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Survival of Zizania embryos in relation to water content, temperature and maturity status

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 September 2008

Christina W. Vertucci*
Affiliation:
USDA, Agricultural Research Service, National Seed Storage Laboratory, 1111 S. Mason St., Fort Collins, CO 80521
Jennifer Crane
Affiliation:
USDA, Agricultural Research Service, National Seed Storage Laboratory, 1111 S. Mason St., Fort Collins, CO 80521
Raymond A. Porter
Affiliation:
North Central Experiment Station, University of Minnesota, 1861 Highway 169 East, Grand Rapids, MN 55744–3396
Ervin A. Oelke
Affiliation:
Department of Agronomy and Plant Genetics, University of Minnesota, Borlaug Hall, 1991 Buford Circle, St. Paul, MN 55108, USA
*
*Correspondence

Abstract

The interactions between water content and temperature on freezing and desiccation damage were examined for Zizania (wild rice) embryos at several stages of maturity. The water content of excised embryos was manipulated by flash drying at 35°C or room temperature to between 2.5 g H2O/g dw and 0.05 g/g. Embryos were then exposed to temperatures ranging from 5 to −50°C. Viability following the drying and cooling treatments was assayed by leakage of electrolytes and germination in culture. Viability of embryos decreased when embryos were dried below a critical water content. The critical water content was greatest for the least mature embryos. Critical water contents were also temperature dependent and increased with decreasing temperature. Even though the critical water content varied with developmental status and temperature, the water activity corresponding to the critical water content appeared to be constant at 0.90. The most mature embryos survived temperatures as low as −50°C while the least mature embryos survived only to −18°C. These trends were predicted by ‘phase diagrams’ based on the physical properties of water in embryos at different stages of maturity (Vertucci et al., 1994a). Our results confirm the earlier prediction that long term preservation of Zizania grains is possible at −20°C and the degree of success will be related to the maturity status of the embryos.

Type
Research Papers
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1995

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