Dihydroquercetin protects barley seeds against mold and increases seedling adaptive potential under soil flooding

Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) seeds were soaked in aqueous 10⁻⁴ M dihydroquercetin (DHQ) to examine its influence on seed germination and further growth of seedlings under optimal soil watering and flooding conditions. The adaptive potential of the plants was estimated by the content of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARs) and the activity of ascorbate peroxidase (AsP). High-grade seeds were germinated evenly under (−DHQ)- and (+DHQ)-treatments. Low-grade seeds soaked in DHQ, showed no mold and twofold germination rate in comparison with the same seeds soaked in water. The seedlings grown from the similarly germinated seeds did not differ from each other in the shoot growth, independent of the DHQ-pretreatment. The root growth was higher in DHQ-pretreated plants. Soil flooding suppressed the shoot and root growth rates in non-pretreated and DHQ-pretreated plants, however TBARs content was lower in the roots and leaves of (+DHQ)-seedlings as compared to the (−DHQ)-ones. The activity of AsP increased more significantly in the (+DHQ)-plants. The ratio between TBARs content and the AsP activity was lower in the leaves of (+DHQ)-plants both under optimal soil conditions and flooding. Thus, the treatment of low-grade barley seeds with DHQ protects the seeds against mold and increases adaptive potential of the seedlings.     

Effects of seed hydropriming in presence of exogenous proline on chilling injury limitation in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Vigna radiata</Emphasis> L. seedlings

Three-day-old seedlings (t ₀ stage) of Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek obtained from seeds hydroprimed (H) and hydroprimed with proline (HPro) were examined. H and HPro slightly improved mung bean seed germination and seedlings growth at 5°C. The best growth was observed in the seedlings obtain from HPro5 (5 mM) seeds in comparison with the seedlings obtained from the control-non-primed seeds and H seeds. Exposure of mung bean seedlings grown from non-primed seeds to chilling for 4 days induced chilling injury: membrane lipid peroxidation, decrease in endogenous proline level and inhibition of growth of roots and hypocotyls. The seedlings obtain from HPro seeds grew better during the time of chilling and after rewarming at 25°C. The possible role of HPro in chilling injury limitation is discussed.     

Effects of fungal endophytes on the seed and seedling biology of Lolium perenne and Festuca arundinacea

Summary Many grasses are infected by endophytic fungi that grow intercellularly in leaves, stems, and flowers and are transmitted maternally by hyphal growth into ovules and seeds. The seed biology and seedling growth of endophyte-infected and uninfected perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) and tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea) were investigated under controlled environmental conditions. The percentage of filled seeds produced by infected tall fescue was over twice of uninfected tall fescue; infected and uninfected perennial reegrass had similar percentages. Weights of seeds from infected and uninfected plants were similar in both species. Seeds from infected plants of both species exhibited a higher rate of germination than seeds from uninfected plants. Shoot growth in the greenhouse was compared by making three sequential harvests of above-ground plant parts from infected and uninfected plants of both species. Infected perennial ryegrass plants produced significantly more biomass and tillers than uninfected plants after 6 and 10 weeks of growth and significantly more biomass after 14 weeks of growth. Infected tall fescue plants produced significantly more biomass and tillers than uninfected plants after 10 and 14 weeks of growth. The physiological mechanism of enhancement of growth is not known. The results of this study suggest that infected plants may have a selective advantage in populations with uninfected members.     

The effects of seed weight on growth and competitive ability of Rumex acetosella from two successional old-fields

