Ageing of isolated embryos and endosperms of durum wheat: An analysis of chromosome damage

Embryos (EM) and endosperms (END) were isolated from durum wheat seeds and aged separately for 3 years. Analysis of chromosome damage was carried out on root tip meristems of transplants in which aged (a) embryos and/or endosperms were used. The aim of the experiments was to investigate the ageing process when embryos and endosperms age separately and to evaluate the possible influence of the endosperm during storage of the seed.The results obtained indicate that (i) both aged embryo and endosperm produce mutagenic substances capable of inducing nuclear damage in the radicle meristem and (ii) age-induced damage in the embryo is not the consequence of endosperm ageing. The relationships between chromosome damage produced by aged embryos and endosperms in the transplants are discussed.