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The effects of mycofloral infection on the viability and ultrastructure of wet-stored recalcitrant seeds of Avicennia marina (Forssk.) Vierh.

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  22 February 2007

Claudia Calistru ,
Michelle McLean ,
N.W. Pammenter  and
Patricia Berjak
Claudia Calistru
Affiliation:
School of Life and Environmental Sciences, George Campbell Building, University of Natal, Durban, 4041, South Africa
Michelle McLean
Affiliation:
School of Medical Sciences, University of Natal, Private Bag X7, Congella, 4013, South Africa
N.W. Pammenter
Affiliation:
School of Life and Environmental Sciences, George Campbell Building, University of Natal, Durban, 4041, South Africa
Patricia Berjak*
Affiliation:
School of Life and Environmental Sciences, George Campbell Building, University of Natal, Durban, 4041, South Africa
*
*Correspondence Fax: +27-31-260-1195 Email: [email protected]
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Abstract

Three questions are considered in the context of the possible effects of seed-associated mycoflora, typified by Fusarium moniliforme, during hydrated storage of recalcitrant propagules of the tropical species, Avicennia marina. These pertain to storage lifespan, whether seed susceptibility to fungal attack changes and the possibility of discriminating ultrastructurally between inherent deteriorative changes and those that are fungallyinduced. The data indicate unequivocally that if fungal activity is curtailed, then the hydrated storage lifespan of A. marina seeds can be considerably extended. When inoculated immediately with F. moniliforme, newly harvested seeds were extremely susceptible to the adverse effects of the fungus, while seeds that had been wet-stored for 4 d showed a considerably heightened resilience to the effects of the fungus when inoculated at that stage. The enhanced resilience, although declining, persisted in seeds stored hydrated for up to 10 d prior to inoculation, being lost after 12 d. After 14 d of hydrated storage, seeds became more susceptible to the effects of the fungus than those in the newly harvested condition. The resilience of seeds that had been stored in the short-term was associated with ultrastructural changes indicative of enhanced metabolic activity associated with the onset of germination. However, with the sustained stress imposed by wet-storage conditions, the seeds became increasingly badly affected by the fungus. While it was not possible to discriminate with certainty among deteriorative subcellular events ascribable to inherent deterioration or the effects of the fungus, it is concluded that a comparison of the timing of the onset of degeneration may well be diagnostic of its cause.

Keywords

Avicennia marinadeteriorationhydrated storagemycoflorarecalcitrant seedssurvivalultrastructure
Type
Research Article
Information
Seed Science Research , Volume 10 , Issue 3 , September 2000 , pp. 341 - 353
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2000

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