外源Ca2+浸种对Cd2+胁迫下红三叶种子萌发和幼苗生长及其生化特性的影响

用不同浓度Ca2 溶液浸种处理红三叶种子后、用0.1 mmol·L-1Cd2 溶液培养,探讨外源Ca2 对Cd2 胁迫下红三叶种子萌发、幼苗生长及其保护酶活性和子叶叶绿素含量的影响.结果显示:(1)0.1 mmol·L-1Ca2 浸种处理能显著缓解Cd2 胁迫的影响,可使红三叶种子发芽势、发芽指数及活力指数显著升高,全苗长、胚根长和胚根/胚芽显著增加(分别增加21.38%、44.06%和38.63%),并显著提高叶绿素含量(14.59%);(2)0.11、.0 mmol·L-1Ca2 浸种预处理均能显著提高Cd2 胁迫下红三叶幼苗子叶SOD活性(43.17%、218.95%)和POD活性(34.00%、14.28%),并显著降低其CAT活性(17.43%、29.19%)和MDA含量(21.92%、24.51%).结果表明,0.1mmol·L-1外源Ca2 浸种处理能显著缓解Cd2 (0.1 mmol·L-1)胁迫对红三叶种子萌发及幼苗生长及其保护酶活性的抑制作用,可明显提高红三叶幼苗对Cd2 胁迫的抵抗能力,缓解效果最优.     

GA诱导NaCl胁迫下黄瓜种子萌发和幼苗耐盐性效应

研究外源GA对NaCl胁迫下黄瓜种子萌发和幼苗生长的影响.结果显示:(1)0和75mmol·L-1NaCl处理可促进种子萌发,浓度为100mmol·L-1及以上时,随着浓度的增加,种子萌发受抑程度越严重;(2)150mmol·L-1NaCl胁迫下,添加外源GA可显著提高黄瓜种子发芽率、发芽势、发芽指数、活力指数和a-淀粉酶活性;促进种子萌发,以100和150mg·L-1GA处理效果较好;(3)外源GA显著提高幼苗生物量,提高SOD和POD活性,降低MDA含量,以100mg·L-1GA处理效果较好.研究表明一定范围的外源GA可缓解盐害对黄瓜种子萌发和幼苗生长的抑制作用,诱导其耐盐性的提高.     

NaCl胁迫下SA浸种绿豆幼苗的生长及生理特征

以'中绿一号'绿豆品种为材料,对不同浓度水杨酸(SA)浸种绿豆种子在NaCl胁迫条件下的萌发、幼苗生长及相关生理指标变化进行分析.结果显示:(1)与未胁迫对照相比,未浸种对照绿豆在100～500 mmol·L-1 NaCl处理下的发芽率、芽长、根长和叶片叶绿素含量显著降低,而幼苗叶片丙二醛(MDA)与脯氨酸(Pro)含量水平显著上升(P＜0.05),且其升降幅度随NaCl胁迫浓度提高而增加;(2)与未浸种对照相比,未胁迫对照种子的萌发和幼苗的生长在20 mg·L-1 SA处理中受到抑制,而在40～80 mg·L-1 SA处理条件下得到促进,至100 mg·L-1 SA时又受到显著抑制.(3)适当浓度的SA浸种能够显著提高盐胁迫下绿豆幼苗的芽长、根长、叶绿素的含量,降低了MDA和Pro含量;在NaCl胁迫浓度为100～300 mmol·L-1时的SA适宜浓度浸种为60 mg·L-1,而500 mmol·L-1 NaCl时为80 mg·L-1.研究表明,适当浓度的SA浸种能有效缓解盐胁迫对绿豆幼苗的伤害,提高其耐盐性.     

