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Glutathione half-cell reduction potential and α-tocopherol as viability markers during the prolonged storage of Suaeda maritima seeds

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 December 2009

Charlotte E. Seal ,
Rosa Zammit ,
Peter Scott ,
Timothy J. Flowers  and
Ilse Kranner
Charlotte E. Seal*
Affiliation:
Seed Conservation Department, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Wakehurst Place, West SussexRH17 6TN, UK
Rosa Zammit
Affiliation:
School of Life Sciences, University of Sussex, BrightonBN1 9QG, UK
Peter Scott
Affiliation:
School of Life Sciences, University of Sussex, BrightonBN1 9QG, UK
Timothy J. Flowers
Affiliation:
School of Life Sciences, University of Sussex, BrightonBN1 9QG, UK
Ilse Kranner
Affiliation:
Seed Conservation Department, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Wakehurst Place, West SussexRH17 6TN, UK
*
*Correspondence Fax: +44 (0)1444 894110 Email: [email protected]
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Abstract

Antioxidants protect seeds from oxidative damage during storage, supporting the maintenance of seed viability and the ability to germinate post-storage. No data on antioxidants during long-term storage are available for the seeds of the halophyte Suaeda maritima. Therefore, changes in lipid-soluble antioxidants in the tocopherol family (α-, γ-, δ-tocopherol), were investigated in seeds stored for up to 16 years at 4°C at a seed moisture content of 10–13%, as well as changes in the water-soluble antioxidant glutathione (GSH) and electrolyte leakage. Seed oil content was also measured and determined to be 22%. During the first 3 years of storage, seed viability remained high and the concentration of total tocopherol was stable. Thereafter, both seed viability and α-tocopherol concentration rapidly decreased and electrolyte leakage increased, while γ-tocopherol and δ-tocopherol concentrations did not correlate with seed viability. Although the concentrations of neither GSH nor glutathione disulphide (GSSG) alone were correlated with seed viability, the glutathione half-cell reduction potential (EGSSG/2GSH) was strongly correlated with viability throughout storage and increased before the onset of viability loss. Hence, in this species EGSSG/2GSH appeared to be an ‘early warning’ system preceding viability loss while α-tocopherol concentration changed concomitantly with viability.

Keywords

ageingelectrolyte leakageglutathioneseedSuaeda maritimatocopherolviability
Type
Short Communication
Information
Seed Science Research , Volume 20 , Issue 1 , March 2010 , pp. 47 - 53
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2009

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