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The loss of germination, viability, and vigor of seeds under storage conditions are the main causes of the need to multiply the seed material for leguminous crops. For crop establishment, seeds obtained in propagation fields are usually used, and the coating comes from the basic seed. In the case of leguminous species, the seeds quickly lose their viability, and in accordance with international regulations, for legumes, the number of seeds increases only in the first year of propagation. Therefore, the main objective of this study was to assess the effects of variations in the storage period, temperature and humidity on the morphophysiological and chemical traits of two pea seed varieties (Gloriosa and Kelvedon Wonder). The pea seeds were harvested at the end of June 2017, 2018 and 2019 and stored for 32, 20 and 8 months at T = 4 °C and H = 8%; T = 4 °C and H = 12%; T = 8 °C and H = 8%; T = 8 °C and H = 12%; and T = 22 °C and H = 65%. The results of the morphological, chemical, and biochemical analyses showed that the highest germination rate; hypocotyl length; radicle length; lipid content; dietetic fiber content; caloric value; and Ca, Mg, K, Na, Fe and Zn contents were detected in the Gloriosa and KW seeds stored for 8 months at 4 °C and 8% humidity. Analysis of the experimental data by statistical methods revealed that increasing the storage time had an individual significant negative influence only on the germination rate of both pea varieties and on the hypocotyl length and radicle length of the KW variety, while humidity and temperature variation had individual significant influences on the lipid content. The significant effects of humidity and temperature on the germination rate, hypocotyl length and root length of KW plants were also determined. For the remaining morphophysiological and chemical traits of pea seeds, the individual and combined effects of the factors were not statistically significant. Furthermore, the comparison of means using the Tukey test showed that storage conditions related to temperature and humidity generally used by farmers (T = 22 °C × H = 65%) did not significantly affect the majority of the nutritional properties of the pea seeds. However, maintaining pea seeds under these conditions for a longer period of time significantly affects seed germination and vigor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seed vigor is an important trait closely related to improved seed quality and long-term germplasm conservation, and it gradually decreases during storage, which has become a major concern for agriculture. However, the underlying regulatory mechanisms of seed vigor loss in terms of genes remain largely unknown in quinoa. Here, two cultivars of quinoa seeds with different storage performance, Longli No.4 (L4) and Longli No.1 (L1), were subjected to transcriptome sequencing to decipher the pathways and genes possibly related to vigor loss under artificial aging. Multispectral imaging features and germination phenotypes showed significantly less seed vigor loss in L1 than in L4, indicating L1 seeds having stronger aging resistance and storability. Totally, 272 and 75 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were, respectively, identified in L4 and L1 during aging. Transcriptomic analysis further revealed the differences in metabolic pathways, especially, flavonoid biosynthesis, TCA cycle, and terpenoid backbone biosynthesis were significantly enriched in L4 seeds, while carbon metabolism in L1 seeds, which involved key genes such as CHS , CHI , AACT , ENO1 , IDH , NADP-ME , and HAO2L. It indicated that the adverse effects on flavonoids and terpenoids induced by aging might be the significant reasons for more vigor loss in storage sensitive seeds, whereas storage tolerant seeds had a stronger ability to maintain carbon metabolism and energy supply. These findings elucidated the underlying molecular mechanism of seed vigor loss in quinoa, which also provided novel insights into improving seed vigor through modern molecular breeding strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The short cultivation cycle and high essential oil content of basil plants render them a valuable raw material source for diverse industries. However, large-scale production is hindered by the lack of specific protocols to assess seed vigor; thus, a consistent supply of high-quality seeds that meet consumer demands cannot be ensured. This study investigated the effectiveness of an automated system for seedling analysis as a tool for evaluating basil seed vigor and compared it to traditional tests. For this purpose, seeds from eight commercial lots were evaluated in two separate trials spaced six months apart using the following tests: germination, first germination count, saturated salt accelerated aging, primary root emergence, mean germination time, seedling emergence, seedling emergence speed index, and computerized seedling image analysis. The parameters provided by the system allowed us to clearly and objectively classify the basil seed lots based on vigor, and the results were strongly and significantly correlated with the findings of traditional vigor tests, particularly between the vigor index and seedling length. Digital analysis of four-day-old seedlings proved to be a fast and efficient technique for evaluating basil seed vigor and has the potential for use in automating the data collection and analysis process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Cotton seeds have poorer germination than other crops because of their high sensitivity towards insect pests and other biotic and abiotic stresses during the germination process. In the present study, inorganic bulk and nano nutrients of zinc oxide (ZnO) and titanium oxide (TiO2) nanoparticles were synthesized using the chemical reduction method and invigourated with cotton seeds. The characterization of nanoparticles was done by FESEM, HRTEM, UV/Vis analysis and FTIR. The delinted and fuzzy seeds of two American cotton varieties (H 1300 and H 1098-i) were nano-primed for 10 h with zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnONPs) @ 400 ppm and titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO2NPs) @ 100 ppm. After nanoparticle invigouration, the seeds were analyzed for various parameters at different intervals (0 months, 3 months, 6 months, 9 months and 12 months) such as germination percentage, seedling length, seedling dry weight, electrical conductivity, dehydrogenase activity, antioxidant enzyme activity. The results indicated that that different storage periods and nanopriming treatments had significant effects on all seed quality parameters except the effect of nanopriming treatments on germination percentage (excluding delinted seeds of H 1098-i). It is also revealed that the interaction effect of nanopriming treatment and storage period was non-significant on all parameters except EC. Maximum reduction in seed quality parameters was observed in control treatment and minimum was found when seeds were nanoprimed with ZnONPs @ 400 ppm. The differences in the response for both NPs can be attributed to their surface charge, and concentration used. Overall, ZnONPs and TiO2NPs could hold seed quality and vigour during the storage of cotton seeds of American varieties (H 1300 and H 1098-i). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seed vigor is an important trait closely related to improved seed quality and long-term germplasm conservation, and it gradually decreases during storage, which has become a major concern for agriculture. However, the underlying regulatory mechanisms of seed vigor loss in terms of genes remain largely unknown in quinoa. Here, two cultivars of quinoa seeds with different storage performance, Longli No.4 (L4) and Longli No.1 (L1), were subjected to transcriptome sequencing to decipher the pathways and genes possibly related to vigor loss under artificial aging. Multispectral imaging features and germination phenotypes showed significantly less seed vigor loss in L1 than in L4, indicating L1 seeds having stronger aging resistance and storability. Totally, 272 and 75 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were, respectively, identified in L4 and L1 during aging. Transcriptomic analysis further revealed the differences in metabolic pathways, especially, flavonoid biosynthesis, TCA cycle, and terpenoid backbone biosynthesis were significantly enriched in L4 seeds, while carbon metabolism in L1 seeds, which involved key genes such as CHS, CHI, AACT, ENO1, IDH, NADP-ME, and HAO2L. It indicated that the adverse effects on flavonoids and terpenoids induced by aging might be the significant reasons for more vigor loss in storage sensitive seeds, whereas storage tolerant seeds had a stronger ability to maintain carbon metabolism and energy supply. These findings elucidated the underlying molecular mechanism of seed vigor loss in quinoa, which also provided novel insights into improving seed vigor through modern molecular breeding strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Plant seeds from weeds and energy crops have the potential to survive anaerobic digestion (AD). Species able to form physically dormant, i.e., hardseeded (HS) seeds seem particularly resistant. However, it is not yet known to what extent the storage of the digestate after AD affects seed viability. Methods: Seed survival of five HS and six non-HS (NHS) species was investigated in three combinations of digestate storage (DS) and AD. First, untreated seeds were exposed to DS for maximum 12 weeks. To simulate short-circuited AD (ADshort) in biogas reactors, seeds were second subjected to lab-scale AD for 1 day before DS. Third, seeds of six species were exposed to full-scale AD (ADfull) followed by DS. Seed viability was determined using a combination of germination tests and tetrazolium staining. Viability was modeled as a function of exposure time. Results and discussion: Seed viability was affected by DS, AD and AD + DS, but responses varied greatly between species and treatments. With increasing exposure time, viability decreased after a lag-phase, remained stable or even increased. The NHS species Cichorium intybus, Daucus carota, Echium vulgare, and Verbascum thapsus were most susceptible, with seed-killing close to 100% if DS was involved. The HS species Malva sylvestris, Melilotus albus and Melilotus officinalis were most resistant. They survived all treatments and were alive after 35 days of ADfull plus 3 months of DS. The resistance potential of the HS species Abutilon theophrasti and Malva alcea and of the NHS species Chenopodium album and two tomato varieties was intermediate. None of them survived ADfull + DS, but except A. theophrasti they were viable after ADshort + DS. With few exceptions, seed-killing by AD + DS was higher than that by AD alone. In conclusion, DS and AD + DS have the potential to reduce seed viability, but do not completely inactivate all species. Therefore, digestate can be contaminated with viable seeds and may lead to the spread of weeds, especially after a short-circuited AD. In order to ensure the sustainable use of digestates in terms of weeds, we recommend to investigate the factors contributing to seed inactivation and the quantity of seed introduced to AD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this research, the production of Lavash bread enriched with pumpkin seed powder and its physicochemical properties were investigated. Independent variables include different concentrations of pumpkin seed powder (2.5, 5, 7.5, and 10 grams per kilogram of flour) and storage time during one week according to the statistical design table, and dependent variables include pH, acidity, water absorption, percentage Protein, ash, fat, sugar, zeleny, gluten and gluten index were. All experiments were done in three replicates (n=3) with completely random sampling. Data analysis was done using Design Expert13 software. The results of the tests showed that in this research all the answers were significant (p<0.05). An increase in pH from 6.26 to 6.29 and a decrease in flour acidity from 2.6 to 1.6 were observed. In addition, the increase in the use of the enrichment agent caused changes in water absorption from 127.1 to 127.8 percent, protein from 1.371 to 1.377, ash from 1.031 to 1.041, fat from 1.029 to 026. 