纳米TiO_2对杉木种子萌发和幼苗生长及生理的影响

本文以杉木种子和纳米TiO_2为实验材料,研究不同浓度(50、100、500、1000 mg·L-1)纳米TiO_2溶液对杉木种子萌发、幼苗生长及生理特性的影响,探究纳米材料对林木种子萌发及幼苗生长发育的调节作用。结果显示:纳米TiO_2溶液对杉木种子发芽率、发芽势、发芽指数、活力指数均有促进作用,促进作用随处理浓度的增加呈现先增强后减弱的趋势,且100 mg·L~(-1)溶液处理对种子发芽指标提高效果最佳,分别比对照增加66%、92%、71%和299%;杉木幼苗的鲜重和根长均在100 mg·L~(-1)时达到最大值,分别比对照显著增加35%和143%。500 mg·L~(-1)纳米TiO_2溶液处理显著提高了CAT、SOD和POD活性,分别比对照提高108%、488%、182%,但降低了MDA含量(降低82%)。研究表明,适当浓度纳米TiO_2溶液处理不但能有效促进杉木种子萌发与幼苗生长,而且能改善幼苗的生理功能,可能会增强其对逆境的适应能力。     

外源5-氨基乙酰丙酸对干旱胁迫下甘草种子萌发及幼苗生理特性的影响

以药用植物甘草种子和幼苗为材料,在20%PEG-6000模拟干旱胁迫条件下,测定了不同浓度外源5-氨基乙酰丙酸(ALA)处理甘草种子的发芽势(Gv)、发芽率(Gr)、发芽指数(Gi)和活力指数(Vi)的变化,以及ALA处理幼苗叶片的质膜透性、丙二醛(MDA)含量、可溶性糖含量、游离脯氨酸含量和超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、过氧化物酶(POD)、过氧化氢酶(CAT)活性。结果显示:(1)在20%PEG-6000胁迫下,甘草种子萌发受到显著抑制,而各项萌发指标经过不同浓度的ALA进行恢复处理后均有明显提高,且均以10 mg.L-1ALA处理的各项指标值最大,其种子发芽势(75%)、发芽率(91%)比干旱胁迫对照显著提高了35%和30%,发芽指数(36.2)和活力指数(709.7)分别提高至干旱胁迫的2.6和3.5倍。(2)各ALA处理较对照均显著提高了干旱胁迫下甘草幼苗总生物量、可溶性糖的含量及脯氨酸含量,却显著降低了甘草叶片的MDA含量和质膜透性,同时显著提高了干旱胁迫下甘草叶片中的SOD、POD和CAT的活性,且以10 mg.L-1ALA处理后的酶活性最强。研究表明,适宜浓度(10 mg.L-1)的ALA能显著提高干旱胁迫下甘草种子的萌发能力,通过调节渗透调节物质含量和保护酶活性来有效减缓干旱胁迫对甘草幼苗的伤害,提高甘草种子及幼苗的抗旱能力。     

NaCl胁迫下亚精胺对番茄种子萌发及幼苗抗氧化系统的影响

采用盆栽试验,研究了NaCl胁迫下外源亚精胺（Spd）浸种处理对“白果强丰”番茄种子萌发、幼苗生长及叶片抗氧化系统的影响.结果表明：Spd浸种处理的番茄种子发芽率（G_r）、发芽指数（G_i）和活力指数（V_i）均显著增加,分别比单纯NaCl处理增加了104.90%、142.31%和122.22%,而番茄种子的平均发芽时间（MGT）缩短了4.97%;Spd浸种处理提高了NaCl胁迫下番茄幼苗叶片超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）、过氧化物酶（POD）和过氧化氢酶（CAT）活性,降低了O₂^-·产生速率和过氧化氢（H₂O₂）含量,进而降低了丙二醛（MDA）含量和质膜电解质渗漏率,增加了叶片可溶性蛋白质含量,促进了番茄幼苗生长.表明Spd浸种促进了NaCl胁迫下番茄种子的萌发及幼苗生长,增强了植株的抗盐性.     

