Improved Equations for the Prediction of Seed Longevity

Equations for predicting seed longevity in storage have beenimproved so that they now take into account variations withina species in initial seed quality—which is affected bygenotype and pre-storage environment—and so that theyare more accurate over a wider range of storage environmentsThese improvements have been incorporated into a seed viabilitynomograph for barley (Hordeum distichum L.) which may be usedto predict percentage viabihty of any seed lot after any timein any storage environment within the range –20 to 90°C and 5–25 per cent moisture content. Applicationsof the improved equations to seed drying and to long-term seedstorage for genetic conservation are discussed. Hordeum distichum L., barley, seed viability, seed longevity prediction, seed storage, seed drying, storage temperature, seed moisture content, genetic resources conservation     

The consistency of the resistance of eight carrot cultivars to carrot fly attack at several centres in Europe

Eight carrot cultivars representing the range of resistance to carrot fly damage as assessed in England were grown at 12 sites in five European countries in 1977 and in 1978. The trials provided evidence of agreement with the findings in England for both years in the ranking of cultivars with respect to their resistance to carrot fly damage. The Nantes cultivar Clause's Sytan Original was the most resistant cultivar tested. Consistent results were obtained from sites where carrots were assessed at harvest and carrot fly attack was severe. A significant interaction between sites and cultivars was largely due to sites where carrots were stored prior to assessment.     

Inheritance of components of partial resistance of barley to Rhynchosporium secalis with particular reference to race specificity

Six spring barley cultivars with no known genes for resistance to specific virulences but varying in partial resistance to Rhynchosporium secalis, were crossed in all combinations (6 × 6 diallel including reciprocals). In addition to seeds from naturally selfed plants, seeds of all parent cultivars were also produced by artificial selfing (emasculation followed by pollination using pollen from the same cultivar). This ensured comparability between seeds of parents and F₁. Both sets of parents, F₁ and F₂ families were grown in the field as single spaced plants and inoculated at Zadoks growth stage 49 with spore suspensions (2 × 10⁶ spores ml^-1) of three races (pathotypes) of R. secalis (Zadoks, Chang & Konzak, 1974). Components of partial resistance, incubation period (ICP), infection frequency (IF) and spore production per lesion (SP/L) were assessed on each plant. There were highly significant differences for all three components of partial resistance in both sets of parent cultivars but rank order in both sets was similar as evidenced by correlation coefficients, r= 0.96 for ICP and IF and r= 0.87 for SP/L. All three components of partial resistance were strongly correlated with NIAB (National Institute of Agricultural Botany, Cambridge, UK) resistance ratings. Means of F₁ and F₂ families were correlated with mid-parent values for ICP and IF but not SP/L. No difference in aggressiveness was found between races but for each component of partial resistance there was a significant interaction between race and parent cultivar (artificial selfs) and, for IF and ICP, a significant interaction between race and F₁ family. There was no evidence of interaction between parent (natural selfs) and race nor between race and F₂ family. Examination of genetic control of resistance showed evidence of strong additive effects (combining ability) in both F₁ and F₂ for ICP and IF but not for SP/L. There was no evidence for maternal or reciprocal differences, but there was evidence for dominance effects although their nature differed between components of partial resistance and between F₁ and F₂ generations. In the F₁, but not the F₂ generation, several elements of dominance (direction, distribution of dominant genes between parent cultivars, specific combining ability) showed for ICP or IF (but not SP/L) significant interaction with race.     

