Chickpea seed proteins: Modification during germination

Changes in the proteins of chickpea during a 12-day germination period are reported using techniques of gel filtration, DEAE-cellulose chromatography, polyacrylamide gel (PAG) electrophoresis and ultracentrifugation. In the ultracentrifuge, the total proteins of dormant seeds resolve into 3 components which have the sedimentation coefficients of 2.2 S, 6.9 S and 10.3 S respectively. On germination, the presence of fractions of lower sedimentation coefficient indicates possible degradation of these components; in the early stages, the degradation rate of the 7 S fraction is higher, while the 10 S fraction is broken down faster in the later stages. Gel filtration experiments indicate the possibility of degradation of high polymer into intermediary products. Increase in the relative mobility of protein components on PAG and elution constant on DEAE-cellulose chromatographs indicates an increase in the net negative charge of the protein fractions. The accumulation of subunits of the proteins is negligible during the germination period.     

Light effects upon dry lettuce seeds

Germination of certain dry seeds (achenes) of Lactuca sativa L. cv. Grand Rapids was increased to ca. 75% after irradiation with 665 nm red light (R; 1x10³ J m^-2); this response was eliminated by far-red light (FR) following the R. The response of dry seeds required an order of magnitude more light than that of wetted seeds, and was not maximal until 48 h after irradiation. Other seeds, which could not be stimulated by R in dry state, showed a partial response after 10 min hydration. Irradiation of dry seeds (or seeds wetted 1 h) with FR (1x10³ J m^-2) reduced dark germination from 26% to 2%. Seeds dehydrated in an oven (60°C, 90 min) showed a decrease in germination if irradiated with R (1x10⁵ J m^-2) before wetting. The results show that phytochrome is present in dry lettuce seeds (and functional in some seed lots) prior to wetting; and that in other seed lots the molecule becomes functional within minutes after wetting the seeds. Transformation of the FR absorbing from of phytochrome (P_FR) to the inactive from (P_R) occurs at lower seed moisture content than the reverse reaction. It appears that dormancy in seeds ripened in sunlight might be assured during seed drying and maturation by the more effective transformation of P_FR to P_R than vice versa as phytochrome is dehydrated.Abbreviations FR far-red - R red - CAL seeds from California - NC seeds from North Carolina (see text)     

塔里木沙拐枣果实刺毛对果实扩散及萌发的影响

塔里木沙拐枣（Calligonum roborowskii A.Los.）是仅分布于我国西北地区荒漠环境的特有种,其果实为不开裂而周围有椭圆形刺毛的瘦果,以果实为单元进行扩散和萌发。本文采用野外观察与室内控制实验相结合的方法,对塔里木沙拐枣刺毛在果实扩散、吸水、脱水及萌发中的作用进行研究。结果显示：不同贮藏时间的果实颜色、大小、重量及刺毛长度存在显著差异。完整果实在水面漂浮时间及水媒扩散能力比去除刺毛的果实更强。完整果实在1 m/s和4 m/s风速下的扩散距离比无刺毛果实的扩散距离长。10 mmol/L赤霉素（AG₃）及不同干藏时间处理的完整果实与无刺毛果实在20℃/30℃光照和黑暗条件下的萌发率间存在显著差异,其中无刺毛果实的萌发率要高于完整果实的萌发率。室外盆栽实验显示,无刺毛果实的萌发率比完整果实高,说明果实刺毛对果实萌发有抑制作用。研究结果表明果实刺毛对塔里木沙拐枣在塔克拉玛干沙漠边缘荒漠环境中的扩散、萌发及种群更新具有重要的辅助作用。     

Phytochrome-mediated changes in the ATP content of Kalanchoë blossfeldiana seeds

One short red (R) irradiation increases the ATP content of Kalanchoë blossfeldiana Poelln. cv Feuerblüte seeds before onset of germination. Phytochrome control is demonstrated by the full R/far-red light (FR) reversibility of the effect in water imbibed seeds. In seeds imbibed in the presence of gibberellin A₃ (GA₃, one short R exposure already increases the ATP content when given 2h after start of imbibition, showing phytochrome control at the energy-metabolic level when one R pulse cannot yet induce germination. After longer imbibition periods in the presence of GA₃, one short FR irradiation also increases the ATP content of ungerminated Kalanchoë seeds. The time course of the ATP levels after a R or FR germination inducing irradiation shows an initial increase that clearly preceeds germination. A second increase starts about 15 h after irradiation and is most probably the consequence of the germination itself. The results suggest that, in Kalanchoë seeds, the increase in ATP levels, induced by irradiation(s) and preceding germination, is a phytochrome-mediated process, supplying energy, required for germination.     