过氧化氢对镉胁迫下水稻种子萌发的缓解效应

为了探讨外源H_2O_2对镉胁迫下水稻种子萌发受抑的缓解作用,以水稻品种‘中优169’为材料,通过培养皿滤纸发芽法,研究不同浓度H_2O_2对200μmol·L~(-1)镉胁迫下水稻种子萌发、幼苗生长及相关生理指标的影响。结果表明,在200μmol·L~(-1)镉胁迫下,水稻种子的萌发和幼苗生长表现出明显的抑制现象,发芽势、发芽指数、活力指数及幼苗的根长、芽长和可溶性蛋白含量均显著降低,MDA含量显著增加,POD活性上升,SOD、APX及CAT的活性显著受到抑制。较低浓度(≤10μmol·L~(-1))H_2O_2处理能不同程度地增加幼苗的根长、芽长、根鲜重和芽鲜重,提高镉胁迫下水稻种子的发芽指数和活力指数,增强SOD、POD和APX活性并降低MDA含量,从而缓解镉的毒害效应。其中5μmol·L~(-1) H_2O_2浸种处理对镉胁迫下水稻种子萌发和幼苗生长的缓解作用最好。高H_2O_2浓度对镉胁迫的缓解作用逐渐减弱,当H_2O_2浓度达到50μmol·L~(-1)时,会加重镉胁迫的毒性。表明适宜浓度的H_2O_2可以提高水稻幼苗抗氧化能力,缓解镉胁迫伤害。     

GA3浸种对大白杜鹃种子萌发的影响

用不同浓度的GA3浸种大白杜鹃种子并测定其萌发结果表明,不同浓度GA3处理均能增强大白杜鹃种子活力,极显著提高种子发芽率和发芽势,其中500mg·L～GA3浸种处理的效果最明显。GA3处理使种子的可溶性蛋白质含量降低,MDA含量下降,而SOD、POD和CAT活性增强。这表明GA3浸种后能增强抗氧化酶的活性,降低膜脂过氧化程度,从而促进种子提前萌发。     

γ-氨基丁酸浸种对番茄种子及幼苗耐盐性调节的生理机制

以番茄‘金棚一号’为材料,研究了外源γ-氨基丁酸(GABA)浸种处理对NaCl胁迫下种子萌发及幼苗生长和生理代谢的影响。结果显示:(1)NaCl胁迫显著抑制了番茄种子的萌发和胚根生长,同时导致番茄幼苗体内活性氧(O2.-、H2O2)大量积累,膜脂过氧化程度加重,幼苗叶片光合系统Ⅱ活性显著降低,幼苗的生长受到严重抑制。(2)外源GABA浸种能够显著提高盐胁迫下番茄种子的萌发和胚根的生长,并以10.00mmol.L-1 GABA浸种处理效果最好。(3)外源GABA浸种处理显著提高了NaCl胁迫下番茄幼苗根系和叶片抗氧化酶(SOD、POD和CAT)活性,降低了活性氧(O2.-、H2O2)的产生和膜脂过氧化程度,通过维持较高的光合系统Ⅱ活性,促进了幼苗的生长及生物量积累,但GABA的缓解效应存在较大的浓度差异,其中以10.00mmol.L-1 GABA处理效果较好。研究表明,10.00mmol.L-1 GABA浸种处理能够通过促进番茄种子萌发和幼苗生长来缓解盐胁迫的伤害。     