1, sugar from 0.24 to 0.31, Zeleny index from 89.2 to 89, wet gluten from 29.1 to 32.7, gluten index from 81 to 83 in flour (p<0.05) . Also, the mutual effects of the amount of pumpkin seed powder and storage time on the amount of protein, fat and sugar of bread showed a significant difference, which caused an increase in fat and protein and a decrease in sugar. The overall results showed that the use of pumpkin seed powder significantly improved most of the physical and chemical quality parameters of enriched Lavash flour and bread. It was also found that the use of pumpkin seed powder as a relatively cheap and efficient source can be used to produce quality bread with nutritional value and desirable physicochemical properties. The result, according to the findings, it can be generally stated that the use of 3.5 to 5.5 grams of pumpkin powder to enrich each kilogram of flour resulted in favorable physicochemical properties in bread. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seed storage life in tropical areas is shortened by high humidity and temperature and the general inaccessibility to dehumidifying and refrigeration systems, resulting in rapid decreases in seed viability in storage as well as a high incidence of fungal and insect infestations. The dry chain, based on rapid and deep drying of seeds after harvest followed by packaging in moisture-proof containers, has been proposed as an effective method to maintain seed quality during medium-term storage in humid climates, even without refrigeration. In addition, seed drying with zeolite drying beads can be more effective and economical than sun or heated-air drying under these warm, humid conditions. In this paper, we review recent published literature regarding the dry chain, considering different crop species, storage environments and seed traits. In addition, we provide new original data on the application of dry chain methods and their implementation at larger scales in South Asia, Latin America and Pacific Island Countries. The clear conclusion is that the combination of reusable drying beads and waterproof storage containers enables the implementation of the dry chain in tropical climates, enhancing seed viability and quality in storage of many crop species. The dry chain approach can therefore significantly enhance seed security for farmers in many tropical countries. Finally, we propose actions and strategies that could guide further scaling-up implementation of this technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Cotton seeds have poorer germination than other crops because of their high sensitivity towards insect pests and other biotic and abiotic stresses during the germination process. In the present study, inorganic bulk and nano nutrients of zinc oxide (ZnO) and titanium oxide (TiO2) nanoparticles were synthesized using the chemical reduction method and invigourated with cotton seeds. The characterization of nanoparticles was done by FESEM, HRTEM, UV/Vis analysis and FTIR. The delinted and fuzzy seeds of two American cotton varieties (H 1300 and H 1098-i) were nano-primed for 10 h with zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnONPs) @ 400 ppm and titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO2NPs) @ 100 ppm. After nanoparticle invigouration, the seeds were analyzed for various parameters at different intervals (0 months, 3 months, 6 months, 9 months and 12 months) such as germination percentage, seedling length, seedling dry weight, electrical conductivity, dehydrogenase activity, antioxidant enzyme activity. The results indicated that that different storage periods and nanopriming treatments had significant effects on all seed quality parameters except the effect of nanopriming treatments on germination percentage (excluding delinted seeds of H 1098-i). It is also revealed that the interaction effect of nanopriming treatment and storage period was non-significant on all parameters except EC. Maximum reduction in seed quality parameters was observed in control treatment and minimum was found when seeds were nanoprimed with ZnONPs @ 400 ppm. The differences in the response for both NPs can be attributed to their surface charge, and concentration used. Overall, ZnONPs and TiO2NPs could hold seed quality and vigour during the storage of cotton seeds of American varieties (H 1300 and H 1098-i).

Starch and seed storage protein (SSP) composition profoundly impact wheat grain yield and quality. To unveil regulatory mechanisms governing their biosynthesis, transcriptome, and epigenome profiling is conducted across key endosperm developmental stages, revealing that chromatin accessibility, H3K27ac, and H3K27me3 collectively regulate SSP and starch genes with varying impact. Population transcriptome and phenotype analyses highlight accessible promoter regions' crucial role as a genetic variation resource, influencing grain yield and quality in a core collection of wheat accessions. Integration of time‐serial RNA‐seq and ATAC‐seq enables the construction of a hierarchical transcriptional regulatory network governing starch and SSP biosynthesis, identifying 42 high‐confidence novel candidates. These candidates exhibit overlap with genetic regions associated with grain size and quality traits, and their functional significance is validated through expression‐phenotype association analysis among wheat accessions and loss‐of‐function mutants. Functional analysis of wheat abscisic acid insensitive 3‐A1 (TaABI3‐A1) with genome editing knock‐out lines demonstrates its role in promoting SSP accumulation while repressing starch biosynthesis through transcriptional regulation. Excellent TaABI3‐A1Hap1 with enhanced grain weight is selected during the breeding process in China, linked to altered expression levels. This study unveils key regulators, advancing understanding of SSP and starch biosynthesis regulation and contributing to breeding enhancement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Canopy storage of seed (serotiny) is an important persistence strategy in fire‐prone environments. Serotinous populations can be threatened when fire intervals are shorter than the time needed to accumulate seed, or when longer than plant lifespans.Understanding how fire regimes influence canopy seedbanks requires study of the timing of plant maturity, seed output and germination traits. Research that spans plant functional types, such as resprouters or obligate seeders, helps to understand the mechanisms through which fire has influence.Using field data collected at 57 sites in a Mediterranean shrubland of southeastern Australia, we modelled how time since fire and mean fire interval influenced infructescence (hereby cone) production. Additionally, seed output, viability and germination speed were assessed in the laboratory.Reproductively mature resprouters were first observed 2 to 4 years post‐fire in the field, and reproductively mature obligate seeders 6 years post‐fire, depending on the species. Reproductively mature plants were not observed at short mean fire intervals: until 3 and 9 years for resprouters and nine and 18 years for obligate seeders, again, varying by species. When resprouter species reached maturity, we observed a decline in cone production as time since fire increased. This decline was not observed for obligate seeder species.Fire influenced the number of viable seeds produced within cones for one resprouter species, Allocasuarina paludosa, but we did not detect a relationship for other species.Germination speed was faster for species that produce few seeds per cone, and slower for species that produce many seeds, indicating a trade‐off between fire‐related seed traits. For example, Hakea rostrata, which holds two seeds per cone, germinated mostly within the first few weeks, while Callitris rhomboidea, which holds many seeds per cone, germinated asynchronously over 9 months.Short intervals between fires reduce canopy seed production for the serotinous species studied. Obligate seeders were more sensitive to frequent fire than resprouters. In the context of expected increases in wildfire frequency and droughts in Mediterranean ecosystems, our findings suggest that serotinous species' reproduction and recruitment will be differentially impacted depending on a suite of functional traits. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the impact of storage time on the prooxidant-antioxidant balance (PAB) in seed tissues of 12 agricultural plant species, including both monocots and dicots. We measured superoxide generation, TBA-active products, and the activity of enzymatic antioxidants (superoxide dismutase, catalase, and cytochrome oxidase) and non-enzymatic antioxidants (ascorbic acid and glutathione). Biochemical parameters were recorded monthly for one year. Our results demonstrated that the activity of enzymatic antioxidants and the content of non-enzymatic antioxidants decreased with increased seed storage time. Conversely, both the generation of reactive oxygen species and the level of free radical damage to biomolecules increased. The percentage change in free radical peroxidation and antioxidant protection depended on the initial PAB status of the seeds. Monocots exhibited a greater overall increase in prooxidant activity during storage, while dicots showed a less pronounced decrease in antioxidant content. A notable surge in prooxidant activity and a corresponding decline in antioxidant activity occurred at 9-10 months of storage for dicots and 6-7 months for monocots. These findings highlight the importance of considering storage time and species-specific differences to optimize planting strategies and seed care, as well as the use of appropriate plant foods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A high level of genetic purity, preservation and maintenance of genetic uniformity of parental lines and hybrids are necessary conditions in heterotic breeding of a sunflower. The main method for determining the genetic purity of sunflower genotypes is the method of field soil control with the assessment of plants based on morphological traits. The purpose of the experiment was to study the possibility of effectively using the method of electrophoresis of storage proteins of seeds in determining the typicalness of parental lines and the hybridity of sunflower hybrids. 