Seed after-ripening and dormancy determine adult life history independently of germination timing

? Seed dormancy can affect life history through its effects on germination time. Here, we investigate its influence on life history beyond the timing of germination. ? We used the response of Arabidopsis thaliana to chilling at the germination and flowering stages to test the following: how seed dormancy affects germination responses to the environment; whether variation in dormancy affects adult phenology independently of germination time; and whether environmental cues experienced by dormant seeds have an effect on adult life history. ? Dormancy conditioned the germination response to low temperatures, such that prolonged periods of chilling induced dormancy in nondormant seeds, but stimulated germination in dormant seeds. The alleviation of dormancy through after-ripening was associated with earlier flowering, independent of germination date. Experimental dormancy manipulations showed that prolonged chilling at the seed stage always induced earlier flowering, regardless of seed dormancy. Surprisingly, this effect of seed chilling on flowering time was observed even when low temperatures did not induce germination. ? In summary, seed dormancy influences flowering time and hence life history independent of its effects on germination timing. We conclude that the seed stage has a pronounced effect on life history, the influence of which goes well beyond the timing of germination.     

Seed Dormancy and Germination in Cimicifuga nanchuanensis

Seed anatomy, dormancy breakage, the temperature effect to seed germination and seed life-span of Cimicifuga nanchuanensis Hsiao were studied and the endangerment of this plant in association to these biological characteristics was explored. The embryos were at the globular stage at the time of seed shedding in late November. Low temperature and humid conditions or treatment with exogenous GA3 stimulated the development of embryos and sped up the process of seed germination. The optimum temperature of germination was 20 ℃, but the seeds almost lost their viability after 9 months of storage. Nevertheless, in its natural habitation, the seeds could not acquire enough environmental humidity to accomplish their after-ripening during the dry and cold winter from late November to the following March; after then the temperature in the spring (averaged 10.1 ℃ in April and May) was much lower than 20 ℃ or so which is favorable for seed germination. Moreover, the testa could not provide adequate protection for the embryos and the short life-span of the seeds prevents their survival until the next germination. Therefore it seems reasonable to infer that the unfavorable environmental condition during the process of after-ripening until seed maturation is involved in the cause of endangerment of this plant species.     

Environmental and genetic effects on flowering differences between northern and southern populations of Arabidopsis lyrata (Brassicaceae)

Arabidopsis lyrata (Brassicaceae) is a close outcrossing relative of A. thaliana. We examine flowering time variation of northern and southern A. lyrata populations in controlled environmental conditions, in a common garden experiment with A. thaliana, and in the field. Southern populations of A. lyrata flowered earlier than northern ones in all environmental conditions. Individuals from southern populations were more likely to flower in short days (14 h light) than northern ones, and all populations had a higher probability of flowering and flowered more rapidly in long days (20 h). The interaction of population and day length significantly affected flowering probability, and flowering time in one of two comparisons. The common garden experiment demonstrated differences between populations in the response to seed cold treatment, but growth chamber experiments showed no vernalization effect after 4 wk of rosette cold treatment. In a field population in Norway, a high proportion of the plants flowered in each year of the study. The plants progressed to flowering more rapidly in the field and common garden than in the growth chamber. The genetic basis of these flowering time differences here can be further studied using A. thaliana genetic tools.     

Herbivory and abiotic factors affect population dynamics of Arabidopsis thaliana in a sand dune area

Population dynamics of the annual plant Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Heynh. were studied in a natural habitat of this species on the coastal dunes of the Netherlands. The main objective was to elucidate factors controlling population dynamics and the relative importance of factors affecting final population density. Permanent plots were established and plants were mapped to obtain data on survival and reproductive performance of each individual, with special attention to herbivore damage. In experimental plots we studied how watering, addition of nutrients, artificial disturbance, and natural herbivores affected survival and growth. Mortality was low during autumn and early winter and high at the time of stem elongation, between February and April. A key factor analysis showed a high correlation between mortality from February to April and total mortality. The specialist weevils Ceutorhyncus atomus and C. contractus (Curculionidae) were identified as the major insect herbivores on A. thaliana, reducing seed production by more than 40 %. These herbivores acted in a plant size-dependent manner, attacking a greater fraction of the fruits on large plants. While mortality rates were not affected by density, fecundity decreased with density, although the effect was small. Adding water reduced mortality in rosette and flowering plant stages. Soil disturbance did not increase seed germination, but did have a significant positive effect on survival of rosette and flowering plants. Seed production of A. thaliana populations varied greatly between years, leading to population fluctuations, with a small role for density-dependent fecundity and plant size-dependent herbivory.     

