Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-gvvz8 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-23T05:25:35.405Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

X-ray studies on changes in embryo and endosperm morphology during priming and imbibition of tomato seeds

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 September 2008

Y. Liu
Affiliation:
DLO-Centre for Plant Breeding and Reproduction Research, CPRO-DLO, P.O. Box 16, 6700 AA Wageningen, Netherlands
W. J. van der Burg*
Affiliation:
DLO-Centre for Plant Breeding and Reproduction Research, CPRO-DLO, P.O. Box 16, 6700 AA Wageningen, Netherlands
J. W. Aartse
Affiliation:
DLO-Centre for Plant Breeding and Reproduction Research, CPRO-DLO, P.O. Box 16, 6700 AA Wageningen, Netherlands
R. A. van Zwol
Affiliation:
DLO-Centre for Plant Breeding and Reproduction Research, CPRO-DLO, P.O. Box 16, 6700 AA Wageningen, Netherlands
H. Jalink
Affiliation:
DLO-Centre for Plant Breeding and Reproduction Research, CPRO-DLO, P.O. Box 16, 6700 AA Wageningen, Netherlands
R. J. Bino
Affiliation:
DLO-Centre for Plant Breeding and Reproduction Research, CPRO-DLO, P.O. Box 16, 6700 AA Wageningen, Netherlands
*
* Correspondence

Abstract

Morphological changes in tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill. cv. Moneymaker) seed during osmopriming and imbibition (‘hydropriming’) were followed using X-ray photographs. Embryo, endosperm and free space areas were measured. Both osmopriming and hydropriming resulted in free space development (+ 8.1% and + 10.8% of the whole seed planar area, respectively), almost all at the cost of the endosperm area. Planar dimensions of whole seeds were relatively constant and the dimension perpendicular to the planar surface, the thickness, could account for the volume increase of primed seeds reported in the literature. In dead seeds, only a small amount of free space developed while the planar area of the seed remained the same. In the imbibing viable seeds no deterioration of endosperm could be detected until the moment of root protrusion.

Seeds which were osmoprimed directly after harvest, i.e. in the fresh state, did not showthe induction of any free space, while free space developed normally after dehydration and a second priming treatment. Apparently, a dehydration step prior to the priming treatments is required for the development of free space in osmo- or hydroprimed seed.

X-ray photographs of hydroprimed seeds showed that the radicle tip adhered tightly to theendosperm cap. This results in various forms of damage to the root tips upon redrying. Priming did not introduce cotyledon abnormalities.

Type
Research Papers
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.)

References

Alvarado, A.D. and Bradford, K.J. (1988) Priming and storage of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) seed. I. Effect of storage temperature on germination rate and viability. Seed Science and Technology 16, 601612.Google 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, 599670.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Barlow, E.W.R. and Haigh, A.M. (1987) Effect of seed priming on the emergence, growth and yield of UC 82B tomatoes in the field. Acta Horticulturae 200, 153159.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Berry, T. and Bewley, J.D. (1991) Seeds of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) which develop in a fully hydrated environment in the fruit switch from a developmental to a germinative mode without a requirement for desiccation. Planta 186, 2734.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bino, R.J., De Vries, J.N., Kraak, H.L. and Van Pijlen, J.G. (1991) Flow cytometric determination of nuclear replication in tomato seeds during priming and germination. Annals of Botany 69, 231236.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bradford, K.J. (1990) A water relations analysis of seed germination rates. Plant Physiology 94 840849CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
bocklehurst, P.A. and Dearman, J. (1983) Interactions between seed priming treatments and nine seed lots of carrot, celery and onion. I. Laboratory germination. Annals of Applied Biology 102, 577584.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Chen, P. and Sun, Z. (1991) A review of non-destructive methods for quality evaluation and sorting of agricultural products. Journal of Agricultural Engineering Research 49, 8598.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Dahal, P. and Bradford, K.J. (1990) Effects of priming and endosperm integrity on seed germination rate of tomato genotypes. II. Germination at reduced water potential. Journal of Experimental Botany 41, 14411453.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Groot, S.P.C. and Karssen, C.M. (1987) Gibberellins regulate seed germination in tomato by endosperm weakening: a study with gibberellin-deficient mutants. Planta 171, 525531.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Haigh, A.H. and Barlow, E.W.R. (1987) Germination and priming of tomato, carrot, onion and sorghum seeds in a range of osmotica. Journal of the American Society for Horticultural Science 112, 202208.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Heydecker, W., Higgins, J. and Gulliver, R.J. (1973) Accelerated germination by osmotic seed treatment. Nature 246, 4244.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
International Seed Testing Association (1985) International rules for seed testing. Seed Science and Technology 13, 322326.Google Scholar
Liptay, A. and Schopfer, P. (1983) Effect of water stress, seed coat restraint, and abscisic acid upon different germination capabilities of two tomato lines at low temperature. Plant Physiology 73, 935938.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Michel, B.E. and Kaufmann, M.R. (1973) The osmotic potential of polyethylene glycol 6000. Plant Physiology 51, 914916.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Simak, M., Bergsten, U. and Henriksson, G. (1989) Evaluation of ungerminated seeds at the end of germination test by radiograph. Seed Science and Technology 17, 361369.Google Scholar
Van der Burg, W.J., Aartse, J.W., Van Zwol, R.A., Jalink, H., Bino, R.J. (in press). Prediction of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) seedling morphology by X-ray analysis of seeds. Journal of the American Society for Horticultural Science.Google Scholar
Watkins, J.T., Cantliffe, D.J., Huber, D.J., Nell, T.A. (1985) Gibberellic acid stimulated degradation of endosperm in pepper. Journal of the American Society for Horticultural Science 110, 6165.CrossRefGoogle Scholar