13 samples of maternal sterile lines, 26 samples of hybrids were analyzed using the methods of soil control and the method of analyzing the spectra of seed storage proteins. Research results have proven the highly effective method of electrophoresis of storage proteins in determining the genetic purity of seed of lines and hybrids. The concurrence between the results of the two methods in determining genetic purity was 84.4% for maternal sterile lines, 69.2% for hybrids. The method of analysis allelic variants of helianthinin increased the reliability of the results obtained in determining the level of genetic purity of lines and hybrids by 7.7%. The presence of atypical plants in sunflower crops on the trait of “high” and “low” leads to unreliable, increased indicators of the level of genetic purity by 23.1% with the method of analysis of the spectra of storage proteins of sunflower seeds. The electrophoresis method, based on the analysis of the spectra of storage proteins, can be used as a rapid method in determining the genetic purity of sunflower genotypes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Backgrounds: Sinojackia xylocarpa Hu is a deciduous tree in the Styracaceae family, and it is classified as a Class II endangered plant in China. Seed storage technology is an effective means of conserving germplasm resources, but the effects of different storage conditions on the quality and associated metabolism of S. xylocarpa seeds remain unclear. This study analyzed the physiological and metabolic characteristics of S. xylocarpa seeds under four storage conditions. Results: Our findings demonstrate that reducing seed moisture content and storage temperature effectively prolongs storage life. Seeds stored under that condition exhibited higher internal nutrient levels, lower endogenous abscisic acid (ABA) hormone levels, and elevated gibberellic acid (GA3) levels. Additionally, 335 metabolites were identified under four different storage conditions. The analysis indicates that S. xylocarpa seeds extend seed longevity and maintain cellular structural stability mainly by regulating the changes in metabolites related to lipid, amino acid, carbohydrate, and carotenoid metabolic pathways under the storage conditions of a low temperature and low seed moisture. Conclusions: These findings provide new insights at the physiological and metabolic levels into how these storage conditions extend seed longevity while also offering effective storage strategies for preserving the germplasm resources of S. xylocarpa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Seeds of woody plant species, such as those in the Acer genus like Norway maple (Acer platanoides L.) and sycamore (Acer pseudoplatanus L.), exhibit unique physiological traits and responses to environmental stress. Thioredoxins (Trxs) play a central role in the redox regulation of cells, interacting with other redox-active proteins such as peroxiredoxins (Prxs), and contributing to plant growth, development, and responses to biotic and abiotic stresses. However, there is limited understanding of potential variations in this system between seeds categorized as recalcitrant and orthodox, which could provide insights into adaptive strategies. Methods: Using proteomic analysis and DDA methods we investigated the Trx-h1 target proteins in seed axes. We complemented the results of the proteomic analysis with gene expression analysis of the Trx-h1, 1-Cys-Prx, and TrxR NTRA genes in the embryonic axes of maturing, mature, and stored seeds from two Acer species. Results and discussion: The expression of Trx-h1 and TrxR NTRA throughout seed maturation in both species was low. The expression of 1-Cys-Prx remained relatively stable throughout seed maturation. In stored seeds, the expression levels were minimal, with slightly higher levels in sycamore seeds, which may confirm that recalcitrant seeds remain metabolically active during storage. A library of 289 proteins interacting with Trx-h1 was constructed, comprising 68 from Norway maple and 221 from sycamore, with distinct profiles in each seed category. Recalcitrant seed axes displayed a wide array of metabolic, stress response, and signaling proteins, suggesting sustained metabolic activity during storage and the need to address oxidative stress. Conversely, the orthodox seed axes presented a protein profile, reflecting efficient metabolic shutdown, which contributes to their extended viability. The results of the study provide new insights into seed viability and storage longevity mechanisms. They enhance the understanding of seed biology and lay the foundation for further evolutionary research on seeds of different categories. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Chickpea is an important pulse crop. The area, production and productivity of Kabuli chickpea are very low as compared to Desi type chickpea. While, worldwide chickpea production is predominated by Desi type (80%) compared to Kabuli type (20%). One of constraints limiting the Kabuli chickpea seed production is the fast seed deterioration process as, they possesses thin and fragile seed coat which makes it more susceptible to infestation of pulse beetle and storage fungi. In addition, the day by day increase in usage of chemical pesticides and increase in health awareness among the people and demand towards organic based products necessitate a new alternative method of seed storage than the routinely used storage methods. Modified atmosphere storage is an alternative method to avoid chemical fumigants, which are said to cause residual effect on seed material and development of resistance by storage pest against insecticides. Methods: The present investigation on modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) was carried out at the Department of Processing and Food Engineering, College of Agricultural Engineering, University of Agricultural Sciences, Raichur during March 2017. Further, its storage and seed quality assessment were conducted at Seed Quality and Research Laboratory of National Seed Project (Crops), Seed Unit, University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad during March 2017 to May 2018. Result: The results revealed that the Kabuli chickpea seeds stored in the gaseous atmosphere with the combination of CO2 (80%) +N2 (20%) + O2 (0%) [C2] have maintained the maximum germination (92%) followed by Vaccum Packaging [C2] by using 700 gauge polyethylene bag for 14 months under ambient conditions above the Indian Minimum Seed Certification Standards. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rice cultivation is one of the most important agro-economic activities in many countries, and the correct seed storage between production cycles is essential for crop success. In Guinea-Bissau, mangrove swamp rice (MSR) is a highly productive rice cropping system, thus providing surplus for sale. Depending on storage conditions, rice grains may present moisture, insects, or the development of fungi that might affect crop productivity. Considering different rice varieties and storage conditions, samples were collected from 30 farmers within 13 villages across the main MSR-producing regions. Stored rice was used to isolate and identify seed-borne fungi through DNA barcoding, to test aflatoxin content, and to evaluate seed germination rates. Polyethylene bags (the container), raised wooden platforms, and storage rooms (the structures) are the most used facilities. Hermetic containers were recorded mainly in Oio. A total fungal richness of 18 genera was found, and 16 different species were identified. The most represented fungal genera are Aspergillus, Curvularia, and Bipolaris. Despite the presence of aflatoxin-producing fungal samples, they did not present concerning levels for human consumption, and the germination rate was not affected regardless of storage structures. These results provide a baseline on fungi occurrence in stored MSR seeds from traditional facilities in Guinea-Bissau. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pumpkin is an economically important crop all over the world. Approximately, 18%–21% of pumpkins, consisting of peels and seeds by‐products, are wasted during processing. In addition, the seeds are rich in protein and have the potency of bioactive peptide production. This study aims to recognize the proteins and investigate the potential bioactive peptides from pumpkin (Cucurbita maxima) seeds. Pumpkin seeds were subjected to hot air drying (HAD) at 55°C for 12 h and freeze‐drying (FD) at −80°C for 54 h before they were powdered, analyzed, and precipitated by isoelectric point to obtain pumpkin seed protein isolates (PSPI). PSPI comprised 11S globulin subunit beta, 2S seed storage albumin, and chaperonin CPN60‐1. To generate hydrolysate peptides, PSPI was hydrolyzed using papain, pepsin, and bromelain. FD group pepsin hydrolysates had the highest peptide content of 420.83 mg/g. ACE inhibition and DPP‐IV inhibition activity were analyzed for each enzymatic hydrolysate. The pepsin hydrolyzed sample exhibited the highest ACE inhibition of 70.26%, and the papain hydrolyzed sample exhibited the highest DPP‐IV inhibition of 30.51%. The simulated gastrointestinal digestion (SGID) conducted by pepsin and pancreatin increased ACE inhibitory activity from 76.93% to 78.34%, and DPP‐IV inhibited activity increased from 58.62% to 77.13%. Pepsin and papain hydrolysates were fractionated using ultrafiltration to measure ACE and DPP‐IV inhibition activity. The highest free radical scavenging abilities were exhibited by the <1 kDa hydrolysate fractions with 78.34% ACE inhibitory activities and 79.55% DPP‐IV inhibitory activities. This research revealed that pumpkin seeds had the potency to produce bioactive peptides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dianthus cruentus Griseb. (Caryophyllaceae) is an herbaceous perennial native to Greece with a strong ornamental potential when used as a pollinator-friendly component of xeric gardens and green roofs, where it is valued for its tolerance of poor, dry soils, and its showy colorful inflorescences. Aiming to develop an efficient mass propagation protocol appropriate for the introduction of the species as a novel floricultural crop, the in vitro seed and clonal propagation of a Greek native xeric ecotype were investigated in this paper for the first time. A total of 90–100% of the seeds, after being stored in the dark at room temperature for 12 months, germinated when incubated at 10 to 25 °C after their surface sterilization and transfer in vitro. Sixty-day-old seedlings grown in vitro were then used as a source of nodal explants for the initial establishment of micropropagation cultures, more efficiently on MS medium with 0.1 mg L−1 6-benzylaminopurine (BA). In the multiplication stage, either normal or hyperhydric micro-shoots were used as explant sources, assessing the possibility of incorporating usually discarded material in the propagation procedure. Different solid media were tested, with the highest multiplication indices (5.1) recorded in an MS medium containing 0.1 mg L−1 BA and 0.05 mg L−1 NAA, regardless of explants' hyperhydricity, while an MS medium containing 0.1 mg L−1 BA and 12 g L−1 agar proved optimal for the effective reversal of hyperhydric explants (MI: 5.2). Despite higher hyperhydricity and reaction rates being observed when hyperhydric explants were used, modifications in the multiplication medium proved to be highly effective in controlling hyperhydricity, with the highest number of normal shoots (2.4–2.6) produced in BA-containing media. Micro-shoots rooted readily in ½ MS medium (60–100%), with rooting rates and quality positively affected by the presence of 0.5 mg L−1 IBA in the rooting medium and the absence of cytokinins in the multiplication one. Rooted micro-shoots were successfully acclimatized ex vitro at high rates (65–100%), their origin influencing their acclimatization and morphology. Thus, the concurrent use of normal and hyperhydric shoots in the proposed micropropagation protocol is proven to be both feasible and desirable, as it is able to significantly increase efficiency and facilitate the sustainable exploitation and dissemination of D. cruentus as a promising multivalent horticultural crop. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sprout is a popular homemade salad, but frequently contaminated with pathogens, which requires efficient disinfection measure. The present work demonstrated an effective method to control microorganisms on seeds before sprout production using electrochemical activated solution (EAS). The seeds were treated with EAS containing different concentrations of chlorine to assess the efficacy of disinfection, germination, and sprout growth. The long-term effect of the treatment with EAS was studied on seeds stored for 4, 8, or 12 w at 8 or 28°C. The results showed that EAS treatment reduced coliform and Erwinia carotovora without affecting seed germination or sprout growth. High sterilisation efficacy was achieved at higher available chlorine concentration (ACC) and/or longer treatment. The highest disinfection effect was observed at the ACC of 29.0 ppm and treatment at 15 min. Sterilisation was maintained for 12 w at 8°C or 4 – 8 w at 28°C when the seeds were treated with EAS having 29.0 ppm ACC in 15 min. The present work provided an effective way to control bacteria on seeds, and prevent the transmission of pathogens from seeds to later sprout products, thus improving their safety and hygiene. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seed quality declines during storage depending on relative humidity, temperature, and oxygen concentration. Low-oxygen atmospheres significantly enhanced the germination and vigor of seeds during storage in laboratory-scale experiments. Low-oxygen atmospheres include self-modified atmospheres, where gas composition changes due to microbial respiration and oxidative processes, as well as modified atmospheres, where gas composition is initially altered from an external source without further adjustments. However, the potential of low-oxygen atmospheres to preserve the quality of maize (Zea mays) seeds in bags of 25–50 kg capacity, like those employed by seed companies and small-scale farmers, remains underexplored, hindering a broader adoption of this storage technology. Our study assessed the feasibility of applying low-oxygen atmospheres for seed storage on the pilot scale, i.e., hermetic containers of 25 kg capacity made of polyethylene and polyamide, under controlled conditions. We first evaluated the ability of the hermetic containers to maintain low oxygen levels over time. Then, we compared the germination and vigor of seeds stored in the hermetic containers under modified and self-modified atmospheres with those stored in traditional poly-paper bags under normal atmospheric conditions. The seeds had 14% moisture content (wet basis) and were stored at 25 °C and 10 °C. Maintaining low oxygen levels in polyethylene–polyamide bags was feasible. Moreover, at 25 °C, modified and self-modified atmospheres maintained higher germination values (95.8% and 94.4%, respectively) compared to traditional storage (68.3%), and both were as effective as refrigeration (97.6%). However, refrigeration was better for preserving seed vigor, with radicle emergence values of 85.2% in self-modified atmospheres and 78.9% in modified atmospheres, compared to 65.0% and 61.2%, respectively, at 25 °C. In conclusion, the advantages of modified atmospheres observed in laboratory-scale studies are achievable on a larger scale with a proper container design, advancing the prospects for the practical application of this technology for the seed industry and small farmers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of pre-sowing electromagnetic treatments of seeds from different crops are the subject of intensive research by many authors such as alternative technologies for ecologically clean agriculture. The aim of this research was to study the effect of pre-sowing electromagnetic treatment on the accumulation of fresh mass of root and sprout of seeds, stored for one and two years before treatment, of five Bulgarian cotton varieties -- Chirpan-539, Trakia, Helius, Natalia and Nelina. The seeds of each variety were treated in five electromagnetic fields, with different intensity and duration of exposure. It was found that the selected values of controllable factors had stimulating effect on the mass of sprout, root and total mass of sprout and root of treated seeds. The sprout mass increased by 8.9-13.8%, the root mass -- by 6.1-11.3%. The sprout and root total mass increased by 7.8-12.7% and the best treatment options were 1 [U = (8...5) kV, τ = (15...35) s] and 4 [U = (6...3) kV, τ = (5...25) s]. The two-year period of storage, as a separate factor, determined significantly lower mass of sprout by 8.5%, of root by 10.1% and total mass of sprout and root by 8.9%, compared to the one-year period of storage. Compared to the corresponding untreated control of each storage period, the electromagnetic impact had a stimulating effect in both storage periods: for the mass of sprout -- by 11.4-16.8% in options 1 and 5.3-10.4% in options 1 and 4, respectively for one- and two-year storage of seeds; for the root mass -- by 5.1-16.1% in options 1 and 4 and by 2.7-8.1% in option 4; for the total mass of sprout and root -- by 10.8-16.5% in option 1 and 4.5-9.1% in option 4. Variants with significant higher values than the control variant -- Chirpan-539 variety, untreated seeds stored for one year, were reported only for seeds stored for one year. Higher sprout mass was found for Chirpan-539 variety, in option 5 [U = (4...) kV, τ = (5...25)s], while higher root mass and sprout and root total mass were found for Nelina variety, in options 1 [U = (8...5) kV, τ = (15...5)s], 2 [U = (6...3)kV, τ = (15...35)s] and 3 [U = (8...5) kV, τ = (5...25)s]. Compared to the corresponding of each variety and storage period untreated control stimulating effect of pre-sowing electromagnetic treatment was observed for all varieties, in both storage periods, except Nelina variety, in this variety positive results were only in one-year storage of seeds. Helius variety reacted most strongly positively to the pre-sowing electromagnetic treatment for the mass of sprout and the total mass of sprout and root of the seeds stored for one year. The total mass of sprout and root increased the most in options 1, 2 and 4 -- by 38.6-48.5% compared to the relevant control. Variety Nelina reacted most positively for the mass of root during the one-year storage of seeds, in options 1, 2 and 3. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to low starch content and poor seed vigor, sweet corn seeds exhibit poor storage stability. Therefore, understanding the physiological and biochemical changes in seeds after natural aging is crucial for assessing seed status and extending the storage period. This study aims to investigate the physiological, biochemical, and ultrastructural changes in aged seeds of different genotypes. An eight-month natural aging experiment was conducted on 10 sweet corn inbred lines. The results showed an obvious decrease in germination potential, germination ratio, germination index, and vigor index after natural aging, and two inbred lines with stronger tolerance to natural aging were identified from the 10 inbred lines studied. In aged seeds, levels of gibberellin, abscisic acid, total protein, total starch, as well as activities of antioxidant enzymes, lipoxygenase, and amylase, and malondialdehyde (MDA) content, exhibited significant differences among inbred lines. Correlation analysis revealed a positive correlation among four seed vigor indices and a highly negative correlation between seed vigor indices and MDA content. Germination ratio, germination index, and vigor index displayed a highly negative correlation with lipoxygenase activity. Furthermore, starch granule decomposition was observed in the endosperm of low-vigor inbred lines, contrary to amylase activity. Thus, this study indicates variations in seed vigor, biochemical indicators, and the ultrastructure of aged sweet corn seeds among different genotypes. Both lower lipoxygenase activity and reduced MDA accumulation contribute to seed resistance to aging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Syzygium cumini seeds are recalcitrant, thus cannot tolerate drying and storage. The aim of this study was to evaluate the longevity of these seeds under different storage conditions and to assess the effect of osmotic treatment with polyethylene glycol (PEG) and abscisic acid (ABA) on reducing sensitivity to desiccation and increasing the longevity of these seeds. Seeds were desiccated until they reached preestablished moisture contents (40, 35, 30, 25 and 15%) and allowed to germinate. With 25% moisture content, germination was approximately 40%, and, with 15%, germination did not occur anymore. In the treatments aimed at reducing sensitivity to desiccation, seeds were incubated for 15 days in a solution of PEG (-1.88 MPa) or PEG (-1.88 MPa) + ABA (10-4 M), desiccated until they reached the preestablished moisture contents mentioned above, and then allowed to germinate. Five conditions were tested for storage: plastic bag in a cold room (8-10 °C; 45% RH); plastic bag in an air-conditioned room (20 °C; 60% RH); paper bag at room temperature; PEG solution at -1.88 MPa at 20 °C; and PEG solution at -1.88 MPa + ABA 10-4 M at 20 °C. Germination tests were carried out after 15, 30 and 90 days of storage. The best storage condition was in a plastic bag in an air-conditioned room, which was capable to keep a germinate rate close to 100% for up to 90 days. Under the conditions tested, osmotic treatment with or without ABA did not reduce sensitivity to desiccation and did not prolong seed longevity.