Temperature controls seed germination and dormancy in the European woodland herbaceous perennial Erythronium dens-canis (Liliaceae)

We examined the germination ecology and the temperature requirements for germination of Erythronium dens-canis, under both outdoor and laboratory conditions. E. dens-canis is a spring flowering woodland geophyte widely distributed across Europe. Germination phenology, including embryo development and radicle and cotyledon emergence, were investigated in a natural population growing in Northern Italy. Immediately after harvest, seeds of E. dens-canis were either sown on agar in the laboratory under simulated seasonal temperatures or placed in nylon mesh sachets and buried in the wild. Embryos, undifferentiated at the time of seed dispersal, grew during summer and autumn conditions in the laboratory and in the wild, culminating in radicle emergence in winter when temperatures fell to ≈ 5 °C. Emergence of cotyledons did not occur immediately after radicle emergence, but was delayed until the end of winter. Laboratory experiments showed that temperature is the main factor controlling dormancy and germination, with seeds becoming non-dormant only when given warmth, followed by cold stratification. Unlike seeds of E. dens-canis that germinate in winter, in other Erythronium species radicle emergence occurs in autumn, while in some it is delayed until seeds are transferred from winter to spring conditions. Our results suggest that there is genetic and environmental control of the expression of seed dormancy amongst Erythronium species, which is related to local climate.     

Hormonal and temperature regulation of seed dormancy and germination in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Leymus chinensis</Emphasis>

Fluctuating temperature plays a critical role in determining the timing of seed germination in many plant species. However, the physiological and biochemical mechanisms underlying such a response have been paid little attention. The present study investigated the effect of plant growth regulators and cold stratification in regulating Leymus chinensis seed germination and dormancy response to temperature. Results showed that seed germination was less than 2 % at all constant temperatures while fluctuating temperature significantly increased germination percentage. The highest germination was 71 % at 20/30 °C. Removal of the embryo enclosing material of L. chinensis seed germinated to 74 %, and replaced the requirement for fluctuating temperature to germinate, by increasing embryo growth potential. Applications of GA₄₊₇ significantly increased seed germination at constant temperature. Also, inhibition of GA biosynthesis significantly decreased seed germination at fluctuating temperatures depending upon paclobutrazol concentration. This implied GA was necessary for non-dormant seed germination and played an important role in regulating seed germination response to temperature. Inhibition of ABA biosynthesis during imbibition completely released seed dormancy at 20/30 °C, but showed no effect on seed germination at constant temperature, suggesting ABA biosynthesis was important for seed dormancy maintenance but may not involve in seed germination response to temperature. Cold stratification with water or GA₃ induced seed into secondary dormancy, but this effect was reversed by exogenous FL, suggesting ABA biosynthesis during cold stratification was involved in secondary dormancy. Also, cold stratification with FL entirely replaced the requirement of fluctuating temperature for germination with seeds having 73 % germination at constant temperature. This appears to be attributed to inhibition of ABA biosynthesis and an increase of GA biosynthesis during cold stratification, leading to an increased embryo growth potential. We suggest that fluctuating temperature promotes seed germination by increasing embryo growth potential, mainly attributed to GA biosynthesis during imbibitions. ABA is important for seed dormancy maintenance and induction but showed less effect on non-dormant seed germination response to temperature.     

