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The role of plant growth regulators in the development and germination of the desiccation-sensitive (recalcitrant) seeds of Avicennia marina

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 September 2008

Jill M. Farrant ,
Patricia Berjak ,
J. G. M. Cutting  and
N. W. Pammenter
Jill M. Farrant
Affiliation:
Plant Cell Biology Research Group, Department of Biology, University of Natal, King George V Ave., Durban, 4001South Africa
Patricia Berjak*
Affiliation:
Plant Cell Biology Research Group, Department of Biology, University of Natal, King George V Ave., Durban, 4001South Africa
J. G. M. Cutting
Affiliation:
Department of Horticultural Science, University of Natal, P.O. Box 375, Pietermaritzburg, 3200South Africa
N. W. Pammenter
Affiliation:
Plant Cell Biology Research Group, Department of Biology, University of Natal, King George V Ave., Durban, 4001South Africa
*
* Correspondence
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Abstract

The contents of the cytokinins zeatin (Z), zeatin riboside (ZR), and isopentenyladenine (IPA), the combined contents of gibberellins1 + 3 (GA), and the contents of indoleacetic acid (IAA) and abscisic acid (ABA) were measured during the development of the desiccation-sensitive seeds of Avicennia marina (Forssk.) Vierh. During the stage of histodifferentiation the amounts of these plant growth regulators (PGRs) were measured on whole fruits. During the phase of seed growth and reserve accumulation measurements were made on the embryonic axis, cotyledons and pericarp separately. Patterns in the amounts of PGRs present during histodifferentiation were similar to those reported for desiccation-tolerant seeds and it suggested that this process is under similar ‘hormonal’ control in A. marina as in orthodox seeds. Very high contents of cytokinins, particularly ZR, were present in both axes and cotyledons during reserve accumulation. This is thought to be related to the nature of the reserves accumulated (soluble sugars), rather than to the phenomenon of desiccation sensitivity. With the exception of ABA, embryonic contents of PGRs were relatively high at seed shedding, consistent with the rapid germination of this highly recalcitrant seed. ABA contents in the embryo were low during reserve accumulation, but concentrations in the pericarp increased throughout this development stage. ABA in the perticap could act to prevent precocious germination. The low concentrations of ABA in the embryo could be related to the desiccation-sensitivity of the seeds of A. marina.

Keywords

ABAAvicennia marinacytokininsdesiccation tolerance/sensitivityplant growth regulatorsrecalcitrantseed development
Type
Research Papers
Information
Seed Science Research , Volume 3 , Issue 1 , March 1993 , pp. 55 - 63
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1993

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Footnotes

3

Present address: Department of Botany, University of Cape Town, Private Bag, Rondebosch, 7700 South Africa

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