外源一氧化氮供体SNP对黑麦草种子萌发和幼苗生长的影响

采用水培试验,研究了不同浓度NO供体硝普钠(SNP)对黑麦草种子萌发和幼苗生长的影响。结果表明:50和100μmol.L-1SNP促进了黑麦草种子的发芽率、幼苗干物质积累速率、萌发种子α-淀粉酶活性、幼苗叶片可溶性蛋白质及叶绿素含量的提高。根和叶片中超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、过氧化氢酶(CAT)、过氧化物酶(POD)和抗坏血酸过氧化物酶(APX)活性及还原型谷胱甘肽(GSH)、抗坏血酸(ASC)含量增加,超氧阴离子(O.2-)积累速率和过氧化氢(H2O2)含量下降,丙二醛(MDA)积累降低。高浓度SNP(500~2000μmol.L-1)抑制种子的萌发和幼苗生长,幼苗叶绿素、可溶性蛋白质及GSH、ASC含量下降,MDA含量和H2O2、O.2-产生速率提高,SOD、POD和APX活性降低,但叶片CAT活性升高。推测NO可能通过提高种子淀粉酶活性和幼苗活性氧清除能力,促进黑麦草种子的萌发和幼苗生长。     

Co-evolution of seed size and seed predation

Using the evolutionarily stable strategy (ESS) approach in a model for the co-evolution of seed size and seed predation, I show that seed size variation within individual plants is favoured if there is a trade-off in the predator's attack rate for different seed sizes. A single seed size is not evolutionarily stable because a predator that is optimally adapted to one particular seed size cannot prevent invasion by plants with a different seed size. The model generates the following predictions. The ESS consists of a continuous range of seed sizes. Small seeds tend to be attacked more frequently than big seeds. Plants with many resources and plants with low (frequency-independent) juvenile mortality have more variable seeds than plants with few resources and a high juvenile mortality. Seed size variation is higher in fluctuating populations regulated by seed predation alone than in stable populations (partially) regulated by seedling competition. Predator searching behaviour does not directly affect the ESS seed size range, but may have an indirect effect by affecting population stability or the significance of seedling competition as a population regulating mechanism. Moreover, seed size distributions are found to be more skewed in favour of small seeds if predation is spatially non-uniform than if predation is more even. Application of the model to systems of several co-evolving plant and predator species is discussed.     

种壳厚度对鼠类种子扩散行为及种子命运的影响

种子扩散是植物更新和扩大分布区的一种重要途径。鼠类采取不同的种子扩散和贮藏策略,以应对食物短缺,同时也促进了植物种子扩散。为应对鼠类对植物种子的过度取食,种子进化出了一系列物理、化学等防御特征。其中种壳厚度作为一种物理防御策略,是影响鼠类贮藏行为和种子命运的关键因素。本研究拟通过去除天然栓皮栎（Quercus variabilis）种子的外壳,再在种仁外包被1、2、4、6不同层数的聚乙烯薄膜,模拟种壳厚度,准确控制种壳厚度。2020年10月—2021年1月,在四川都江堰森林生境中释放人工种壳包被的种子,研究人工种壳厚度对鼠类介导的种子扩散和命运的影响。结果表明：（1）鼠类优先扩散种壳较薄（1层薄膜包被）的人工种子;随着种壳厚度的增加,扩散速率逐渐降低,种壳最厚（6层薄膜包被）的种子扩散最慢（P < 0.001）;（2）鼠类喜好分散贮藏1层、2层薄膜包被的种子;当种壳厚度增加至包被4层、6层薄膜时,分散贮藏比例显著降低（P < 0.05）;（3）鼠类偏好集中贮藏4层薄膜包被的种子（P < 0.05）;（4）不同种壳厚度的种子扩散距离无显著差异（P > 0.05）;（5）种壳较薄（1层薄膜包被）的种子分散贮藏率在3 m范围内比例较高。采用聚乙烯薄膜包被是模拟种子外壳的可行方法,并可用于评估种壳厚度对鼠类种子贮藏行为和种子命运的影响等相关研究。     

The role of seed coats in seed viability

The seed coat is the seed’s primary defense against adverse environmental conditions. A hard seed coat protects the seed not only from mechanical stress but also from microorganism invasion and from temperature and humidity fluctuations during storage. Phenolic compounds in the seed coat contribute to seed hardness and inhibition of microorganism growth. During germination, the seed coat protects the seed from hydration stress and electrolyte leakage.     