Abstract Background Plants differ more than threefold in seed oil contents (SOCs). Soybean (Glycine max), cotton (Gossypium hirsutum), rapeseed (Brassica napus), and sesame (Sesamum indicum) are four important oil crops with markedly different SOCs and fatty acid compositions. Results Compared to grain crops like maize and rice, expanded acyl-lipid metabolism genes and relatively higher expression levels of genes involved in seed oil synthesis (SOS) in the oil crops contributed to the oil accumulation in seeds. Here, we conducted comparative transcriptomics on oil crops with two different SOC materials. In common, DIHYDROLIPOAMIDE DEHYDROGENASE, STEAROYL-ACYL CARRIER PROTEIN DESATURASE, PHOSPHOLIPID:DIACYLGLYCEROL ACYLTRANSFERASE, and oil-body protein genes were both differentially expressed between the high- and low-oil materials of each crop. By comparing functional components of SOS networks, we found that the strong correlations between genes in “glycolysis/gluconeogenesis” and “fatty acid synthesis” were conserved in both grain and oil crops, with PYRUVATE KINASE being the common factor affecting starch and lipid accumulation. Network alignment also found a conserved clique among oil crops affecting seed oil accumulation, which has been validated in Arabidopsis. Differently, secondary and protein metabolism affected oil synthesis to different degrees in different crops, and high SOC was due to less competition of the same precursors. The comparison of Arabidopsis mutants and wild type showed that CINNAMYL ALCOHOL DEHYDROGENASE 9, the conserved regulator we identified, was a factor resulting in different relative contents of lignins to oil in seeds. The interconnection of lipids and proteins was common but in different ways among crops, which partly led to differential oil production. Conclusions This study goes beyond the observations made in studies of individual species to provide new insights into which genes and networks may be fundamental to seed oil accumulation from a multispecies perspective.

Summary: Development of protein‐enriched chickpea varieties necessitates an understanding of specific genes and key regulatory circuits that govern the synthesis of seed storage proteins (SSPs).Here, we demonstrated the novel involvement of Ca‐miR164e‐CaNAC100 in regulating SSP synthesis in chickpea.Ca‐miRNA164e was significantly decreased during seed maturation, especially in high‐protein accessions. The miRNA was found to directly target the transactivation conferring C‐terminal region of a nuclear‐localized transcription factor, CaNAC100 as revealed using RNA ligase‐mediated‐rapid amplification of cDNA ends and target mimic assays. The functional role of CaNAC100 was demonstrated through seed‐specific overexpression (NACOE) resulting in significantly augmented seed protein content (SPC) consequential to increased SSP transcription. Further, NACOE lines displayed conspicuously enhanced seed weight but reduced numbers and yield. Conversely, a downregulation of CaNAC100 and SSP transcripts was evident in seed‐specific overexpression lines of Ca‐miR164e that culminated in significantly lowered SPC. CaNAC100 was additionally demonstrated to transactivate the SSP‐encoding genes by directly binding to their promoters as demonstrated using electrophoretic mobility shift and dual‐luciferase reporter assays.Taken together, our study for the first time established a distinct role of CaNAC100 in positively influencing SSP synthesis and its critical regulation by CamiR164e, thereby serving as an understanding that can be utilized for developing SPC‐rich chickpea varieties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rice prolamins are categorized into three groups by molecular size (10, 13, or 16 kDa), while the 13 kDa prolamins are assigned to four subgroups (Pro13a-I, Pro13a-II, Pro13b-I, and Pro13b-II) based on cysteine residue content. Since lowering prolamin content in rice is essential to minimize indigestion and allergy risks, we generated four knockout lines using CRISPR-Cas9, which selectively reduced the expression of a specific subgroup of the 13 kDa prolamins. These four mutant rice lines also showed the compensatory expression of glutelins and non-targeted prolamins and were accompanied by low grain weight, altered starch content, and atypically-shaped starch granules and protein bodies. Transcriptome analysis identified 746 differentially expressed genes associated with 13 kDa prolamins during development. Correlation analysis revealed negative associations between genes in Pro13a-I and those in Pro13a-II and Pro13b-I/II subgroups. Furthermore, alterations in the transcription levels of 9 ER stress and 17 transcription factor genes were also observed in mutant rice lines with suppressed expression of 13 kDa prolamin. Our results provide profound insight into the functional role of 13 kDa rice prolamins in the regulatory mechanisms underlying rice seed development, suggesting their promising potential application to improve nutritional and immunological value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fruits and seeds morphological traits and seed storage behaviour of Anaxagorea luzonensis are important for seed and plant conservation. Fruits and seeds characterization using a digital microscope and morphometry method. Seed storage behaviour was determined using 100-seed test method. The findings revealed that the colour of A. luzonensis fruit did not change and A. luzonensis seed was glossy, brittle, black in colour, 9.05 x 5.89 x 2.93 mm sized and oval. The seeds are desiccation-tolerant and are categorized as orthodox seeds. These results can become the findings of A. luzonensis seed storage behaviour, because information about it never existed before. Knowing the seed storage behaviour and seed morphology of A. luzonensis is essential so that the recommendation of conservation efforts at PBG in the future are covering the fruit, modifying the environment, breaking dormant seeds, vegetative propagation, and preserving seeds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soybean, a major source of oil and protein, has seen an annual increase in consumption when used in soybean-derived products and the broadening of its cultivation range. The demand for soybean necessitates a better understanding of the regulatory networks driving storage protein accumulation and oil biosynthesis to broaden its positive impact on human health. In this study, we selected a chromosome segment substitution line (CSSL) with high protein and low oil contents to investigate the underlying effect of donor introgression on seed storage through multi-omics analysis. In total, 1479 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), 82 differentially expressed proteins (DEPs), and 34 differentially expressed metabolites (DEMs) were identified in the CSSL compared to the recurrent parent. Based on Gene Ontology (GO) term analysis and the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes enrichment (KEGG), integrated analysis indicated that 31 DEGs, 24 DEPs, and 13 DEMs were related to seed storage functionality. Integrated analysis further showed a significant decrease in the contents of the seed storage lipids LysoPG 16:0 and LysoPC 18:4 as well as an increase in the contents of organic acids such as L-malic acid. Taken together, these results offer new insights into the molecular mechanisms of seed storage and provide guidance for the molecular breeding of new favorable soybean varieties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Soil Sciences & Agricultural Engineering is the property of Egyptian National Agricultural Library (ENAL) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This study predicted habitat distribution changes according to the current distribu seedtion 14 and future climate using the MaxEnt model for endangered Abies nephrolepis Maxim., which is vulnerable to 15 climate change and is a least-concerned species. This study aimed to predict the current distribution and future habitat distribution changes of the endangered A. nephrolepis under climate change using the MaxEnt model. The purpose was to predict the future habitat of the declining A. nephrolepis, to identify the necessity of in situ conservation, and to devise appropriate ex situ seed storage methods. The study utilized climate data from 513 GPS coordinates of A. nephrolepis habitats in South Korea to predict the changes in habitat distribution using the MaxEnt model. The seeds used in the seed experiment were collected from Pyeongchang-gun, Gangwon-do, Republic of Korea in 2019. After confirming an initial seed filling, germination tests were performed under constant temperatures of 15, 20, and 25 °C and alternating day/night temperatures of 25/5, 25/10, 25/10, 20/15, 25/15, 30/15, and 35/15 °C. The seed germination conditions were investigated under 10 different temperature settings. For the determination of storage behavior, seeds were dried at a consistent temperature of 15 °C and relative humidity (eRH) levels of 15, 20, 30, 40, and 50%. Subsequently, the seeds were stored for three months at temperatures of −20 °C and 5 °C, and the vitality tests of the seeds were conducted. Based on these experiments, the storage characteristics of seeds were identified. The results indicated that in all SSP scenarios, it is predicted that A. nephrolepis will become extinct in its habitat by the 2090s. Therefore, it has been shown that on-site and ex situ conservation is necessary. As a result of the seed germination characteristics, the highest germination rate (52.5 ± 16.01%) was achieved at a constant temperature of 20 °C, followed by 25 °C (50.0 ± 10.81%) and 25/10 °C (47.5 ± 4.79%). The highest viability was obtained under 20% eRH (64.0 ± 0%) but was not statistically different from that determined immediately after seed collection. The moisture content was approximately 4.33% fresh weight under 15% eRH at 15 °C. A. nephrolepis seeds are classified as orthodox-type seeds, which do not lose viability at 3%–7% moisture content and after drying under 15% eRH conditions at 15 °C. In conclusion, it can be observed that the seeds can be stored long-term at −20 °C. This research was conducted as a basic study to predict the habitat distribution of the endangered species A. nephrolepis and to establish seed conservation methods. According to the results, it is deemed necessary to conduct both domestic and international analyses of the habitat of A. nephrolepis. In addition, the germination and storage characteristics of A. nephrolepis seeds were confirmed, and based on this, effective