Soil temperatures during bushfires in semi-arid,mallee shrublands

Abstract Soil temperatures were measured during 11 experimental fires in semi-arid mallee shrublands in central NSW. Sensors were placed at depths from 1–10 cm beneath the soil surface in three fuel types; litter beneath Eucalyptus shrubs, live hummocks of the grass Triodia irritans and litter beneath shrubs of Acacia species. Weights of these fuels per unit area were determined. Maximum soil temperature and its duration were related to fuel type and depth. Mean weights of Eucalyptus and Triodia fuels were similar (0.35 kg m^?2), while there was less Acacia fuel (0.1 kg m^?2). Highest maximum temperatures were registered under Eucalyptus litter (e.g. 140°C at 2 cm). Maximum temperatures under Triodia and Acacia litter were similar (e.g. 60–70°C at 2 cm). Durations were examined in two temperature classes (60–120 and > 120°C) chosen to represent threshold for stimulation of germination and mortality, respectively, of soil-stored seeds. Temperatures between 60 and 120°C were recorded only between 0–2 cm soil depth for Acacia and Triodia (one exception at 4 cm). No temperatures >120°C were recorded for these fuel types. Temperatures between 60 and 120°C were recorded to 5 cm depth under Eucalyptus fuels while putative lethal temperatures for seeds occurred occasionally at 0–2 cm depth. The results indicated greatest potential for stimulation of germination and death of buried seeds under Eucalyptus fuels, although the level of variability of temperature was highest under Eucalyptus fuels. Despite similar fuel loads, differences between temperatures under Eucalyptus and Triodia fuels reflected the influence of the depth of the fuel bed, with Triodia hummocks constituting a deep fuel bed and Eucalyptus litter a shallow fuel bed.     

Temperature and Seed Storage Longevity

Seed survival data for eight diverse species, namely the cerealbarley (Hordeum vulgare L.), the grain legumes chickpea (Cicerarietinum L.), cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.] and soyabean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.], the timber trees elm (Ulmus carpinifoliaGleditsch.), mahogany (Swietenia humilis Zucc.), and terb (Terminaliabrassii Exell.), and the leaf vegetable lettuce (Lactuca sativaL.) were compared over a wide range of storage environments(temperatures from –13 °C to 90 °C, seed moisturecontents from 1.8 to 25% f. wt) using a viability equation developedpreviously. In accordance with that equation, the effect oftemperature on seed longevity was dependent upon the temperaturerange. The temperature coefficients of the viability equationdid not differ significantly (P > 0.05) among the eight speciesdespite their contrasting taxonomy. Thus the quantitative relationbetween seed longevity and temperature does not vary among diversespecies. The same conclusion was obtained for the coefficientsof a proposed alternative model of the relation between seedlongevity and temperature. The implications of the two temperaturemodels in the viability equation for extrapolations to low andvery low temperatures are discussed. Seed storage, seed longevity, seed moisture, temperature, viability equation, genetic resources conservation, Cicer arietinum L., Glycine max (L.) Merr., Hordeum vulgare L., Lactuca sativa L., Swietenia humilis Zucc., Terminalia brassii Exell., Ulmus carpinifolia Gleditsch., Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp     

Moisture Content and the Longevity of Seeds of Phaseolus vulgaris

The lower limit to the negative logarithmic relation betweenseed longevity and moisture was determined in bean (Phaseolusvulgaris L.). Sub-lots of seed were hermetically stored at 65°C and 11 moisture contents (3.26–13.6% f. wt) forup to 80 d, tested for germination and the seedlings evaluated.In accordance with the seed viability equation, there was anegative logarithmic relation between moisture content (%, f.wt) and longevity. Two different criteria for estimating theslope constant of this relation gave similar values of 4.76(s.e. 0.26) and 4.82 (s.e. 0.24). The calculated lower moisturecontent limits to the relation were 5.7 and 5.6%, respectively,values at equilibrium with 10.6–10.8% relative humidity(rh). Further drying to 3.26% had little additional effect onlongevity, but initial germination was slightly reduced. Theresults are discussed in relation to water potential and comparedwith other crops. Arguments against transforming germinationvalues to disregard the seeds initially failing to germinateare emphasized. Common bean, Phaseolus vulgaris L. cv. Provider, seed storage, seed longevity, seed moisture, viability equation, water relations     

Water and Seed Survival

Between about –350 and –14 MPa the rate of lossof viability in orthodox seeds is a positive function of waterpotential. The relative effect of water potential has been analysedin an oily seed (lettuce) and a non-oily seed (barley) and foundto be more or less identical. The lower limit for the relationin various species coincides with a seed moisture content (wetbasis) between about 2 and 6%. Below this level there is littleor no improvement in longevity with reduction in moisture content.The upper limit coincides with moisture contents of between15 and 28%, depending on whether the seeds are oily or non-oily.A water potential of about –14 MPa is the threshold forrespiration which increases more-or-less linearly with increasein water potential above this level. Above this threshold, andproviding oxygen is available to sustain respiration, seed longevityincreases with increase in water potential except that, unlessthe seeds are dormant, germination may be initiated at a waterpotential of about –1·5 to –0·5 MPa.In the absence of oxygen there may be a slight further declinein longevity with increase in water potential above –14MPa before longevity reaches a minimum value Since they cannot be dried very much without immediate lossof viability, recalcitrant seeds survive longest in the presenceof oxygen at maximum water potential commensurate with preventinggermination. The threshold water potential for immediate lossof viability has not been determined for most species but itis probable that it is close to the water potential typicalof the permanent wilting point in these plants, say –2MPa Lactuca saliva L., lettuce, Hordeum oulgare L., barley, seed storage, moisture content, relative humidity, water potential, temperature, oxygen     

