Desiccation Tolerance and Potential Longevity of Developing Seeds of Rice (Oryza sativa L.)

The longevity and desiccation tolerance of samples of seedsof a japonica rice (Oryza sativa L.) harvested serially duringdevelopment from plants grown in two temperature regimes, viz28/20 °C and 32/24 °C (12/12 h) were determined. Massmaturity (defined as the end of the seed-filling phase) occurred19·7 and 18·3 d after 50% anthesis, respectively.Longevity (determined at 40 °C with 15% moisture contentand quantified by the value of the constant K_i of the seed viabilityequation) improved during seed development and maturation until17 and 14 d after mass maturity in the cooler and warmer regimes,respectively, but declined thereafter. Changes in K_i with timewere similar in the two environments until mass maturity, butthe increase in K_i values after mass maturity was much greaterin the cooler regime. Tolerance of desiccation to low (4%) moisturecontents improved until 22 and 14 d after mass maturity in thecooler and warmer regimes, respectively, when maturation dryinghad reduced seed moisture contents naturally to 24 and 32% moisturecontent, respectively. Further delays to seed harvest reduceddesiccation tolerance, particularly in the warmer environment.Comparison among 15 samples of seeds harvested at differenttimes in the two environments showed a strong correlation (r= 0·947, P < 0·01) between longevity (K_i) anddesiccation tolerance (to 4% moisture content). Hence, it issuggested that the regulation of desiccation tolerance to lowmoisture contents and potential air-dry longevity during seeddevelopment and maturation determined here may have a commoncause.Copyright 1994, 1999 Academic Press Oryza sativa L., rice, desiccation tolerance, genebanks, seed development, seed longevity, temperature