Summary The effects of seed size on growth, biomass allocation and competitive ability of Rumex acetosella plants grown either individually or in competition were studied in two populations (6 months and 15 years old respectively) sampled from a postcultivation successional gradient. For plants grown individually there were highly significant effects of seed weight on growth after 43 days, with a higher relative growth rate (RGR) observed for plants raised from heavier seeds. However at the end of the experiment, seedlings developed from lighter seeds had a RGR 2 times greater than those from heavier seeds. Final biomass of the two types was not significantly different after 73 days of growth. When plants were grown individually, there were only slight differences between populations, but when grown in monocultures of 4 plants per pot, plants from the old population had higher root and leaf biomass per pot whereas those from the young population had a higher reproductive effort per pot. This suggests that a trade-off between allocation to sexual and vegetative reproduction occurs over successional time. In mixtures of light and heavy seeds, plants from light seeds were shorter, had fewer leaves and lower biomass than plants from heavy seeds, which were also taller and produced more dry matter than plants grown from heavy seeds in monoculture. The significant effects of seed weight and population on biomass parameters persisted unit the end of the experiment. Seedlings from heavy seeds were strong competitors: those from the young population grew better in the presence of neighbors than in monoculture and those from the late successional population suppressed the more the growth of their partners. Seedlings from light seeds were subordinate competitors. These results suggest that seedlings from seeds of different sizes benefit from contrasting ecological conditions and that selection acts on reproductive output along successional gradients.     

种子散布位置对格氏栲幼苗根系形态及生长特征的影响

种子从母株掉落于地面萌发后,其根系在不同散布位置(凋落物上层、土壤表层和凋落物下层)的生长形态影响幼苗定居及建成,而目前对其根系形态及生长特征的了解并不充分,限制了对幼苗根系在不同散布下适应策略的理解。为此,以格氏栲(Castanopsis kawakamii)为研究对象,通过模拟种子在凋落物中位置,设置凋落物上层(种子下层铺垫2 cm和4 cm凋落物,U2和U4处理)、土壤表层与凋落物下层(种子上层覆盖0、2、4、6 cm和8 cm凋落物,CK、D2、D4、D6和D8处理)等3种散布,探讨不同散布位置对格氏栲幼苗根系9个生长指标的影响。结果表明：(1)种子散布位置对幼苗根干物质质量具有显著影响,D2处理达最大值。(2)D2处理的幼苗根长、根表面积、根尖数、分枝数和比根长高于其它处理;根系平均直径在D6处理达最大值。(3)相关分析表明根长、根表面积、根尖数、分枝数和比根长与根系平均直径呈显著负相关关系。(4)对根系9个生长指标提取主成分后聚类为4个类群,D2与D4处理各划分一类;U2与U4处理划分一类,其余三个处理划分一类。综上所述,凋落物浅层覆盖(D2处理)适宜格氏栲根系生长;凋落物...     

An Antifungal Protein Purified from Pearl Millet Seeds Shows Sequence Homology to Lipid Transfer Proteins

In the course of a search for antifungal proteins from plant seeds, we observed inhibition of mycelial growth of Trichoderma viride with extracts of pearl millet. We have identified several proteins with antifungal properties in the seeds of pearl millet. One of these proteins has been purified to homogeneity and characterized. The purified protein has a molecular mass of 25 kDa. The N-terminal sequence of the protein (25 residues) shows homology to non-specific lipid transfer proteins (LTPs) of cotton, wheat and barley. The purified LTP inhibited mycelial growth of T. viride and the rice sheath blight fungus, Rhizoctonia solani in vitro.     

Halophyte and glycophyte salt tolerance at germination and the establishment of halophyte shrubs in saline environments

Saline sites suffer variations in surface salinity, available soil water, temperature, soil crust strength and other factors which can influence germination and establishment. For establishment to occur the germinating seed must capitalise on a window of opportunity. This window can be widened by placing seeds in a low-salt niche, covering the seeds with a mulch (such as vermiculite), spraying the seed and mulch placement with a coating which may stabilise the favourable situation and raise soil temperature. In this paper it is shown that using seeds collected from plants of Atriplex amnicola which produce many volunteer seedlings in their vicinity can assist establishment from direct seeding. These seeds had the ability to germinate under saltier and cooler conditions than seeds from A. amnicola bushes which did not produce volunteers. Seeds of a halophyte (Atriplex lentiformis) and a non-halophyte (Medicago sativa) are able to imbibe water from a saline substrate in a similar manner. The water enables the seeds of both species to mobilise stored growth materials and produce and elongate radicles. When the seedlings try to erect a hypocotyl and spread their cotyledons, the non-halophyte, in a saline medium, becomes flaccid, distorted and dies. The halophyte seedling shows evidence of high salt tolerance in the form of succulence of cotyledons and trichomes on true leaves even before they are visible and goes on to successfully develop a functioning plant. Nevertheless, germination of halophyte seeds is inhibited or severely reduced at salinity levels above 250 mM NaCl and slowed and reduced progressively up to those levels.     