Irrigation and Seed Quality Development in Rapid-cycling Brassica: Soluble Carbohydrates and Heat-stable Proteins

Changes in soluble carbohydrates and heat-stable proteins havebeen examined in relation to the acquisition of desiccationtolerance and/or potential seed longevity during seed developmentin rapid-cycling brassica [Brassica campestris (rapa)L.]. Ratesof seed development were moderated by different irrigation regimes.At the early stages, glucose, fructose and sucrose predominated.The raffinose series oligosaccharides accumulated during seedmaturation, and occurred earliest in seeds from plants irrigatedonly until 16 days after pollination. Stachyose content correlatedpositively, and monosaccharide content correlated negatively,with the ability of seeds to tolerate rapid desiccation andwith their potential longevity (the constantK_iof the seed viabilityequation). Similarly, the ratio of oligosaccharide[ratio]totalsugars provided strong positive correlations with ability totolerate desiccation and with potential longevity. Most of theheat-stable proteins selected for study accumulated comparativelylate, i.e. during maturation drying. The imposition of waterstress induced earlier accumulation of heat-stable proteins.The ability to tolerate desiccation was correlated with thecontent of selected heat-stable proteins, but potential longevityprovided stronger correlations. The content of a 58 kDa heat-stableprotein provided the strongest positive correlation with potentiallongevity. A simple multiple regression model of the relationsbetween potential longevity and both the oligosaccharide[ratio]totalsugar ratio and the 58 kDa heat-stable protein content was developedfor all three plant irrigation regimes to show the combinedeffect of certain sugars and proteins on seed quality. The modelsuggests that these sugars and proteins are equally likely tobe required for seed quality development, and that initiallythe sugars tend to accumulate at a greater rate than the proteins,but that during maturation drying the heat-stable proteins accumulateat the greater rate.Copyright 1998 Annals of Botany Company Brassica campestris (rapa) L., rapid-cycling brassica, potential longevity, seed development, desiccation tolerance, soluble sugars, oligosaccharides, dehydrins, heat-stable proteins.     

Characterization of Pneumocystis carinii Preparations Developed for Lipid Analysis

Pneumocystis carinii organisms were isolated from viral antibody-negative rats that had been infected by intratracheal intubation of organism preparations tested negative for common bacteria and fungi. Infection scores of lungs from infected animals at the time of parasite isolation was > 5 (100-1,000 organisms/oil immersion field). Electron microscopy of heavily infected lungs revealed that the pathogens adhered to Type I pneumocytes and to each other, resulting in obstructions up to several cell layers thick, which extended into the alveolar lumen. Protocols for purifying the organisms were developed to optimize separation from each other and from host cells, and to optimize preparation purity, recovery efficiency, and organism viability. The study tested mucolytic agents, sieving, various centrifugation speeds, lysis of host cells by osmotic shock and filtration through membranes of different pore diameter. Final preparations contained no intact host cells as determined by light microscopy. Only minor amounts (< 5%) of host debris were detected by electron microscopy. Most organisms and their pellicles were ultrastructurally intact but no longer adhered to one another. The final preparation was characterized biochemically by quantitation of the specific lung surfactant marker surfactant protein A, which indicated > 99.5% purity. The total non-P. carinii protein in the final preparation (< 6%, depending on the level of infection) was estimated by the protein content of pelletable material resulting from processing uninfected lungs in an identical manner. Elimination of free cholesterol and phospholipids from host lung tissue was monitored during the purification process. Exogenous stigmasterol, added as an extracellular marker, decreased during the purification process and was undetectable in the final organism preparation. Yields of 10⁸-10⁹ organisms/rat were routinely obtained. Viability, assessed by the calcein acetoxymethyl ester-propidium iodide assay, was 80–95%.