The Characteristics of Low Temperature Tolerance during Seed Germination of the Ephemeral Plant Lepidium apetalum (Cruciferae)

Lepidium apetalum was used to explore the characteristics and mechanismes of low temperature tolerance during seed germination. The results showed that pre treatment the seeds at 4℃ would improve the seeds viability after stressed by low temperature at -5℃ and -10℃ and the capability of seeds tolerance to cold temperature became weaker along with germination development. Although the growth of radicle was inhibited significantly at 4℃ during germination, the seeds could still survive and grow. With appropriate time of stratified at 4℃, germination pace would be improved and germination rate would not change, while both of which decreased if stratification lasted too long. Moreover, Lapetalum seeds were very sensible to the temperature during germination. It showed no germination at 4℃, while if seeds were stratificated for 48 hours at 4℃ and subsequently treated with 25℃ for more than 6 hours, seeds would germinate at 4℃ and the germination rate increased with the time of 25℃ treatment prolonged. If treatment at 25℃ was less than 5 houes, it showed no germinating. In addition, seeds with stratification for 10 days following 1 h treatment at 25℃ could also germinated at 4℃. The present study indicated that some pivotal genes that related with a key physiological stage before the onset of radicle protrusion might inhibite at 4℃, which resulted in Lapetalum seed could not germinate at 4℃. Except that physiological stage, the Lapetalum seed had a strong tolerance to low temperature at other germination stages. This experiment provided a new way to explore the germination mechanism of ephemerals plants seeds at low temperature.     

The 120-yr period for Dr. Beal's seed viability experiment

After 120 yr of burial in moist, well-aerated sand, 23 seeds of Verbascum blattaria and two seeds of a Verbascum sp. germinated and produced normal plants (50% germination for Verbascum). After a 6-wk cold treatment, a single seed of Malva rotundifolia germinated also, producing a normal plant (2% germination). Plants were grown to maturity in a greenhouse, and flowering was induced by exposure to a 6-wk cold treatment. Flowers were artificially pollinated to produce seed of both Verbascum blattaria and Malva rotundifolia. The Verbascum sp. failed to set seed. Collected seeds were subsequently germinated, producing normal plants. F(1) seeds of V. blattaria had a germination of 64%. Seeds (6%) of M. rotundifolia germinated after a cold treatment.     

施肥与品种及其种子大小对冬小麦光合及叶绿素荧光特性的影响

以土垫旱耕人为土为供试土样,采用4个冬小麦品种、3种播种方式和4种施肥方式进行盆栽试验,研究施肥、品种和种子大小对小麦叶片光合和叶绿素荧光特性的影响.结果表明:(1)在开花期和灌浆期,旗叶叶绿素相对含量(SPAD值)均为NP配施最高,其平均值分别比对照显著增加17.83%和13.01%;NP配施条件下,在开花期和灌浆期SPAD均为大粒单播较高并显著高于小粒单播;开花期和灌浆期SPAD分别以远丰998和咸农39最高并显著高于其它品种,平均比最低的白芒麦分别高17.68%和18.75%.(2)对旗叶净光合速率来说,开花期的NP配施处理比对照略有下降,而单施N和P分别比对照显著降低13.03%和23.17%,灌浆期的平均值以NP配施最高且比对照显著提高6.95%;小偃6号在开花期显著高于其余品种4.01%~6.19%(P<0.05),而白芒麦和咸农39则在灌浆期具有较明显优势,均分别显著高于其余品种约16.60%~26.91%;在开花期和灌浆期,2种单播方式平均值相近且显著高于混播方式.(3)就叶片Fv/Fm和Fv/Fo值而言,NP配施明显高于其它施肥处理,且NP均衡供应时远丰998和混播方式具有明显优势.可见,氮磷配施有利于提高各品种SPAD值、Pn以及叶片Fv/Fm和Fv/Fo比值,能有效改善植株的光合特性;施肥与品种、施肥与播种方式以及播种方式与品种存在显著交互作用,宜因种施肥.     