The effect of plant growth regulators, nitric oxide, nitrate, nitrite and light on the germination of dimorphic seeds of Suaeda salsa under saline conditions

Suaeda salsa, a leaf succulent shrub in the family Chenopodiaceae, is one of the most important halophytes in China. Suaeda salsa produces dimorphic seeds (soft brown seeds and hard black seeds). Seeds of S. salsa were collected from the coastal salt flats near Huanghua City, China. Experiments were conducted to determine the salinity-alleviating effect of plant growth regulators, nitric oxide, nitrate, nitrite and light on the germination of dimorphic seeds of S. salsa. Brown seeds had a higher germination rate than black seeds in all experiments. Black seeds were more sensitive to salt in the absence of light in comparison to brown seeds. Brown seeds absorbed water more quickly in comparison to black seeds and were found to be more tolerant of salt stress. Our results showed that 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate (ACC, the immediate precursor of ethylene), nitrite, GA₄ and BA improved seed germination in the presence of salt. However, nitrate, GA₁, GA₃ failed to alleviate salt stress. ABA inhibited seed germination and seedling growth. Possible mechanisms involved in the alleviation of salt stress in S. salsa seeds and the ecological adaptation of the seeds to the environment are discussed.     

Effect of exogenous plant growth regulators on in vitro seed growth,embryo development,and haploid production in a cross between H. vulgare (L.) and H. bulbosum (L.)

Exogenous plant growth regulators are known to increase the efficiency of interspecific and intergeneric crosses. In vitro floret culture provides a defined system for assessing the importance of various plant growth regulators on the determinants of haploid production efficiency (seed set, embryos per seeds, and plants per embryos) in Hordeum vulgare × Hordeum bulbosum crosses. The individual and combined effects of three plant growth regulators (2,4-D, GA₃ and kinetin) on in vitro seed growth, embryo development and haploid production efficiency were tested in floret culture of the cross H. vulgare, cultivar Klages × H. bulbosum. All treatments, except kinetin alone, produced larger seeds and more embryos/100 seeds than the control (no plant growth regulator). 2,4-D alone was superior to GA₃ alone in haploid production efficiency (70.6 vs. 51.5) as measured by the number of plants regenerated/100 florets pollinated. Although kinetin +2,4-D+GA₃ produced the largest seeds and embryos, no advantage over 2,4-D alone was observed in haploid production efficiency. 2,4-D alone or kinetin +2,4-D are recommended for the purpose of barley haploid production in floret culture using the bulbosum method.Abbreviations 2,4-D 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid - GA₃ gibberellic acid     

模拟水分胁迫对不同种源麻楝种子萌发能力的影响

以麻楝6个种源种子为试验材料,用不同浓度的聚乙二醇(PEG)溶液模拟干旱胁迫,探讨干旱胁迫对种子发芽率、发芽势、发芽指数、活力指数以及幼苗苗高和胚根长及根苗比的影响,为麻楝的引种和推广种植提供依据。结果显示:(1)不同水势胁迫处理均降低了麻楝种子的发芽率和发芽势,当水势为-0.40MPa时延缓了种子萌发进程;种子的发芽率、发芽势、发芽指数和活力指数均随干旱胁迫强度的增加呈明显下降的趋势;当胁迫水势为-0.86MPa时,干旱胁迫处理的种子在试验结束时仍未能萌发,即-0.86MPa是麻楝种子萌发的临界水势。(2)当胁迫水势高于-0.40MPa时,麻楝幼苗的胚根长度与对照组差异不显著且长于对照组,说明高于-0.40MPa的水势有利于麻楝种子胚根的生长;麻楝幼苗苗高生长则是随着PEG浓度的升高而逐渐减缓。(3)适当的干旱胁迫可以增大各种源麻楝幼苗根苗比,且在胁迫水势高于-0.20MPa时都达到最大值。研究表明,麻楝种子具有一定的抗干旱胁迫的萌发能力,并以来自缅甸的Khin Aye Pale和泰国的Phu Wiang材料较强,来源于中国三亚和马来西亚Ulu Tranan的较弱。     

