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Viability loss and free radical processes during desiccation of recalcitrant Avicennia marina seeds

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  22 February 2007

Valerie Greggains ,
William E. Finch-Savage ,
Neil M. Atherton  and
Patricia Berjak
Valerie Greggains
Affiliation:
Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK
William E. Finch-Savage*
Affiliation:
Horticulture Research International, Wellesbourne, Warwick CV35 9EF, UK
Neil M. Atherton
Affiliation:
Department of Chemistry, The University of Sheffield, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK
Patricia Berjak
Affiliation:
School of Life and Environmental Science, University of Natal, Durban, 4041, South Africa
*
*Correspondence FAX: +44 (0) 1789 472063 Email: [email protected]
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Abstract

At shedding, the moisture content (MC) of Avicennia marina (Forssk.) Vierh. propagules was 65% (fresh mass basis), and there was no significant difference in the MC of four tissues (hypocotyl, cotyledons, plumule and root primordia). Viability declined as the propagules were dried below 60% MC, so that only 40%of seeds were capable of germination at 54% MC. At 47% MC all the seeds had died. The four tissues dried at the same constant rate of 0.02 g water g dwt-1 h–1 throughout this range of MCs. There was no significant depletion of the free-radical-quenching mechanisms measured. In each tissue an organic free-radical was detected by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR). In the plumule the amplitude of the signal increased by a further 50% at MCs where viability was lost, but there was no increase in the other tissues. There was a concurrent increase in the amount of tocopherol and the activity of superoxide dismutase in the plumule. Lipid peroxidation, assessed by the amount of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances, also increased in advance of viability loss, suggesting that propagules were experiencing oxidative stress. However, lipid peroxidation decreased at 54–57% MC, where most seeds lost viability. The results presented are consistent with a propagule reacting to oxidative stress, but overtaken by more catastrophic physical damage.

Keywords

Avicennia marinarecalcitrant seedsfree radicalstocopherolsuperoxide dismutaseperoxidase
Type
Research Article
Information
Seed Science Research , Volume 11 , Issue 3 , September 2001 , pp. 235 - 242
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2001

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