Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-2plfb Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-25T19:13:53.305Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Changes in potential seed longevity and seedling growth during seed development and maturation in marrow

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 September 2008

I. Demir  and
R. H. Ellis
I. Demir
Affiliation:
Department of Agriculture, University of Reading, Earley Gate, PO Box 236, Reading RG6 2AT, UK
R. H. Ellis*
Affiliation:
Department of Agriculture, University of Reading, Earley Gate, PO Box 236, Reading RG6 2AT, UK
*
* Correspondence
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Marrow (Cucurbita pepo L.) seed quality was monitored during seed development and maturation in 2 years. Mass maturity (end of the seed-filling phase) was attained 61–63 d and 54 d after anthesis in 1989 and 1990, respectively, when seed moisture contents had declined to 40–48% (wet basis). Considerable dormancy was encountered during standard germination tests, but was overcome by decoating the seeds. The ability of dried, decoated seeds to germinate normally in standard tests reached near maximal values shortly after mass maturity; these values were more or less maintained in seeds from subsequent harvests. Maximum seed longevity in air-dry storage was detected in seeds harvested 24 d (1989) and 26–31 d (1990) after mass maturity. Seedling dry weights 15 d after sowing were greatest for seeds harvested 2–22 d (basal fruits) or 14 d (apical fruits) after mass maturity in 1989, and were positively correlated (P<0.01) with times from seedling emergence to seedling harvest. Consequently in the subsequent year the hypothesis that these differences in seedling dry weight were solely due to differences in times from sowing to emergence was tested (and confirmed). Seedling relative growth rates did not differ with seed harvest date (P>0.25) in 1990, but absolute seedling size did (P<0.005); seeds harvested 21–31 d after mass maturity had the greatest seedling weight and also growth rate (in absolute terms) at any one time after sowing. Decline in seed quality (when assessed by both potential seed longevity and seedling growth) was not detected until the final harvest interval in 1990 (85–90 d after anthesis, 31–36 d after mass maturity). These results for marrow contradict both aspects of the general hypothesis that seed quality is maximal at the end of the seed-filling phase and that viability and vigour begin to decline thereafter.

Keywords

Cucurbita pepo L.marrowseed developmentseed qualityseed longevityseed weightseedling growth
Type
Research Papers
Information
Seed Science Research , Volume 3 , Issue 4 , December 1993 , pp. 247 - 257
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1993

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.)

Footnotes

1

Present address Ankara Universitesi, Ziraat Fakultesi, Bahce Bitkileri Bolumu, 06110, Diskapi, Ankara, Turkey