黄河口不同氮基质碱蓬种子萌发及幼苗生长对盐分及氮输入的响应

2014年4-11月,选择黄河入海口北部滨岸高潮滩的碱蓬湿地为研究对象,基于野外原位氮负荷增强模拟试验(N0,无额外氮输入;N1,低氮输入;N2,中氮输入;N3,高氮输入),获取相应的不同氮基质种子(S0,S1,S2和S3),以研究其发芽率以及幼苗生长状况对不同盐分胁迫和氮浓度交互作用的响应。结果表明,不同氮负荷影响下碱蓬成熟种子中的氮含量整体表现为S2S0S1S3,中氮输入更利于种子中氮养分的累积。盐分和氮交互作用下4种氮基质种子的发芽率总体表现为S2S1S0S3(P0.05),S2在不同盐分胁迫下的发芽率最高,幼苗的生长状况也最好。随着盐分的增加,4种氮基质种子的发芽率及幼苗生长状况均受到一定程度的抑制,但较低的盐分有助于其幼苗长度的增长,且随着氮输入量的增加这种抑制作用可得到一定程度缓解。盐分胁迫、氮浓度和种子类型作为单独因素出现时对碱蓬的发芽率、幼苗长度、鲜重和干重均产生显著影响,除幼苗长度受氮浓度和盐分胁迫交互作用的影响达到显著水平外(P0.05),其他因子交互作用对诸生态指标的影响并不明显。研究发现,不同氮输入处理不仅改变了原生环境碱蓬种子的氮含量,而且也使这些具备不同氮基质的种子对不同盐分胁迫与氮浓度环境具有不同的生态适应对策,中氮输入下的碱蓬种子(S2)无论在萌发率还是在幼苗生长状况上均优于其他氮基质的种子。未来,随着黄河口新生湿地氮养分供给的不断增加,当湿地氮养分达到中氮水平时,将更有利于碱蓬种子的萌发以及幼苗的生长,当氮养分达到更高水平时,碱蓬种子的萌发以及幼苗生长可能会受到一定程度的抑制。     

Factors influencing growth of embryonic axes from dormant seeds of hazel (Corylus avellana L.)

Chilling (after-ripening) of hazel seeds stimulates subsequent growth of excised embryonic axes on sucrose and leads to growth which is less susceptible to inhibition by abscisic acid. Chilling also obviates the need for inorganic salts in the culture medium. Axes from dormant seeds grow normally when only one-third of a cotyledon is left attached.Abbreviation ABA abscisic acid     

Formation of endomycorrhizas by an achlorophyllous orchid,Erythrorchis ochobiensis, andAuricularia polytricha

To test the mycorrhizal function of heterobasidiomycetous fungi on achlorophyllous orchids and to examine the symbiotic fungal range of a myco-heterotrophic orchid,Erythrorchis ochobiensis, synthetic cultures of the orchid seed were carried out withAuricularia polytricha isolates from Japan and Mexico. After three and a half mo of incubation, 57.0–70.7% of seeds germinated but none of them showed further growth. When cultured on peat moss at 25°C, the germination rate was 8.7% in the presence of Mexican isolate and 18.0% in the presence of Japanese isolate. Some germinated seeds developed into protocorms, and several seeds incubated with the Mexican isolate developed into plantlets after 5 mo. Pelotons were observed in the cells of protocorms and roots. The results indicated that some heterobasidiomycetous fungi could form endomycorrhizas with a myco-heterotrophic orchid. The results also showed that the symbiont ofE. ochobiensis extends, at least experimentally, to Heterobasidiomycetes. The variances of germination rate and seedling growth were suggested to be affected by the difference of isolates and culture conditions.     