seed conservation methods were suggested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Yield and quality are the two most important traits in crop breeding. Exploring the regulatory mechanisms that affect both yield and quality traits is of great significance for understanding the molecular genetic networks controlling these key crop attributes. Expansins are cell wall loosening proteins that play important roles in regulating rice grain size. Results: We investigated the effect of OsEXPA7, encoding an expansin, on rice grain size and quality. OsEXPA7 overexpression resulted in increased plant height, panicle length, grain length, and thousand-grain weight in rice. OsEXPA7 overexpression also affected gel consistency and amylose content in rice grains, thus affecting rice quality. Subcellular localization and tissue expression analyses showed that OsEXPA7 is localized on the cell wall and is highly expressed in the panicle. Hormone treatment experiments revealed that OsEXPA7 expression mainly responds to methyl jasmonate, brassinolide, and gibberellin. Transcriptome analysis and RT-qPCR experiments showed that overexpression of OsEXPA7 affects the expression of OsJAZs in the jasmonic acid pathway and BZR1 and GE in the brassinosteroid pathway. In addition, OsEXPA7 regulates the expression of key quantitative trait loci related to yield traits, as well as regulates the expression levels of BIP1 and bZIP50 involved in the seed storage protein biosynthesis pathway. Conclusions: These results reveal that OsEXPA7 positively regulates rice yield traits and negatively regulates grain quality traits by involving plant hormone pathways and other trait-related pathway genes. These findings increase our understanding of the potential mechanism of expansins in regulating rice yield and quality traits and will be useful for breeding high-yielding and high-quality rice cultivars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) trees produce seeds irregularly; therefore, it is necessary to store beech seeds for forestation. Despite the acquisition of desiccation tolerance during development, beech seeds are classified as intermediate because they lose viability during long-term storage faster than typical orthodox seeds. In this study, beech seeds stored for short (3 years) or long (20 years) periods under optimal conditions and displaying 92 and 30% germination capacity, respectively, were compared. Results: Aged seeds displayed increased membrane damage, manifested as electrolyte leakage and lipid peroxidation levels. Analyses have been based on embryonic axes, which contained higher levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and higher levels of protein-bound methionine sulfoxide (MetO) in aged seeds. Using label-free quantitative proteomics, 3,949 proteins were identified, of which 2,442 were reliably quantified pointing to 24 more abundant proteins and 35 less abundant proteins in beech seeds under long-term storage conditions. Functional analyses based on gene ontology annotations revealed that nucleic acid binding activity (molecular function), ribosome organization or biogenesis and transmembrane transport (cellular processes), translational proteins (protein class) and membranous anatomical entities (cellular compartment) were affected in aged seeds. To verify whether MetO, the oxidative posttranslational modification of proteins that can be reversed via the action of methionine sulfoxide reductase (Msr) enzymes, is involved in the aging of beech seeds, we identified and quantified 226 MetO-containing proteins, among which 9 and 19 exhibited significantly up- and downregulated MetO levels, respectively, in beech seeds under long-term storage conditions. Several Msr isoforms were identified and recognized as MsrA1-like, MsrA4, MsrB5 and MsrB5-like in beech seeds. Only MsrA1-like displayed decreased abundance in aged seeds. Conclusions: We demonstrated that the loss of membrane integrity reflected in the elevated abundance of membrane proteins had a higher impact on seed aging progress than the MetO/Msr system. Proteome analyses enabled us to propose protein Sec61 and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase as potential longevity modulators in beech seeds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

α-zeins are amphiphilic maize seed storage proteins with material properties suitable for a multitude of applications e.g., in renewable plastics, foods, therapeutics and additive manufacturing (3D-printing). To exploit their full potential, molecular-level insights are essential. The difficulties in experimental atomic-resolution characterization of α-zeins have resulted in a diversity of published molecular models. However, deep-learning α-zein models are largely unexplored. Therefore, this work studies an AlphaFold2 (AF2) model of a highly expressed α-zein using molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. The sequence of the α-zein cZ19C2 gave a loosely packed AF2 model with 7 α-helical segments connected by turns/loops. Compact tertiary structure was limited to a C-terminal bundle of three α-helices, each showing notable agreement with a published consensus sequence. Aiming to chart possible α-zein conformations in practically relevant solvents, rather than the native solid-state, the AF2 model was subjected to MD simulations in water/ethanol mixtures with varying ethanol concentrations. Despite giving structurally diverse endpoints, the simulations showed several patterns: In water and low ethanol concentrations, the model rapidly formed compact globular structures, largely preserving the C-terminal bundle. At ≥ 50 mol% ethanol, extended conformations prevailed, consistent with previous SAXS studies. Tertiary structure was partially stabilized in water and low ethanol concentrations, but was disrupted in ≥ 50 mol% ethanol. Aggregated results indicated minor increases in helicity with ethanol concentration. β-sheet content was consistently low (∼1%) across all conditions. Beyond structural dynamics, the rapid formation of branched α-zein aggregates in aqueous environments was highlighted. Furthermore, aqueous simulations revealed favorable interactions between the protein and the crosslinking agent glycidyl methacrylate (GMA). The proximity of GMA epoxide carbons and side chain hydroxyl oxygens simultaneously suggested accessible reactive sites in compact α-zein conformations and pre-reaction geometries for methacrylation. The findings may assist in expanding the applications of these technologically significant proteins, e.g., by guiding chemical modifications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Barley (Hordeum vulgare) is essential to global food systems and the brewing industry. Its physiological traits and microbial communities determine malt quality. Although microbes influence barley from seed health to fermentation, there is a gap in metagenomic insights during seed storage. Crucially, elucidating the changes in microbial composition associated with barley seeds is imperative for understanding how these fluctuations can impact seed health and ultimately, influence both agricultural yield and quality of barley-derived products. Whole metagenomes were sequenced from eight barley seed samples obtained at different storage time points from harvest to nine months. After binning, 82 metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) belonging to 26 distinct bacterial genera were assembled, with a substantial proportion of potential novel species. Most of our MAG dataset (61%) showed over 90% genome completeness. This pioneering barley seed microbial genome retrieval provides insights into species diversity and structure, laying the groundwork for understanding barley seed microbiome interactions at the genome level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study evaluated, through physical and physiological tests, the seed quality of a landrace fava bean variety in different packaging materials and storage periods, aiming to guarantee the conservation of their quality in seed banks and facilities. The methodology used was the one recommended by the Rules for Seed Analysis (RAS - Brasil, 2009) and minimum descriptors for Phaseolus lunatus L. The data were subjected to analysis of variance by the F-test at 5% signififance to verify the presence of significant interactions and the individual effects of each treatment. The test of multiple comparison of means was performed by the Tukey test at 5% significance between common treatments. The Dunnett test was used at 5% significance to compare the control means with the means of the treatments. R egression analysis was performed to study the effect of storage on the variables evaluated. All analyses were performed using the R software. From the results, it can be concluded that the storage of fava bean seeds is viable in small rural properties in impermeable packaging materials and aluminized polyethylene bags. The germination and vigor of the seeds analyzed in this study decreased throughout the storage period regardless of the type of packaging used. It is not recommended to store fava bean seeds in permeable paper packaging as they have the lowest quality indices (germination and vigor) at the end of the storage period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Chinese Journal of Oil Crop Sciences is the property of Oil Crops Research Institute of Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The research is focused on the quantitative evaluation of the flaxseed (Linum usitatissimum L.) proteome at the level of seed cake (SC), fine flour—sieved a fraction below 250 µm (FF)—and protein concentrate (PC). The evaluation was performed on three oilseed flax cultivars (Agriol, Raciol, and Libra) with different levels of α-linolenic acid content using LC-MS/MS (shotgun proteomics) analysis, which was finalized by database searching using the NCBI protein database for Linum usitatissimum and related species. A total of 2560 protein groups (PGs) were identified, and their relative abundance was calculated. A set of 33 quantitatively most significant PGs was selected for further characterization. The selected PGs were divided into four classes—seed storage proteins (11S globulins and conlinins), oleosins, defense- and stress-related proteins, and other major proteins (mainly including enzymes). Seed storage proteins were found to be the most abundant proteins. Specifically, 11S globulins accounted for 41–44% of SC proteins, 40–46% of FF proteins, and 72–84% of PC proteins, depending on the cultivar. Conlinins (2S albumins) were the most