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Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) seed performance as influenced by ovary and ovule position

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  22 February 2007

Hai-Chun Jing ,
Jan H.W. Bergervoet ,
Henk Jalink ,
Meindert Klooster ,
Sheng-Li Du ,
Raoul J. Bino ,
Henk W.M. Hilhorst  and
Steven P.C. Groot
Hai-Chun Jing
Affiliation:
Plant Research International, Wageningen, The Netherlands Laboratory of Plant Physiology, Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands Tianjin Academy of Agricultural Science, Tianjin, PR, China
Jan H.W. Bergervoet
Affiliation:
Plant Research International, Wageningen, The Netherlands
Henk Jalink
Affiliation:
Plant Research International, Wageningen, The Netherlands
Meindert Klooster
Affiliation:
Enza Zaden B.V., Enkhuizen, The, Netherlands
Sheng-Li Du
Affiliation:
Tianjin Academy of Agricultural Science, Tianjin, PR, China
Raoul J. Bino
Affiliation:
Plant Research International, Wageningen, The Netherlands
Henk W.M. Hilhorst
Affiliation:
Laboratory of Plant Physiology, Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands
Steven P.C. Groot*
Affiliation:
Plant Research International, Wageningen, The Netherlands
*
* Correspondence Fax: +31–317–418094 Email: [email protected]
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Abstract

The performance of cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) seeds in relation to ovary and ovule position was monitored during seed production. Seeds from three (first, seventh and tenth nodes) fruit positions and three (stylar, intermediate and peduncular) ovule positions were harvested serially during development and characterized with physiological and cellular markers. Seed moisture contents declined to 30%approx. 35 d after pollination (DAP) and remained constant thereafter. At 42 DAP the maximum dry weight was acquired in seeds except those from peduncular segments, whose dry weight accumulation lagged behind. The onset of germinability and desiccation tolerance occurred before the attainment of maximum dry weight, whereas seed performance, as shown by laboratory germination and greenhouse emergence, was largely improved after the completion of seed development. Cell cycle activities (DNA per nucleus and β-tubulin content) ceased by 28 DAP, whereas the degradation of seed chlorophyll continued during the entire maturation period. Seeds from the top fruit and from the peduncular fruit segments were delayed in reaching maximum quality compared with seeds from other positions, and this was correlated with a slower decline of chlorophyll fluorescence.

Keywords

cell cyclechlorophyll fluorescenceCucumis sativus L.ovary and ovule positionseed development and maturationseed positionseed quality
Type
Research Article
Information
Seed Science Research , Volume 10 , Issue 4 , December 2000 , pp. 435 - 445
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2000

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