Latitude, seed predation and seed mass

Aim We set out to test the hypothesis that rates of pre‐ and post‐dispersal seed predation would be higher towards the tropics, across a broad range of species from around the world. We also aimed to quantify the slope and predictive power of the relationship between seed mass and latitude both within and across species. Methods Seed mass, pre‐dispersal seed predation and post‐dispersal seed removal data were compiled from the literature. Wherever possible, these data were combined with information regarding the latitude at which the data were collected. Analyses were performed using both cross‐species and phylogenetic regressions. Results Contrary to expectations, we found no significant relationship between seed predation and latitude (log₁₀ proportion of seeds surviving predispersal seed predation vs. latitude, P = 0.63; R² = 0.02; n = 122 species: log₁₀ proportion of seeds remaining after postdispersal seed removal vs. latitude, P = 0.54; R² = 0.02; n = 205 species). These relationships remained non‐significant after variation because of seed mass was accounted for. We also found a very substantial (R² = 0.21) relationship between seed mass and latitude across 2706 species, with seed mass being significantly higher towards the tropics. Within‐species seed mass decline with latitude was significant, but only about two‐sevenths, as rapid as the cross‐species decline with latitude. Results of phylogenetic analyses were very similar to cross‐species analyses. We also demonstrated a positive relationship between seed mass and development time across ten species from dry sclerophyll woodland in Sydney (P < 0.001; R² = 0.77; Standardized Major Axis slope = 0.14). These data lend support to the hypothesis that growing period might affect the maximum attainable seed mass in a given environment. Main conclusions There was no evidence that seed predation is higher towards the tropics. The strong relationship between seed mass and latitude shown here had been observed in previous studies, but had not previously been quantified at a global scale. There was a tenfold reduction in mean seed mass for every c. 23° moved towards the poles, despite a wide range of seed mass within each latitude.     

昆虫种子捕食与蒙古栎种子产量和种子大小的关系

为了了解昆虫种子捕食者在栎类种群更新中的作用,于2006年秋季,在黑龙江省伊春市带岭区东方红林场研究了昆虫对蒙古栎Quercus mongolica在参园和东山两个种群的种子蛀食情况及其与蒙古栎种子产量和种子大小的关系。结果表明：(1)在参园和东山两个林分内,蒙古栎种子雨动态非常相似,种子雨成分中完好种子的平均密度仅为3.2±4.1个/m²（参园）和1.7±2.8个/m²（东山）,分别仅占种子产量的4.0％和3.2％,而虫蛀种子和败育种子的比例均在38%以上,以虫蛀种子的比例最高,分别为58.2％和57.7％;(2)柞栎象Curculio arakawai是蛀食蒙古栎种子的主要昆虫种类,在虫蛀种子中所占比例高达96.8％（参园）和97.1％（东山）,且象甲蛀食种子中所含虫卵数与种子大小有关,即种子越大,所含象甲的虫卵数就较多。本研究的结果说明2006年蒙古栎成熟种子多遭遇虫蛀,导致完好种子的数量极低,因而可能成为限制蒙古栎种群更新的重要因素。     

