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Why do stored hydrated recalcitrant seeds die?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 September 2008

N.W. Pammenter ,
P. Berjak ,
J.M. Farrant ,
M.T. Smith  and
G. Ross
N.W. Pammenter*
Affiliation:
Department of Biology, University of Natal, King George V Ave, Durban, 4001South Africa
P. Berjak
Affiliation:
Department of Biology, University of Natal, King George V Ave, Durban, 4001South Africa
J.M. Farrant
Affiliation:
Department of Botany, University of Cape Town, Private Bag, Rondebosch, 7700South Africa
M.T. Smith
Affiliation:
Department of Botany, University of Natal, PO Box 375, Pietermaritzburg 3600South Africa
G. Ross
Affiliation:
Department of Chemistry and Applied Chemistry, University of Natal, King George V Ave, Durban, 4001South Africa
*
* Correspondence
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Abstract

A characteristic of recalcitrant seeds is that, if they are maintained under storage conditions that prevent water loss, they will ultimately lose viability. A current view is that hydrated recalcitrant seeds are metabolically active and undergo germination-associated changes in storage. Some of these changes, such as extensive vacuolation and increase in cell size, imply a requirement for water additional to that present in the seed on shedding. It is therefore suggested that, in storage, recalcitrant seeds are exposed to an initially mild, but increasingly severe, water stress. Deleterious events associated with a water stress of considerable duration are suggested to lead ultimately to the death of the tissue.

The damage that occurs on prolonged storage is unlikely to be associated with an inability to form glasses or prevent membrane lipid phase changes, as absolute water contents are higher than those at which these mechanisms become important. It is considered that the most likely process leading to death of water-stressed (as opposed to dehydrated) tissue is a breakdown of co-ordination of metabolism, leading to uncontrolled free-radical-mediated oxidative damage.

It is generally difficult to maintain tissue in a mild water-stressed condition for extended periods. Stored, hydrated, recalcitrant seeds may provide an ideal model system for studying the metabolic effects of prolonged mild water stress.

Keywords

desiccation tolerance/sensitivityrecalcitranceseed storageseed viabilityseed ageingwater stress
Type
Short Communication
Information
Seed Science Research , Volume 4 , Issue 2 , June 1994 , pp. 187 - 191
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1994

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