初生休眠解除状态和干燥处理对水曲柳种子萌发的影响

为探究初生休眠解除状态和干燥处理对水曲柳种子萌发的影响，本文以初生休眠的成熟水曲柳种子为材料，研究经不同裸层积（暖温10周+低温8周、暖温12周+低温8周、暖温10周+低温10周、暖温12周+低温10周）和干燥处理（干燥、不干燥）的水曲柳种子在适宜温度和较高温条件下的萌发表现。结果表明，初生休眠解除状态不同的水曲柳种子在不同温度下的萌发表现具有相似的规律，种子的萌发会受到干燥处理的影响。不经干燥处理的种子解除休眠越充分，其萌发能力就越强，但层积处理后的种子若经过干燥处理，则解除休眠越充分（尤其是低温时间越长），种子萌发能力下降越多。水曲柳种子次生休眠（热休眠）的诱导受种子初生休眠解除状态的影响较小，但受干燥处理影响较大。干燥处理会降低水曲柳种子的萌发能力，尤其是较高温条件下的萌发能力，初生休眠解除越充分的种子萌发受干燥处理影响越大。生产中如需对解除休眠的种子干燥处理，选择暖温10周+低温8周的层积方法处理种子效果最好。     

Growth and reproduction of Arabidopsis thaliana in relation to storage of starch and nitrate in the wild-type and in starch-deficient and nitrate-uptake-deficient mutants

We have investigated the interactions between resource assimilation and storage in rosette leaves, and their impact on the growth and reproduction of the annual species Arabidopsis thaliana. The resource balance was experimentally perturbed by changing (i) the external nutrition, by varying the nitrogen supply; (ii) the assimilation and reallocation of resources from rosette leaves to reproductive organs, by cutting or covering rosette leaves at the time of early flower bud formation, and (iii) the internal carbon and nitrogen balance of the plants, by using isogenic mutants either lacking starch formation (PGM mutant) or with reduced nitrate uptake (NU mutant). When plants were grown on high nitrogen, they had higher concentrations of carbohydrates and nitrate in their leaves during the rosette phase than during flowering. However, these storage pools did not significantly contribute to the bulk flow of resources to seeds. The pool size of stored resources in rosette leaves at the onset of seed filling was very low compared to the total amount of carbon and nitrogen needed for seed formation. Instead, the rosette leaves had an important function in the continued assimilation of resources during seed ripening, as shown by the low seed yield of plants whose leaves were covered or cut off. When a key resource became limiting, such as nitrogen in the NU mutants and in plants grown on a low nitrogen supply, stored resources in the rosette leaves (e.g. nitrogen) were remobilized, and made a larger contribution to seed biomass. A change in nutrition resulted in a complete reversal of the plant response: plants shifted from high to low nutrition exhibited a seed yield similar to that of plants grown continuously on a low nitrogen supply, and vice versa. This demonstrates that resource assimilation during the reproductive phase determines seed production. The PGM mutant had a reduced growth rate and a smaller biomass during the rosette phase as a result of changes in respiration caused by a high turnover of soluble sugars ( Caspar et al. 1986 ; W. Schulze et al. 1991 ). During flowering, however, the vegetative growth rate in the PGM mutant increased, and exceeded that of the wild-type. By the end of the flowering stage, the biomass of the PGM mutant did not differ from that of the wild-type. However, in contrast to the wild-type, the PGM mutant maintained a high vegetative growth rate during seed formation, but had a low rate of seed production. These differences in allocation in the PGM mutant result in a significantly lower seed yield in the starchless mutants. This indicates that starch formation is not only an important factor during growth in the rosette phase, but is also important for whole plant allocation during seed formation. The NU mutant resembled the wild-type grown on a low nitrogen supply, except that it unexpectedly showed symptoms of carbohydrate shortage as well as nitrogen deficiency. In all genotypes and treatments, there was a striking correlation between the concentrations of nitrate and organic nitrogen and shoot growth on the one hand, and sucrose concentration and root growth on the other. In addition, nitrate reductase activity (NRA) was correlated with the total carbohydrate concentration: low carbohydrate levels in starchless mutants led to low NRA even at high nitrate supply. Thus the concentrations of stored carbohydrates and nitrate are directly or indirectly involved in regulating allocation.     