abundant in FF, ranging from 10 to 13% (depending on cultivar). The second most important class from the point of relative abundance was oleosins, which were represented in SC and FF in the range of 2.1–3.8%, but only 0.36–1.20% in PC. Surprisingly, a relatively high abundance of chitinase was found in flax products as a protein related to defence and stress reactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The post-harvest period of cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L) Walp] is marked by substantial losses due to the insect pest Callosobruchus maculatus (Fabricius). The primary goal of the current study is to identify environmentally appropriate substitutes for synthetic pesticides in the management of stored seed pests. Thus, in a laboratory setting, the insecticidal activity of essential oils (EOs) from Ziziphora hispanica and Satureja calamintha against the cowpea weevil C. maculatus was assessed. Methods: The fumigant effects of these two EOs were tested with concentrations (4, 8, 12, 16, and 20 µL L-1 of air per 10 g of cowpea seeds) on four biological parameters of C. maculatus: adult mortality, fecundity, fertility, and adult emergence, while concentrations of 4, 12, 16, and 20 µL/cm2 of air were used for the repulsion test. Results and discussion: The fumigant effects of these two EOs were tested with concentrations (4, 8, 12, 16, and 20 µLL-1 of air per 10 g of cowpea seeds) on four biological parameters of C. maculatus: adult mortality, fecundity, fertility, and adult emergence, while concentrations of 4, 12, 16, and 20 µL/cm2 of air were used for the repulsion test. The results of fumigation tests showed a remarkable efficacy of both essential oils against adult C. maculatus after 24 h of exposure. Z. hispanica EO yielded a mortality rate of 80± 20%, with an LC50 of 2.77 µLL-1 for males and 66.66± 11.54% with an LC50 of 3.57 µLL-1 for females at 4 µLL-1 of air. However, the S. calamintha EO resulted in a mortality rate of 100% for males and 86.66± 23.09% with an LC50 of 2.17 µLL-1 for females at low doses. The fecundity was 1.33 ± 0.57 eggs per female. In contrast, this parameter was absent with S. calamintha EO at the low dose, while fertility and emerging adults were missing for both EOs. Furthermore, both EOs showed highly repellent activity towards C. maculatus adults, with 81.66% for Z. hispanica and 91.67% for S. calamintha EO. According to the results of the GC-MS analysis, the primary components of Z. hispanica EO were found to be pulegone (28.17%), alpha-naphtonitrite (10.77%), and 3-(3-thienyl) pro-2-enoic acid (10.62%). Similarly, the main constituents of S. calamintha EO were pulegone (21.48%), piperitenone oxide (17.71%), and eucalyptol (11.99%). Hence, these substances are regarded as the volatile compounds accountable for controlling C. maculatus activities. The study reports that Z. hispanica and S. calamintha show promising fumigant and repellent efficacy and offer new avenues for their potential use as an alternative to synthetic pesticides against stored seed pests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Physiological maturity impacts seed quality through various mechanisms including vigor, desiccation tolerance, dormancy induction, synthesis of raw materials (including seed storage proteins), and the reorganization of metabolisms. Peanut seed development can be classified into seven classes with four incremental stages per class. Based on the mesocarp color, the final three stages are commonly referred to as "orange", "brown", and "black". In 2017, freshly harvested pods from one genotype of runner market-type peanuts grown under conventional practices were obtained from the University of Georgia research facility. The pods were removed from the plant material and 'pod blasted' to reveal the mesocarp. After separation, the remainder of the pod outer layer was removed, and the seeds were segregated for proteomic analysis. The raw peanuts were analyzed by bottom-up LC-MS/MS proteomics, which was conducted by the Proteomics Resource Center at the Rockefeller University, to identify the significant protein composition differences in each maturity class. The proteomic data revealed differentially expressed proteins as a function of maturity class with multiple functions including plant defense, metabolism, cell signaling, nutrient accumulation, and packaging. Understanding the processes needed for seed maturation will enable peanut scientists to evaluate the traits needed for robust germination, hardiness of the seed in response to disease, and nutrient quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The quantity and composition of rice proteins play a crucial role in determining taste quality of sake, Japanese rice wine. However, the spatial distribution of proteins within rice grains, especially in endosperm tissue, and the differences between rice varieties remain unclear. Here, we analyzed the crude protein contents and composition ratios of table (Nipponbare and Koshihikari) and genuine sake rice varieties (Yamadanishiki, Gohyakumangoku, Dewasansan, Dewanosato, and Yumenokaori) to elucidate their spatial distribution within the Japonica rice grain endosperm. Seven sake rice varieties were polished over five harvest years using a brewer's rice-polishing machine. We obtained fractions at 90–70% (the outermost endosperm fraction), 70–50%, 50–30%, and 30–0% (the central region of the endosperm fraction). Yamadanishiki and Dewanosato exhibited considerably lower crude protein contents than the other cultivars. After applying SDS-PAGE, the protein composition, comprising glutelin/total protein (G/TP), prolamin/TP (P/TP), and G/P ratios of these fractions was determined. In white rice (at a 90% rice-polishing ratio), the average ratio of the major protein composition was G/TP 41%, P/TP 21%, and G/P ratios of 1.97. Gohyakumangoku and Yamadanishiki had higher G/TP ratio, while Dewanosato had a lower value. Despite having lower crude protein contents, Yamadanishiki and Dewanosato exhibited significantly varying G/TP ratios. The G/TP ratio markedly varied among rice varieties, particularly in the rice grains' central region. The 50–30% fraction had the highest P/TP ratio among all tested rice varieties, suggesting spatial differences in P/TP within rice grains. Koshihikari had the lowest P/TP ratio. In addition, the 50–30% fraction had the lowest G/P ratio among all tested rice varieties, with Gohyakumangoku having the highest G/P ratio. Dewanosato had the lowest G/P value, and this value significantly differed from that of Yamadanishiki in the 30–0% fraction. We found substantial differences in protein composition within distinct spatial regions of rice grains, and larger differences among rice varieties were observed in the rice grain's central region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Quercus: seeds that are recalcitrant to desiccation and freezing temperatures cannot be stored in gene banks under conventional conditions. However, the germplasm of some recalcitrant seeded species can be stored in liquid nitrogen (–196 °C). Unfortunately, for many species, among them for almost the whole genus Quercus, an effective cryostorage method is still unknown. In this study, we propose a successful cryostorage protocol for Quercus petraea (Matt.) Liebl. germplasm using plumules (a shoot apical meristem of an embryo) frozen on aluminium cryo-plates. Results: The plumules isolated from the acorns of ten provenances were prestored in 0.5 M sucrose solution (for 18 h). To form alginate beads (one plumule per bead), the plumules were placed in the wells of a cryo-plate and embedded in calcium alginate gel. For cryoprotection, the encapsulated plumules were immersed in cryoprotectant solution containing 2.0 M glycerol and different concentrations of sucrose (0.8–1.2 M) for 40 min at 25 °C and desiccated under a laminar flow cabinet for 1.0–4.0 h. Cryo-plates with plumules were directly immersed in liquid nitrogen and then cryostored for 30 min. For rewarming, cryo-plates with plumules were immersed in 1.0 M sucrose solution and rehydrated for 15 min at 25 °C. Survival rates varied from 25.8 to 83.4 were achieved after cryoprotection in 1.0 M sucrose solution and the drying of plumules for 2 h. The in vitro regrowth rate of cryopreserved plumules varied among provenances and was 26–77%. Conclusions: This study presents, for the first time, a successful, simple and effective protocol for the cryopreservation of Q. petraea germplasm that could be used in gene banks. The experiment was successfully repeated on seeds from various provenances, each yielding similar, good results. However, seed quality and storage time after harvesting are important factors in plumule regrowth after cryopreservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Understanding seed germination requirements and storage methods is important for successful conservation and restoration of aquatic vegetation. Main research issues are Hydrocharis dubia seed germination requirements and appropriate seed storage methods. It was found that high seed clustering density and light had positive effects on seed germination, while burial had negative effects on seed germination. Oxygen, water level and substrate had no significant effect on seed germination. Seed germination, water content and respiration rate were significantly affected by storage method. Seed germination was highest under the Ambient Water Temperature-Wet storage condition, followed by 4 °C-Wet and then 4 °C-Dry. Seeds did not germinate under the storage conditions of Ambient air temperature-Wet and Ambient air temperature-Dry. Understanding of seed germination requirements and storage methods is very important to successfully conserve and restore aquatic vegetation. The main question addressed by the research was germination requirements and suitable seed storage methods of Hydrocharis dubia seeds. Furthermore, the water content and respiration rate of H. dubia seeds were studied under different storage conditions. The study found that light and high seed clustering density had a positive effect on germination, while burial had a negative effect. Germination percentages were 60.67 ± 6.11% and 28.40 ± 6.79% in light and dark conditions, respectively. Under clustering densities of 1 and 50, germination percentages were 6.00 ± 2.00% and 59.33 ± 0.67%, respectively. Germination percentages were 50.40 ± 5.00%, 3.20 ± 3.20%, and 0.80 ± 0.80% at depths of 0, 2, and 3 cm, respectively. Oxygen, water level, and substratum had no significant effect on seed germination. Storage method had