The effects of re-use of polyethylene glycol priming osmotica upon the development of microbial populations and germination of leeks and carrots

Three batches of leek seeds were osmotically primed successively in the same polyethylene glycol solution in a bubble column at a seed concentration of 100 g/litre for seven days at 15°C. Three batches of carrot seeds were similarly primed in a separate solution for six days at 15°C. The concentration of microorganisms in the solutions increased rapidly during priming of the first seed batch for both seed types, but increases during priming of the second and third batches were small. The seeds were the main source of the microorganisms; priming reduced the numbers of colonies of filamentous fungi and increased those of bacteria and yeasts. The priming treatments improved the percentage germination of the three seed batches of primed carrots and reduced the mean time to germination in both species and the mean time to emergence in compost. Percentage emergence was not affected by priming except in the third batch of primed carrot seed. The presence of large numbers of microorganisms in the priming solutions did not greatly affect seed performance when the same osmoticum was used three times with leeks and twice with carrots. Priming did not affect the number of abnormal seedlings.     

Germination of Pistacia vera L. pollen in liquid medium

Summary The osmotic effect of Polyethylene glycol (PEG) has been shown to be sufficient to induce the germination of Pistacia vera L. pollen in liquid medium. The prehydration of the pollen in a saturated atmosphere for approximately 10 h was necessary to obtain maximum in vitro germination. Imbibition of the pollen in water resulted in the rapid leakage of solutes into the medium. These solutes consisted of approximately 50% carbohydrates, of which sucrose (0.65 mol/mg), glucose (0.77 mol/mg) and fructose (0.78 mol/mg) were the major sugars; the remaining 50% comprised proteins with the following major molecular weights 63 kDa, 60 kDa, 59 kDa, 40 kDa, 36 kDa, 35.5 kDa, 31 kDa, other organic matter and minerals.     

Production of fertile tobacco pollen from microspores in suspension culture and its storage for in situ pollination

Summary A simple procedure is described for the in vitro production of tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) pollen from microspores isolated just before entering mitosis. During a 3-day culture period in a liquid medium containing pyrimidine nucleosides these microspores develop into young pollen grains to the stage of starch deposition. Pollen maturation and transition to dormancy is achieved during a further 2- to 3-day culture period in the same medium stepwise supplemented by a concentrated solution of sucrose and l-proline. Upon transfer of the pollen to a simple germination medium containing sucrose and boric acid, up to 40% of the grains were observed to produce relatively long tubes. The in vitro-matured pollen grains can be stored at-20° C either suspended in 1.17 M sucrose and 100 mM l-proline or separated from the medium on filter paper discs. The stored pollen germinated both in vitro and on the stigma, the pollen tubes grew through the style into the ovary and pollination produced up to 300 viable seeds per pod. The procedure is of interest for pollen developmental studies and various fields of pollen manipulation, such as in vitro pollen selection.     

花生种子萌发早期胚轴DNA合成与种子活力的关系

随着花生种子萌发率和活力指数的下降,胚轴DNA开始合成的时间推迟,其合成水平也降低。但DNA合成都是先于吸胀的12h(高活力胚)或18h(低活力胚)出现一个峰,然后再持续上升。腐胺预处理明显地促进老化胚轴萌发早期(12～2dh)的DNA合成。钙离子预处理则有一定抑制作用,但两种预处理均能提高种子的活力指数,并能促进吸胀30h以后的DNA合成。     

Nutritional requirements for conidial germination and hyphal growth of Beauveria bassiana

Nutritional requirements for germination and growth of the entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana are not complex. For germination to occur, a utilizable source of carbon must be present; however, a nitrogen source is needed for continued hyphal growth, otherwise lysis ensues. Compounds that can serve as utilizable carbon-energy sources for germination include glucose, N-acetylglucosamine, glucosamine, chitin, starch, lanolin, hydrocarbons in crude oil, and some longer-chain fatty acids. Both organic and inorganic sources of nitrogen are readily utilized for growth. Conidia undergo active metabolism soon after being placed in a suitable growth medium, indicating that conidia are released from their state of dormancy several hours before emergence of the germ tube can be observed. Because of the nutritional versatility of B. bassiana, this fungus should be able to survive and be infective in several types of natural environments.