种子特征和结实量对啮齿动物取食和扩散种子行为的影响

为了深入了解啮齿动物在不同种子丰富度条件下对不同大小和单宁含量种子的觅食行为策略及其与植物种群更新的关系,在宁夏六盘山区的华北落叶松人工林,研究了不同大小和单宁含量[0%Tannin(T)、2%T、8%T和15%T]的人工种子在模拟结实小年和结实大年对啮齿动物取食和扩散行为的影响.结果表明: 啮齿动物消耗种子速度在结实小年更快,结实大年的种子消耗速度相对缓慢. 种子就地取食率(ISPR)在不同结实年份间无显著差异,扩散后取食率(PRAD)在结实小年显著高于结实大年,但前者的扩散后贮藏率(HRAD)显著低于后者;种子扩散后的取食距离(PDAD)和贮藏距离(HDAD)在结实小年均显著大于结实大年.在结实小年,大种子的PDAD和HDAD均大于小种子,前者在不同大小种子间均差异显著,而后者仅在2%T和15%T的不同大小种子间差异显著;在结实大年,除0%T外的其他单宁含量种子的PDAD和HDAD在不同大小种子间均差异显著.ISPR在中等单宁含量种子最大,高单宁含量种子最小;PRAD分别在结实小年的高单宁含量种子和结实大年的无单宁种子最大;不论在结实大年还是结实小年,HRAD均在高单宁含量种子最大,中等单宁含量种子最小.这说明结实大年可延缓啮齿动物对种子的消耗速率,提高种子的HRAD,但种子扩散距离减小;啮齿动物在结实大年和小年均表现出对大种子的扩散偏好,且大种子被扩散的距离更远;啮齿动物在不同结实年份均偏好于就地取食中等单宁含量种子,而扩散高单宁含量种子.     

Relationships between indices of seed maturity and carrot seed quality

Carrot seeds cvs Chantenay and Amsterdam were harvested on several occasions from crops grown in 1985 and 1986, from the time they had reached or were close to their maximum dry weight and were starting to turn brown. Maximum seed dry weight occurred approximately 40–45 days after flowering (DAF) in both cultivars. Maximum germination (International Seed Testing Association 14-day count) occurred 40 and 55 DAF in cvs Chantenay and Amsterdam, respectively, but the maximum 7-day count and the minimum coefficient of variation of embryo length did not occur until 60 DAF in cv. Chantenay and 55 to 65 DAF in cv. Amsterdam. Percentage germination was negatively and linearly related to seed moisture content, chlorophyll a + b content in the seed coat and seed distortion, measured on a modified tensile-testing machine, the relationships accounting for 77, 71 and 64% of the variance in the 7-day germination count, respectively. The corresponding values for the 14-day count were 63, 61 and 50%. A simple field test for monitoring seed maturity is proposed.     

Methods of estimating seed banks with reference to long-term seed burial

We compared two standard seed-bank estimation techniques using buried seed populations that had been covered to depths of >1 m by volcanic deposits for 20 years. Some seeds were germinated in a greenhouse (germination method [GM]), and other seeds were extracted by flotation using 50% K₂CO₃ solution (floatation method [FM]). In total, FM could detect more species and seeds in the soils than GM. However, many species that were extracted by FM did not germinate by GM and smaller seeds were extracted to a lesser extent by FM. FM and GM have distinct advantages and disadvantages. We concluded that the application of a single method should be avoided in estimating seed banks, in particular for long-lived seed banks, because the seeds cannot be readily germinated and are structurally weak.     

A seed predator drives the evolution of a seed dispersal mutualism

Although antagonists are hypothesized to impede the evolution of mutualisms, they may simultaneously exert selection favouring the evolution of alternative mutualistic interactions. We found that increases in limber pine (Pinus flexilis) seed defences arising from selection exerted by a pre-dispersal seed predator (red squirrel Tamiasciurus hudsonicus) reduced the efficacy of limber pine's primary seed disperser (Clark's nutcracker Nucifraga columbiana) while enhancing seed dispersal by ground-foraging scatter-hoarding rodents (Peromyscus). Thus, there is a shift from relying on primary seed dispersal by birds in areas without red squirrels, to an increasing reliance on secondary seed dispersal by scatter-hoarding rodents in areas with red squirrels. Seed predators can therefore drive the evolution of seed defences, which in turn favour alternative seed dispersal mutualisms that lead to major changes in the mode of seed dispersal. Given that adaptive evolution in response to antagonists frequently impedes one kind of mutualistic interaction, the evolution of alternative mutualistic interactions may be a common by-product.