全面揭示荒漠植物的生态适应机制及其进化生态意义,还可为研究基因控制的糖类生物合成和分泌、细胞次生壁的生物合成及形态分化建立理想的模式体系。为此,在广泛查阅相关文献的基础上,该文综合分析了国内外种子粘液的研究进展,并重点探讨了以下几方面问题：（1）种子粘液的化学成分：（2）粘液及粘液种皮的形态特征：（3）粘液细胞分化与粘液生物合成的细胞学及基因调控机制以及粘液的释放方式：（4）种子粘液的生态学意义。在此基础上展望了今后的研究方向,以期为推动我国荒漠植物种子生态学的理论与应用研究及西部荒漠区的植物物种多样性保护和生态保育提供重要理论依据。     

Exudation of an allelopathic substance lepidimoide from seeds during germination

Lepidimoide promotes growth of the cockscomb hypocotyl. It is exuded from germinating seeds of various plant species into their culture environment. The mode of exudation of lepidimoide from seeds into the culture solution, using sunflower and buckwheat seeds, was studied in relation to seed germination. In the dry seeds, about 75% of the lepidimoide was found in the seed coat and about 25% in the kernel. Upon water imbibition it was released into the culture solution. However, the quantity of lepidimoide detected in the seed exudate was more than three times the total amount in dry and imbibed seeds, suggesting that lepidimoide was also produced de novo in the seeds and subsequently released. When seed coats or kernels were imbibed separately, the quantity of lepidimoide released from the seed coats into the culture solution was much the same as that in the dry seeds, but the amount of lepidimoide detected in the exudate of kernels was about 16 times that in the dry kernels. These results suggest that lepidimoide, already present in dry seeds, as well as that newly produced in the kernels following imbibition, was released into the environment.     

Effects of storage,mucilage presence,photoperiod, thermoperiod and salinity on germination of Farsetia aegyptia Turra (Brassicaceae) seeds: implications for restoration and seed banks in Arabian Desert

Seed viability and germination are key factors in the success of restoration efforts, especially when stored seeds are used. However, the effect of seed storage on germination of most of the native Arabian species is not well documented. We investigated the effect of storage time and role of the seed mucilage in regulating germination, dormancy, salinity tolerance and consequential survival strategy of F. aegyptia in an unpredictable arid desert setting. Effect of light and temperature during germination was studied under two photoperiods and two thermoperiods using intact and de-mucilaged seeds. Presence of mucilage and thermoperiod did not affect the germination. However, seed collection year and photoperiod had a highly significant effect on the germination. Increasing salinity levels decreased the germination of F. aegyptia but ungerminated seeds were able to germinate when salinity stress was alleviated. Seed storage at room temperature enhances the germination percentage, indicating that F. aegyptia seeds have physiological dormancy and it can be alleviated by after-ripening at dry storage. In addition, F. aegyptia seeds show ability to germinate at lower salinity concentration and remain viable even at higher saline conditions, indicating their adaptability to cope with such harsh environmental conditions.     

小五台山15种蒿属植物种子形态及萌发特性研究

在实验室条件下观察了小五台山15种蒿属（Artemisia L．）植物种子的基本形态特征,同时进行了种子吸水和发芽试验。结果表明：15种蒿属植物种子近于倒卵形或长卵形,大小差异明显,大籽蒿（A．sieversiana）种子千粒重最大为0．474g,猪毛蒿（A．scoparia）种子千粒重最小仅为0．047g,其余13种种子的千粒重为0．057～0．184g之间。种子吸水率和吸水量与是否有粘液溶出有明显的关系,有粘液溶出的旱生植物种子吸水速率快、吸水量大。15种蒿属植物种子均无明显休眠特性,多数萌发率大于70％,最高可达100％,只有红足蒿（A．rubripes）和魁蒿（A．princeps）萌发率不足50％。蒿属植物种子吸水和萌发特性显示出该属大部分种类能适应北方春季干旱少雨的气候特点,利用少量水可顺利萌发。     

不同发育时期黄皮种子脱水敏感性的研究

自花后４６ｄ到８８ｄ果实成熟．黄皮种子的发芽率由０升至１００％．而活力指数逐渐上升,到花后７４ｄ达到最大值,之后略有下降．每粒种子的呼吸强度在花后４６－６７ｄ持续增加,此后则渐渐减弱,但湿藏２ｄ后又回升．黄皮种子的发育明显超前于果实．花后７４ｄ时．每粒种子的干重已接近最大值,这时种子活力最大．而果实的鲜重虽然已接近最大值．但其干重却只有成熟时的７３％。花后４６－５３ｄ的种子,其发芽率小于１００％,轻微脱水能提高种子的发芽率及活力指数,花后６０ｄ至果实成熟．种子发芽率均为１００％．这时任何程度的脱水都会引起活力指数的下降,但不同发育时期的黄皮种子耐脱水力有差别．其中以花后６７ｄ的耐脱水力最强．花后８８ｄ果实成熟时种子的耐脱水力最弱。     

花生种子的发育与贮藏蛋白质的合成和积累

花生果针入土后16天(16 DAP),种子干重和鲜重开始迅速增加。整个发育阶段可分为5个时期:组织分化期(0～20 DAP)、成熟前期(21～28 DAP)、成熟中期(29～40DAP)、成熟中后期(41～62 DAP)和成熟后期(63～88DAP)。种子发芽率在成熟前期和中期迅速提高并到达最大值,而苗成活率在成熟中后期达到最大值,苗鲜重则以88 DAP种子的为最大。种子发育过程中,贮藏蛋白质的合成与积累模式与种子干重变化相似。SDS-PAGE分析表明,种子发育初期(16 DAP)子叶中已积累花生球蛋白和伴花生球蛋白I。双向凝胶电泳显示花生球蛋白各个亚基在20DAP时均已存在,伴花生球蛋白I的主要亚基在整个发育过程中其等电点有所变化,含量也逐渐增加。其他蛋白质在种子发芽力形成阶段(20～40 DAP)的变化较为显著。