Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-rcrh6 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-24T11:13:04.445Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Ageing increases the sensitivity of neem (Azadirachta indica) seeds to imbibitional stress

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  22 February 2007

Oblé Neya ,
Elena A. Golovina ,
Jaap Nijsse  and
Folkert A. Hoekstra
Oblé Neya*
Affiliation:
The Graduate School ‘Experimental Plant Sciences’, Laboratory of Plant Physiology, Wageningen University, Arboretumlaan 4, Wageningen, The Netherlands Centre National de Semences Forestières, Ouagadougou 01, BP 2682, Burkina Faso
Elena A. Golovina
Affiliation:
The Graduate School ‘Experimental Plant Sciences’, Laboratory of Plant Physiology, Wageningen University, Arboretumlaan 4, Wageningen, The Netherlands K.A. Timiryazev Institute of Plant Physiology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Botanicheskaja 35, Moscow, 127276, Russia
Jaap Nijsse
Affiliation:
The Graduate School ‘Experimental Plant Sciences’, Laboratory of Plant Physiology, Wageningen University, Arboretumlaan 4, Wageningen, The Netherlands
Folkert A. Hoekstra
Affiliation:
The Graduate School ‘Experimental Plant Sciences’, Laboratory of Plant Physiology, Wageningen University, Arboretumlaan 4, Wageningen, The Netherlands
*
*Correspondence Fax: +31 317 484740, E-mail: [email protected]
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Imbibitional stress was imposed on neem (Azadirachta indica) seeds by letting them soak for 1 h in water at unfavourable, low temperatures before further incubation at 30°C. Sensitivity to low imbibition temperatures increased with a decrease in seed moisture content (MC). To investigate a possible involvement of seed age in the extent of imbibitional damage, initially high-quality seed lots that differed in storage history (10 weeks versus 10 months) were examined at 4 and 7% MC (fresh weight basis). After 10 months of storage, the 7% MC seeds had become sensitive to imbibitional stress. Further drying (1 week) to 4% MC affected aged seeds more than non-aged seeds. Barrier properties of cellular membranes in axes excised after 1 d of rehydration were estimated using a spin-probe technique. The proportion of cells with intact membranes increased with increasing imbibition temperature. For each temperature tested, there were more cells with leaky membranes after 10 months than after 10 weeks of dry storage. Localization of embryo cells displaying loss of turgor and abnormal cellular structure was accomplished using cryo-planing, followed by cryo-scanning electron microscopy. Inspection of the cryo-planed surfaces confirmed that imbibitional damage was temperature dependent, occurring at the periphery. Ageing increased the number of imbibitionally damaged, peripheral cell layers. Germination was estimated to fail when less than 70% of axis cells were alive. We conclude that ageing increases the sensitivity to imbibitional stress. Both the fast ageing and the sensitivity to imbibitional stress might explain the apparent controversies about neem seed desiccation tolerance and storage behaviour.

Keywords

Azadirachta indicacryo-planingcryo-scanning electron microscopyelectron spin resonancegerminationimbibitionmembrane integrityseed viabilitytemperature
Type
Research Article
Information
Seed Science Research , Volume 14 , Issue 2 , May 2004 , pp. 205 - 217
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2004