Effect of manure composition on seedling emergence and growth of two common shrub species of Southeast Alaska

Theidea that fecal material accompanying vertebrate-dispersed seeds at depositionsites plays an important role in enhancing seed germination and seedlingsurvival has, surprisingly, little empirical support. The present studyattemptsto experimentally test this hypothesis. We examined the effect that manurecomposition from brown bears (Ursus arctos), importantseeddispersers of Rubus spectabilis and Vacciniumovalifolium/alaskaense in the temperate rainforests of SoutheastAlaska, has on seedling emergence and growth of these two fleshy-fruitedspeciesin their natural habitat. The seeds of Rubus spectabilisshowed a significantly higher germination rate in manure composed of animalmaterial (mainly deer hair and bones) than in manure consisting of either fruitpulp or vegetation fiber and than in controls (potting soil with no manureadded). The final number of germinated Rubus seeds wassimilar between the animal material and the fruit pulp treatments, perhaps dueto similar water retention capacities, but was significantly higher than in thevegetation fiber treatment and the control. The germination patterns ofVaccinium seeds, in contrast, appeared to be unaffected bythe composition of manure in which they were embedded. Seedlings of bothspeciesgrew faster, and in the case of Rubus produced moreleaves,when manure consisted of animal material. A principal constituent of bone iscalcium phosphate, which may provide important minerals to growing plants.Manure containing vegetation fiber also enhanced seedling growth compared tomanure with fruit pulp or the control. For Rubus, manurewith fruit pulp did not affect seedling length significantly, although thenumber of leaves per seedling was greater in this treatment than in thecontrol. We conclude that the influence of frugivores on the final fate of seedsof fleshy-fruited plants appears to depend not only upon commonly consideredfactors such as distance of dispersal, treatment in the digestive tract, andlocation of deposition, but also on what material the dispersed seeds areembedded in, i.e., on what other food frugivores have consumed along with thefruits.     

Field planting of alfalfa artificial seeds

Summary Encapsulated somatic embryos (artificial seeds) and naked (uncoated) somatic embryos of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) were planted directly into the field to demonstrate the feasibility of using artificial seeds for direct sowing. Various row coverings that provided protection for the somatic embryos during conversion (plant formation) in the field and encapsulation methods were investigated. The highest conversion obtained in the field was 25% when naked somatic embryos were planted under the protective covering of inverted styrofoam cups. In comparison, 60% conversion was obtained when embryos were planted in potting mix in a growth chamber. Somatic embryos encapsulated by the thin-coat method converted at 23% under cups in the field and 40% in potting mix in the growth chamber. Naked somatic embryos had an average of 13 and 9% conversion in the field under plastic and cloth coverings, respectively, whereas encapsulated embryos converted at 5 and 14%, respectively. Direct-planted embryos (no row covering) converted at 1% in the field. Successful conversion of coated and naked somatic embryos planted in the field supports the concept of artificial seeds serving as a substitute for natural seeds.     

Seed phosphorus (P) content affects growth,and P uptake of wheat plants and their association with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi

Two experiments were carried out in a growth chamber and a naturally lit glasshouse to investigate the influence of seed phosphorus (P) reserves on growth and P uptake by wheat plants (Triticum aestivum cv Krichauff), and their association with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi. Increased seed P reserves improved plant growth at a range of P supply up to over 100 mg P kg^–1 soil. Plants grown from seeds with high P reserves tended to accumulate more P from soil, which was mainly attributed to better root system development. Mycorrhizal colonisation did not significantly affect P uptake of plants grown with low irradiance (in growth chamber). However, in the naturally lit glasshouse, mycorrhizal plants had significantly higher P concentrations than non-mycorrhizal plants. Furthermore, mycorrhizal plants grown from seeds low in P accumulated similar amounts of P compared with those grown from seeds with high P, indicating that mycorrhizal colonisation may overcome the disadvantage of having low seed P reserves in the field.     