短命植物独行菜种子萌发过程对低温的耐受特性

以独行菜（Lepidium apetalum）为材料,研究了其种子在萌发过程中耐受低温的特性,并对耐受低温的机制作了初步的探讨。结果表明：1.萌发至I、II、III期的独行菜种子经过冷诱导处理后,对零下低温-5℃、-10℃胁迫具有较强的耐受性,这种耐受性随萌发发展相对有所降低。2.独行菜种子萌发过程中胚根生长速度明显受到低温抑制,但也仍然能够生长。3.适当时间的低温层积能使独行菜萌发势显著提高,对终萌发率影响不大;过长时间的低温层积会使独行菜种子萌发势和最终萌发率降低。4.独行菜种子在4℃条件下不能萌发,但4℃层积2d的种子经25℃处理6h以上后,可耐受4℃低温而萌发,且萌发率随25℃处理时间增加而升高。如果25℃处理时间少于5h则不能在4℃低温下萌发。经4℃层积10d、再经25℃萌发处理1h的独行菜种子就能在4℃低温下萌发。综合分析认为独行菜种子不能耐受4℃低温萌发,原因可能是在露白前存在一个关键的生理阶段,在4℃胁迫逆境中不能越过这个阶段,该阶段之前与之后的萌发过程都能耐受4℃低温,因此对低温胁迫有良好的耐受性。这为探索早春短命植物耐受低温萌发的机制提供了新的思路。     

逆境条件下小麦种子活力与种子萌发相关酶活性及其基因表达的关系

分析不同基因型小麦品种逆境萌发过程中种子萌发相关酶活性及基因表达差异,明确在逆境条件下,种子活力与种子萌发相关酶活性及基因表达量的关系.通过标准发芽试验和逆境(冷浸、人工老化、干旱胁迫)发芽试验,测定4个小麦品种种子活力、萌发过程中可溶性总糖和可溶性蛋白含量、α-淀粉酶活性、半胱氨酸蛋白酶活性及相关基因表达量.结果表明:干旱、人工老化和冷浸胁迫3种逆境对种子活力都有一定影响.不同萌发条件下,可溶性总糖含量呈现先小幅度升高后小幅度降低再迅速升高的趋势;而可溶性蛋白含量随着萌发时间的延长呈现逐渐下降的趋势.α-淀粉酶活性整体呈现逐渐升高的趋势,但在冷浸胁迫处理后,豫农949和轮选061的α-淀粉酶活性在萌发60 h后出现下降.半胱氨酸蛋白酶活性整体呈先降低后升高的趋势,但在干旱胁迫条件下,豫农949、豫麦49-198和轮选061的半胱氨酸蛋白酶活性呈现先升高后降低再升高的趋势.不同逆境萌发条件下,α-AMY(α-淀粉酶基因)表达量整体呈先上升后下降的趋势.冷浸胁迫处理后,轮选061的α-AMY表达量高于对照,在其他逆境萌发条件下,4个品种的α-AMY表达量均低于对照;人工老化处理后,长4738的CP(半胱氨酸蛋白酶基因)表达量与对照差异不显著,在其他逆境萌发条件下,4个品种的CP表达量均高于对照.种子萌发期间,不同萌发条件下α-淀粉酶和半胱氨酸蛋白酶活性与其基因表达并没有直接关系,α-淀粉酶活性与可溶性总糖含量达到显著正相关,半胱氨酸蛋白酶活性与可溶性蛋白含量的相关性不显著.在标准发芽条件下,α-淀粉酶活性与活力指数呈显著正相关,而在逆境萌发过程中,其相关性不显著.冷浸胁迫处理后,半胱氨酸蛋白酶活性与活力指数呈显著正相关,但在标准发芽、干旱胁迫、人工老化处理后,其相关性不显著.     