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Bellefontaine, R. (1992) L'avenir du neem en zone tropicale sèche est-il menacé? Le Flamboyant 21, 24–26.Google Scholar
Bellefontaine, R. and Audinet, M. (1993) La conservation des graines de neem (Azadirachta indica). pp. 268–274in Somé, L.M.;, De Kam, M. (Eds) Tree seed problems, with special reference to Africa. Leiden, Backhuys Publishers.Google Scholar
Berjak, P., Campbell, G.K., Farrant, J.M., Omondi Oloo, W. and Pammenter, N.W. (1995) Responses of seeds of Azadirachta indica (neem) to short-term storage under ambient or chilled conditions. Seed Science and Technology 23, 779–792.Google Scholar
Ellis, R.H., Hong, T.D. and Roberts, E.H. (1990) An intermediate category of seed storage behaviour? I. Coffee. Journal of Experimental Botany 41, 1167–1174.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ellis, R.H., Hong, T.D. and Roberts, E.H. (1991) Effect of storage temperature and moisture on the germination of papaya seeds. Seed Science Research 1, 69–72.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ezumah, B.S. (1986) Germination and storage of neem ( Azadirachta indica A. Juss.) seeds. Seed Science and Technology 14, 593–600.Google Scholar
Gaméné, C.S., Kraak, H.L., Van Pijlen, J.G. De and Vos, C.H.R. (1996) Storage behaviour of neem (Azadirachta indica) seeds from Burkina Faso. Seed Science and Technology 24, 441–448.Google Scholar
Golovina, E.A. and Tikhonov, A.N. (1994) The structural differences between the embryos of viable and nonviable wheat seeds as studied with EPR spectroscopy of lipid-soluble spin labels. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta 1190, 385–392.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Golovina, E.A., Tikhonov, A.N. and Hoekstra, F.A. (1997) An electron paramagnetic resonance spin-probe study of membrane permeability changes with seed aging. Plant Physiology 114, 383–389.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Golovina, E.A., Hoekstra, F.A. and Hemminga, M.A. (1998) Drying increases intracellular partitioning of amphiphilic substances into the lipid phase: Impact on membrane permeability and significance for desiccation tolerance. Plant Physiology 118, 975–986.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Gunasena, H.P.M. and Marambe, B. (1995) Storage technology for neem seeds: Sri Lanka experience. Multipurpose Tree Species Network – Sri Lanka 4, 6–7.Google Scholar
Hoekstra, F.A., Van der Wal, E.W. (1988) Initial moisture content and temperature of imbibition determine extent of imbibitional injury in pollen. Journal of Plant Physiology 133, 257–262.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hoekstra, F.A., Golovina, E.A., Van Aelst, A.C. and Hemminga, M.A. (1999) Imbibitional leakage from anhydrobiotes revisited. Plant, Cell and Environment 22, 1121–1131.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hoekstra, F.A., Golovina, E.A. and Buitink, J. (2001) Mechanisms of plant desiccation tolerance. Trends in Plant Science 6, 431–438.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Hong, T.D. and Ellis, R.H. (1998) Contrasting seed storage behaviour among different species of Meliaceae. Seed Science and Technology 26, 77–95.Google Scholar
Hong, T.D., Linington, S. and Ellis, R.H. (1996) Seed storage behaviour: a compendium. Handbooks for germbanks No. 4. Rome, International Plant Genetic Resources Institute (IPGRI).Google Scholar
ISTA (1993) International rules for seed testing; Biochemical tests for viability (the topographical tetrazolium test). Seed Science and Technology 21, suppl. 32–33.Google Scholar
Msanga, H.P. (1996) Effect of fruit ripeness stages and seed moisture content on storability of neem (Azadirachta indica) seed. pp. 201–209in Olesen, K. (Ed.) Proceedings of the IUFRO symposium, group P.204.00 seed problems. Arusha, Tanzania, Danida Forest Seed Centre (DFSC).Google Scholar
Neya, O. (1999) Etude des stades de développement des fruits de neem ( Azadirachta indica A. Juss.) Mémoire de fin d'études, Institut du Développement Rural, Bobo dioulasso Burkina Faso.Google Scholar
Nijsse, J. and Van Aelst, A.C. (1999) Cryo-planing for cryo-scanning electron microscopy. Scanning 21, 372–378.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Poulsen, K. (1996) Case study: Neem (Azadirachta indica A. Juss). pp. 14–26in Ouédraogo, A.S.;, Poulsen, K.;, Stubsgaard, F. (Eds) Improved methods for the handling and storage of intermediate/recalcitrant tropical forest tree seeds. Rome, International Plant Genetic Resources Institute (IPGRI).Google Scholar
Priestley, D.A. (1986) Seed aging: implications for seed storage and persistence in the soil. Ithaca, Comstock Publishing.Google Scholar
Roederer, Y. and Bellefontaine, R. (1989) Can neem seeds be expected to keep their germinative capacity for several years after collection? Forest Genetic Resources Information 17, 30–33.Google Scholar
Sacandé, M., Van Pijlen, J.G., De Vos, C.H.R., Hoekstra, F.A., Bino, R.J. and Groot, S.P.C. (1996) Intermediate storage behaviour of neem tree (Azadirachta indica) seeds from Burkina Faso. pp. 103–106in Ouédraogo, A.S.;, Poulsen, K.;, Stubsgaard, F. (Eds) Improved methods for the handling and storage of intermediate/recalcitrant tropical forest tree seeds. Rome, International Plant Genetic Resources Institute (IPGRI).Google Scholar
Sacandé, M., Groot, S.P.C., Hoekstra, F.A., De Castro, R.D. and Bino, R.J. (1997) Cell cycle events in developing neem (Azadirachta indica) seeds: Are they related to intermediate storage behaviour? Seed Science Research 7, 161–168.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sacandé, M., Hoekstra, F.A., Van Pijlen, J.G. and Groot, S.P.C. (1998) A multifactorial study of conditions influencing longevity of neem (Azadirachta indica) seeds. Seed Science Research 8, 473–482.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sacandé, M., Buitink, J. and Hoekstra, F.A. (2000a) A study of water relations in neem (Azadirachta indica) seed that is characterized by complex storage behaviour. Journal of Experimental Botany 51, 635–643.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Sacandé, M., Hoekstra, F.A., Van Aelst, A.C. De and Vos, C.H.R. (2000b) Is oxidative stress involved in the loss of neem (Azadirachta indica) seed viability? Seed Science Research 10, 381–392.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Senaratna, T. and McKersie, B.D. (1983) Characterization of solute efflux from dehydration injured soybean (Glycine max L. Merr) seeds. Plant Physiology 72, 911–914.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Tompsett, P.B. and Kemp, R. (1996) DABATTS: Data base of tropical tree seeds research with special reference to the Dipterocarpaceae, Meliaceae and Araucariaceae. Richmond Royal Botanic Gardens.Google Scholar
Varghese, B. and Naithani, S.C. (2002) Desiccation-induced changes in lipid peroxidation, superoxide level and antioxidant enzymes activity in neem (Azadirachta indica A. Juss.) seeds. Acta Physiologiae Plantarum 24, 79–87.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Yaméogo, J. (1997) Etudes des caractéristiques de conservation des graines de Azadirachta indica (A. Juss.) récoltées au Burkina Faso. Mémoire de fin d'études, Institut du Développement Rural, Bobo dioulasso Burkina Faso.Google Scholar
Zeng, X.Y., Chen, R.Z., Fu, J.R., Zhang, X.W. (1998) The effects of water content during storage on physiological activity of cucumber seeds. Seed Science Research 8, suppl. 1 65–68Google Scholar