Germination and seed water status of four grasses on moss-dominated biological soil crusts from arid lands

Biological soil crusts dominated by drought-tolerant mosses are commonly found through arid and semiarid steppe communities of the northern Great Basin of North America. We conducted growth chamber experiments to investigate the effects of these crusts on the germination of four grasses: Festuca idahoensis, Festuca ovina, Elymus wawawaiensis and Bromus tectorum. For each of these species, we recorded germination time courses on bare soil and two types of biological soil crusts; one composed predominantly of the tall moss Tortula ruralis and the other dominated by the short moss Bryum argenteum. On the short-moss crust, the final germination percentage was about half of that on bare soil. Also, the mean germination time was 4 days longer on short-mosses than on bare soil. In contrast to the short-moss crust, the tall-moss crust did not reduce the final germination percentage but increased the mean germination time. Similar results were observed in the four grasses studied. To investigate the mechanism by which moss crusts affected germination, we analyzed the water status of seeds on bare soil and moss crusts. Six days after seeding, the water content of seeds on bare soil was approximately twice that of seeds on tall- or short-moss crust. Analysis of the time course of changes in seed weight and water potential in Bromus tectorum revealed that overtime seeds on tall mosses reached higher water content than those on short mosses. The increase in the water content of seeds on tall mosses occurred as the seeds gradually fell through the moss canopy. Taken together, our results indicate that biological soil crusts with distinct structural characteristics can have different effects on seed germination. Furthermore, this study revealed that a biological soil crust dominated by short mosses had a negative effect on seed water status and significantly reduced seed germination.     

Gibberellin-mediated changes in carbohydrate metabolism during flower stalk elongation in tulips

We tested the effects of cold stratification, temperature, light and NaCl on seed germination and germination recovery and of NaCl on radicle growth and radicle elongation recovery of Kalidium caspicum, a small leafy succulent shrub dominant in saline deserts in northwest China. In all conditions of temperature and light/darkness, germination percentages and rates of cold-stratified seeds were significantly higher than those of nonstratified seeds. Germination of a high percentage of both nonstratified and stratified seeds was inhibited by 0.2 M NaCl, and 0.6 M NaCl completely inhibited germination. Nongerminated seeds germinated after they were transferred from NaCl solutions to distilled water. Radicle elongation significantly decreased with increase in salinity, and it was completely inhibited by ≥1.0 M NaCl; radicle elongation recovered in young seedlings pretreated by 10 days of incubation in ≤0.4 M NaCl. Results show that seed germination and early seedling growth of K. caspicum are salt tolerant, and these characteristics help explain why this species can survive and dominate salt habitats, such as those in the Junggar desert in Xinjiang, northwest China.     

The role of seed depth,litter, and fire in the seedling establishment of amphicarpic peanutgrass (Amphicarpum purshii)

Summary Amphicarpum purshii is an annual grass which mostly grows in disturbed areas of the New Jersey Pine Barrens, USA. It is amphicarpic, producing spikelets (and seeds) both above and below the soil surface. Previous research has shown that subterranean seed production ensures reproduction in the event of a major disturbance such as fire and results in rapid post-burn colonization of these sandy habitats. The effects of fire, litter, and seed depth were further examined by planting subterranean seeds at four depths in 16 litter-covered flats buried at ground level and comparing plants arising from burned flats with those in undisturbed litter-covered flats. At 0 and 1 cm depth, rates of seedling emergence were lowest in burned flats. Surface-sown seeds produced seedlings more likely to desiccate. Sowing depth had a greater influence on most measured characters than burning treatments. The mean depth of subterranean seed placement by Amphicarpum is 3.5 cm and this coincides with the seed depth from which plants showed the greatest height growth, shoot biomass, and reproductive output. In a second experiment, subterranean seeds on the bare soil surface in clay pots were more likely to lose viability and less likely to germinate than seeds protected by litter or burial in soil. In addition to providing protection from fire, placement of seeds below ground in the sandy habitat of peanutgrass provides conditions more suitable for seed survival and subsequent seedling establishment.     

Gibberellin and abscisic acid effects on the activity of hydrolytic enzymes in de-embryonated barley seeds

The production of hydrolytic enzymes by embryo-less barley seeds in response to various gibberellins and abscisic acid was investigated. The data support the hypothesis that plant growth substances may affect the mechanisms of hydrolase production and secretion in cereal seeds in different ways and at different point.