茸毛赤瓟种子不同发育时期脱水耐性和发芽力的初步研究

茸毛赤瓟种子自花后30 d发育至55 d,发芽率、发芽指数和活力指数由0升至最大;含水量逐渐下降,但下降速率不等,发育后期存在显著的成熟脱水期。花后45 d果实干重接近最大,种子干重在45 d达到最大,种子和果实的发育基本同步。自然风干1d后,花后40~50 d的种子含水量下降2%~4%。花后40 d的种子发芽力显著提高,花后45~50 d的种子无明显变化,继续干燥,发芽率、发芽指数和活力指数均有不同程度的降低,而花后50 d的种子直到含水量低至4%后才明显下降;花后35 d和55 d的种子经过不同天数干燥后,发芽力均下降。不同发育时期茸毛赤瓟种子耐脱水力有差别,由强至弱依次为花后50、45、55、40、35 d。用半致死含水量可准确地反映不同发育时期茸毛赤瓟种子的脱水敏感性的强弱。     

Magnitude and timing of leaf damage affect seed production in a natural population of Arabidopsis thaliana (Brassicaceae)

Background

The effect of herbivory on plant fitness varies widely. Understanding the causes of this variation is of considerable interest because of its implications for plant population dynamics and trait evolution. We experimentally defoliated the annual herb Arabidopsis thaliana in a natural population in Sweden to test the hypotheses that (a) plant fitness decreases with increasing damage, (b) tolerance to defoliation is lower before flowering than during flowering, and (c) defoliation before flowering reduces number of seeds more strongly than defoliation during flowering, but the opposite is true for effects on seed size.

Methodology/Principal Findings

In a first experiment, between 0 and 75% of the leaf area was removed in May from plants that flowered or were about to start flowering. In a second experiment, 0, 25%, or 50% of the leaf area was removed from plants on one of two occasions, in mid April when plants were either in the vegetative rosette or bolting stage, or in mid May when plants were flowering. In the first experiment, seed production was negatively related to leaf area removed, and at the highest damage level, also mean seed size was reduced. In the second experiment, removal of 50% of the leaf area reduced seed production by 60% among plants defoliated early in the season at the vegetative rosettes, and by 22% among plants defoliated early in the season at the bolting stage, but did not reduce seed output of plants defoliated one month later. No seasonal shift in the effect of defoliation on seed size was detected.

Conclusions/Significance

The results show that leaf damage may reduce the fitness of A. thaliana, and suggest that in this population leaf herbivores feeding on plants before flowering should exert stronger selection on defence traits than those feeding on plants during flowering, given similar damage levels.     

Plasticity of reproductive components at different stages of development in the annual plant Thlaspi arvense L.

Summary This study examines the effect of different densities and the removal of all neighbours at different stages of development on all components of reproduction in the inbreeding annual Thlaspi arvense L. A 64-fold increase in density significantly reduced all repooductive components. The number of flower buds per plant was decreased most strongly; the order of decreasing plasticity among the other components was number of capsules per flower, individual seed weight, ovule number per capsule, flowers per flower bud and seeds per ovule. Removing neighbours at all stages of development increased seed yield of plants in comparison to the control without density reduction, but patterns of plasticity depended strongly on time of treatment. The main effect of the removal of neighbours at the vegetative stage was to increase the number of flowers per plant, but the number of ovules per capsule and seed weight increased also, and abortion of capsules decreased. Removing neighbours at the onset of flowering initially failed to affect flower number per plant, instead it resulted in a strong reduction of capsule abortion and an increase in seed weight. However, several weeks after flowering had initially ceased, fresh lateral inflorescences were produced, resulting in a second flush of reproduction. Removing neighbours at the stage of fruit ripening resulted at first only in an increase in seed witht, but later a second reproductive phase occurred. Fresh lateral branches were produced, but the apical meristem was also reactivated. The overall pattern of plasticity among all reproductive components in response to a removal of neighbours was the same as in response to density. The position of a capsule along the inflorescence influenced its number of ovules, the rate of seed abortion and the mean weight of seeds, with the type of effect depending on the developmental stage at which neighbours were removed. Significant negative correlations were found between the mean weight of seeds and the number of seeds in a capsule under all treatments.     

Moisture Loss as a Prerequisite for Seedling Growth in Soybean Seeds (Glycine max L. Merr.)