a significant effect on seed germination, moisture content, and respiration rate. The germination percentages were 64.00 ± 1.67%, 85.20 ± 5.04%, and 92.80 ± 4.27% under the storage conditions of 4 °C-Dry, 4 °C-Wet, and Ambient water temperature-Wet for 2 years, respectively. The seeds had no germination under the storage conditions of Ambient air temperature-Wet and Ambient air temperature-Dry. Overall, the study indicates that seed germination of H. dubia is restricted by light, burial depth, and seed clustering density. Additionally, it was found that H. dubia seeds can be stored in wet environmental conditions at ambient water temperature, similar to seed banks. Specifically, the seeds can be stored in sand and submerged underwater at ambient water temperatures ranging from 4 °C to 25 °C. This study will help with the conservation and restoration of aquatic plants, such as H. dubia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To preserve germination ability, plant seeds must be protected from environmental stresses during the storage period. Here, we demonstrate that autophagy, an intracellular degradation system, maintains seed germination ability in Arabidopsis thaliana. The germination ability of long-term (>5 years) stored dry seeds of autophagy-defective (atg) mutant and wild-type (WT) plants was compared. Long-term stored (old) seeds of atg mutants showed lower germination ability than WT seeds, although short-term stored (new) seeds of atg mutants did not show such a phenotype. After removal of the seed coat and endosperm from old atg mutant seeds, the embryos developed into seedlings. Autophagic flux was maintained in endosperm cells during the storage period, and autophagy defect resulted in the accumulation of oxidized proteins and accelerated endosperm cell death. Consistent with these findings, the transcripts of genes, ENDO-β-MANNANASE 7 and EXPANSIN 2, which are responsible for degradation/ remodeling of the endosperm cell wall during germination, were reduced in old atg mutant seeds. We conclude that autophagy maintains endosperm quality during seed storage by suppressing aging-dependent oxidative damage and cell death, which allows the endosperm to perform optimal functions during germination, i.e., cell wall degradation/remodeling, even after long-term storage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wheat is a staple crop essential to the diet and economy of Basra Governorate. Ensuring its quality and viability post-harvest is crucial for food security and economic stability in the region. The study was conducted during the period from November 1st, 2021, to August 1st, 2022, at the College of Education, Qurna - University of Basra. The aim is to determine the best storage method and duration for preserving wheat seeds. Four varieties of wheat seeds (Ibaa 99, Al-Baraka, Al-Rashid, Abu Ghraib) were stored using two storage methods (piles, bags) and three time periods (3 months, 6 months, 9 months). Laboratory germination tests and chemical analysis of the seeds were also performed after each storage period. The results showed that the method of storage in bags and the time period of three months was the best in preserving the seeds, and it also resulted in the highest germination percentage and fastest germination speed. Al-Baraka cultivar showed the highest average germination rate (96.38%), while Abu Ghraib cultivar gave the lowest germination rate (92.77%). In the triple interactions (varieties x storage methods x storage periods), the four cultivars x two storage methods (bags and piles) x the storage period for three months, and the same cultivars x two storage methods x the storage period for six months gave the highest germination rate, which ranged between (100 and 95). %. While, Abu Ghraib cultivar × piles method × nine-month storage period, and Al-Rasheed cultivar × piles method × nine-month storage period gave an average germination rate of (78.33 and 76.66) %, respectively. As for Al-Baraka variety, it showed the highest average germination speed (5.91), while the Al-Rasheed variety showed the lowest germination speed (5.25). In the triple interactions, the four cultivars x the two-storage methods x the storage period for three months, and the same cultivars x the two-storage methods x six months gave the highest germination speed, which ranged between (7.96 and 4.60). While, Abu Ghraib cultivar × piles method × storage period of nine months, and Al-Rasheed cultivar × piles method × storage period of nine months gave the lowest average germination (3.73 and 4.06), respectively. The results of the chemical analysis of the stored seeds showed a decline in the quality of the seeds with the length of the storage period, as the percentages of protein, starch, and fat decreased. As the cultivar Ibaa 99 gave the highest average protein percentage (11.20) %, while the Abu Ghraib cultivar gave the lowest average protein percentage (9.84%). The Al-Baraka variety gave the highest average fat percentage (1.76) %, while the Ibaa 99 variety gave the lowest average fat percentage (1.08%). As for the starch percentage, the Abu Ghraib cultivar showed the highest average (64.46) %, while the Al Baraka variety gave the lowest average starch percentage (63.03%). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The production, selection, and storage of the seeds used for cultivation in Nepal are done in two ways: traditional and modern. Conventional ways of storing and reusing seeds depend on indigenous and traditional techniques, whereas modern techniques depend on the different agencies performing scientific agricultural breeding and storage techniques. The study aimed to determine the major varieties and sources of seed used for cultivation, to what extent the cultivated varieties are stored, and whether the stored seeds are cultivated. The study surveyed 171 households by systematic random sampling in the Jarebagaiccha and Milanatar villages of ward 6 in the Gajuri Rural Municipality, Nepal. The study was constructed utilising a literature review and in-depth interviews. The researcher used SPSS version 26 for analysing and illustrating the findings of the 11 cultivated crops, i.e., Rice, Maize, Millet, Wheat, Mustard, Potato, Beans, Black lentil, Cowpea, Soybean, and Rice beans. The findings determined that the majority of the farmers cultivated local varieties of crops by using informal sources of seed and stored the seeds in their own homes. The study further highlighted that only four local varieties (soybean, cowpea, potato, mustard) were acquired from agrovets by a minority of the farmers. The hybrid varieties that were cultivated had formal sources, and none of the hybrid varieties were stored. The farmers stored nine local varieties using the traditional method of cultivation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To upscale restoration of tropical forest ecosystems, direct seeding—sowing seeds directly into the ground—is potentially a more cost-effective technique than tree planting. However, its success is limited by seed predation, the harshness of environmental conditions on restoration sites and particularly by a lack of information about suitable tree species. Therefore, this study tested the suitability of 23 native forest tree species for direct seeding, to restore a biodiversity-rich, upland, evergreen forest in northern Thailand. Three replicate seed batches of each species were sown randomly in two degraded sites and in a tree nursery under controlled conditions. Seed removal and germination were monitored weekly until no further germination had occurred for more than a month. Subsequently, seedling yield, growth and species performance score were also monitored at appropriate intervals. Nine months after sowing, seed removal differed significantly among species but was generally low, with a cross-species average of 3.4% (±0.5 SE). Seed size was negatively correlated with seed removal. Eight species failed to germinate. Seed germination percentage varied widely among species. Cross-species average germination of the 15 species that germinated was 25% (±6.2 SE). Two species (Adenanthera microsperma and Alangium kurzii) were ranked as having high germination (>50%), five species (Choerospondias axillaris, Spondias pinnata, Diospyros glandulosa, Melia azedarach and Phyllanthus emblica) had medium germination (20–50%) and eight species had low germination (<20%). Following the first dry season, two of the fifteen germinated species failed to establish. Germination and establishment were influenced by seed size, seed storage behavior and successional status. A. microsperma, S. pinnata and C. axillaris are recommended for direct seeding based on their high species performance index values. This study further concluded that selecting desiccation-tolerant seeds, particularly those with medium-to-large sizes, could increase the chances of successful seedling establishment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The issue of storage and protection of yilded seeds from storage pests is fundamental to seed science, the nutrition of people and animals as well as the maintenance of state reserves. During 2019-2021, in the experimental field of IASS "Obraztsov chiflik" - Rousse, in a long-term stationary fertilizer experiment, seeds of common bean variety Obraztsov chiflik 12 were obtained utilizing the following fertilization options: 1 - individual nitrogen fertilization; 2 - individual phosphorus fertilization; 3 - individual potassium fertilization; 4 - combined NP application; 5 - combined NK application; 6 - combined PK application; 7 - triple combination of NPK. An unfertilized control variant was maintained for comparison purposes. The study aims to entomologically evaluate seeds regarding damage by bean weevils after crop harvesting. Measurements of yield, 1000-seed weight, damaged seeds percentage, Index of infestation, as well as weight loss were taken. The combined application of NP demonstrated the greatest positive effect on the yield qualities of beans, however it lead to an intermediate position of the yield in terms of damage by bean weevil. The variant treated with combined NK fertilization resulted in the lowest percentage of damaged seeds and Index of infestation; it was followed by the variant with full mineral fertilization and the control variant. The individual application of N resulted in highest damaged seeds percentage as well as highest Index of infestation; it also ensured the highest weight loss on average for the studied period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]