References

Adams, C A. and Rinne, R.W (1981) Seed maturation in soyabeans (Glycine max L. Merr.) is independent of seed mass and the parent plant, yet is necessary for production of viable seeds Journal of Experimental Botany 32, 615–620CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Argerich, C A and Bradford, K J (1989) The effects of priming and ageing on seed vigour in tomato Journal of Experimental Botany 40, 599–607CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Brocklehurst, P A, Dearman, J and Drew, R.L.K. (1984) Effects of osmotic priming on seed germination and seedling growth in leek Scientia Horticulturae 24, 201–210CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Demir, I and Ellis, R.H (1992a) Development of pepper (Capsicum annuum) seed quality Annals of Applied Biology 121, 385–399CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Demir, I and Ellis, R.H (1992b) Changes in seed quality during seed development and maturation in tomato Seed Science Research 2, 81–87CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ellis, R.H (1989) The effect of differences in seed quality resulting from priming or deterioration on the relative growth rate of onion seedlings Acta Horticulturae 253, 203–211CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ellis, R H (1992) Seed and seedling vigour in relation to crop growth and yield Plant Growth Regulation 11, 249–255CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ellis, R.H. and Pieta Filho, C. (1992) Seed development and cereal seed longevity Seed Science Research 2, 9–15CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ellis, R H and Roberts, E.H. (1980a) Improved equations for the prediction of seed longevity Annals of Botany 45, 13–30CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ellis, R H and Roberts, E.H. (1980b) Towards a rational basis for testing seed quality. pp 605–635 in Hebblethwaite, P.D. (Ed.) Seed production. London ButterworthsGoogle Scholar
Ellis, R.H. and Roberts, E H. (1981) The quantification of ageing and survival in orthodox seeds Seed Science and Technology 9, 373–409Google Scholar
Finch-Savage, W E. (1987) A comparison of seedling emergence and early seedling growth from dry-sown natural and fluid-drilled pregerminated onion (Allium cepa L.) seeds in the field Journal of Horticultural Science 62, 39–47CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Galau, G A., Jakobsen, K S and Hughes, D.W. (1991) The controls of late dicot embryogenesis and early germination Physiologia Plantarum 81, 280–288CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Harrington, J F (1972) Seed storage longevity pp 145–245 in Kozlowski, T T (Ed.) Seed biology. Vol. III, New York, Academic PressGoogle Scholar
Hong, T D. and Ellis, R.H. (1992) Development of desiccation tolerance in Norway maple (Acer platanoides L.) seeds during maturation drying Seed Science Research 2, 169–172CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ibrahim, A E and Roberts, E H (1983) Viability of lettuce seeds. I. Survival in hermetic storage Journal of Experimental Botany 34, 620–630CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ibrahim, A.E., Roberts, E.H. and Murdoch, A.J. (1983) Viability of lettuce seeds. II. Survival and oxygen uptake in osmotically controlled storage Journal of Experimental Botany 34, 631–640CrossRefGoogle Scholar
International Seed Testing Association (1985a) International rules for seed testing. Rules 1985. Seed Science and Technology 13, 299–355Google Scholar
International Seed Testing Association (1985b) International rules for seed testing. Annexes 1985. Seed Science and Technology 13, 356–513Google Scholar
Kameswara Rao, N, Appa Rao, S., Mengesha, M.H. and Ellis, R.H. (1991) Longevity of pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum R.Br.) seeds harvested at different stages of maturity Annals of Applied Biology 119, 97–103Google Scholar
Kermode, A.R. and Bewley, J.D. (1985) The role of maturation drying in the transition from seed development to germination. I. Acquisition of desiccation-tolerance and germinability during development of Ricinus communis L. seeds Journal of Experimental Botany 36, 1906–1915CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Pieta Filho, C and Ellis, R.H. (1991a) The development of seed quality in spring barley in four environments. I. Germination and longevity Seed Science Research 1, 163–177CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Pieta Filho, C and Elhs, R H (1991b) The development of seed quality in spring barley in four environments. II. Field emergence and seedling size Seed Science Research 1, 179–185CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Roberts, E.H and Ellis, R.H. (1989) Water and seed survival Annals of Botany 63, 39–52CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Villiers, T.A. (1973) Ageing and the longevity of seeds in field conditions. pp 265–288 in Heydecker, W (Ed.) Seed ecology. London ButterworthsGoogle Scholar
Villiers, T.A. (1974) Seed ageing: chromosome stability and extended viability of seeds stored fully imbibed Plant Physiology 53, 875–882CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Villiers, T A and Edgecumbe, D.J. (1975) On the causes of seed deterioration in dry storage Seed Science and Technology 3, 761–774Google Scholar
Welbaum, G E. and Bradford, K.J (1989) Water relations of seed development and germination in muskmelon (Cucumus melo L.). II. Development of germinability, vigour and desiccation tolerance Journal of Experimental Botany 40, 1355–1362CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Welbaum, G E and Bradford, K.J. (1990) Water relations of seed development and germination in muskmelon (Cucumus melo L.). IV. Characteristics of the perisperm during seed development Plant Physiology 92, 1038–1045CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wheeler, T R. and Ellis, R H (1991) Seed quality, cotyledon elongation at suboptimal temperatures and the yield of onion Seed Science Research 1, 57–69CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Zanakis, G N., Ellis, R H. and Summerfield, R J. (1994) Seed quality in relation to seed development and maturation in three genotypes of soyabean (Glycine max) Experimental Agriculture (in press)Google Scholar