Rosenberg, L. A. and Rinne, R. W. 1986. Moisture loss as a prerequisitefor seedling growth in soybeanseeds (Glycine max L. Merr.).—J.exp. Bot. 37: 1663–1674. As soybean seeds [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] develop, they undergoa change in seed moisture. When excised prematurely from thepod and planted, seeds do not exhibit seedling growth until63 d after flowering (DAF) when the seed moisture has fallenbelow 60%. In contrast, seed germination (radicle protrusion)can occur when seeds as young as 35 DAF (68–79% moisture)are excised, but this germination docs not lead to comparableseedling growth frequencies unless seeds are first given a moistureloss treatment to artificially reduce their moisture below 60%.A moisture loss treatment applied at 35 DAF thus enables seedto undergo the transition from germination (cell expansion)to seedling growth (cell division and expansion) to the extentthat treated immature seed have a vigour index comparable toseeds matured on the plant (100%). The pattern of protein synthesisin vivo was examined in 35 DAF seed using [³⁵S]-methionine incorporation.When moisture loss treatment was applied for 24 h to 35 DAFseeds, seeds synthesized several new polypeptides when comparedwith untreated seeds at the same developmental stage. The sameseed samples showed 0% seedling growth in the absence of moistureloss treatment and 80% seedling growth when the treatment hadbeen applied. Moisture loss from soybean seeds appears to bea prerequisite for the synthesis of new proteins which may bepart of the metabolic process or processes that allow the soybeanseed to undergo the transition from seed germination to seedlinggrowth. Key words: Moisture loss, germination/growth, soybean     

不同种子预处理对10种沙拐枣植物萌发的影响

为了确定沙拐枣植物种子的萌发特性及最优播前预处理方法,在实验室条件下,对10种沙拐枣植物的种子进行了磨砺、硫酸和热水浸泡、冷藏、种子浸出液处理,然后进行发芽实验研究。萌发实验的结果表明,10种沙拐枣植物对于不同的种子预处理,均表现出相似的萌发反应。磨砺、硫酸浸泡和冷藏处理对种子萌发有明显地促进作用。与对照相比,种子浸出液处理对种子的发芽率、发芽速度均具有明显地抑制作用,并能增强种子的休眠。冷藏处理具有打破有活力的种子休眠、促进种子萌发的作用,但它与热水浸泡处理一样,对有活力种子表现出一定的致死作用。沙拐枣植物的萌发模式在不同种子预处理问均表现出明显的差异性。机械磨擦和硫酸处理能够促进种子的萌发率及发芽势。泡果沙拐枣(Callingonum junceum)在本项实验中表现出很强的萌发能力。     

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.     

濒危植物秦岭冷杉种子萌发特性的研究

 秦岭冷杉(Abies chensiensis)为中国特有种,主要分布于中国秦巴山地,现为渐危种,被列为国家二级保护植物。经测定,秦岭冷杉种子千粒重为(33.92±1.01)g,与其它冷杉属的种子比较,其种子千粒重较大。四唑（TTC,1.0 %）染色测种子生活力的结果表明:有生活力的种子占26.00%,空粒占20.50%,涩粒占33.75%,说明秦岭冷杉种子饱满度很差,反映了比较高的种子败育率;染色结果与对比发芽实验的结果很接近,说明用四唑染色来测定秦岭冷杉种子的生活力是较准确的方法。把种子进行0、14、21、28d低温(4℃)层积处理,发现低温层积可以显著提高种子发芽率和发芽势,但是层积21d与28d发芽势没有差异。设置恒温20℃、25℃和变温20～30℃ 3种温度条件下发芽比较,发现最终的发芽率并没有差异,但是发芽势差异显著,恒温25℃达到最大发芽率的90%的时间要比另外两种温度下提前9d,可见25℃是秦岭冷杉种子发芽的适宜温度。光照(8 h·d-1,100μmol·m-2·s-1)和黑暗下种子的最后发芽率差异不显著,但是光照发芽势高,可见光照可以促进秦岭冷杉种子发芽迅速、整齐。实验证明,用砂床做发芽基质与用纸床做发芽基质相比,前者的发芽率和发芽势均比后者高。