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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]

Detection and quantification of total aflatoxins in farmers' stored rice seeds at different storage intervals in two cropping seasons (Boro 2017–2018: cv. BRRI Dhan28 and cv. BRRI Dhan29 and Aman 2017: cv. BR 11 and cv. BRRI dhan49) was focused in this study. Aflatoxin was quantified in two cropping seasons (Boro and Aman). Blotter incubation test was conducted for fungal prevalence assessment and a one-step lateral flow immune-chromatographic assay was used to quantify the aflatoxins. Seed moisture content ranged from 11.59 to 13.32% and aflatoxin concentrations ranged from 2.41 to 11.12 ppb. Variation in fungal contamination in stored seeds was correlated with seed moisture content. The moisture content in stored rice seeds increased with storage time and was positively correlated with fungal infestation and toxin production. The findings of this study indicate that moisture content of stored rice seeds and storage duration are determining factors for aflatoxin contamination. [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]

In seeds with impermeable coats, i.e., physical dormancy (PY), dormancy break may occur at room temperature during ex-situ storage or when seeds experiencing similar conditions when buried in the soil. Here, we tested the influence of initial seed moisture content and storage on dormancy break in the seeds of Adenanthera pavonina, Bauhinia racemosa, Cassia fistula, Dodonaea viscosa, and Delonix regia. Drying results in most seeds of these species becoming water-impermeable. We arbitrarily chose two moisture ranges, shallow (impermeable, high moisture content) and absolute (impermeable, low moisture content) PY, and stored the seeds at room temperature for 8.5 years. The moisture content at which the permeable to impermeable transition occurred and the range constituting shallow and absolute PY varied between species. Across species, the shallow PY group had a significantly higher number of nondormant seeds at the end of storage, whereas the absolute PY group did not show any germination, except c. 20% germination in A. pavonina and C. fistula. Thus, PY break in seeds stored at room temperature may occur after several years, but this largely depends on the initial seed moisture content. [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]

Prolonged periods without precipitation in spring prevent timely and rapid germination of pioneer tree seeds and could lead to an accelerated loss of germination capacity (reduced lifespan). To get knowledge about the shortening of seed lifespan and, thus, the shortening of natural regeneration windows under climate change, an experiment was conducted. Seeds of Alnus glutinosa, Betula pendula, Populus tremula, Salix caprea, Larix decidua, Pinus sylvestris, and Picea abies were exposed to temperatures of 15 °C, 25 °C (past or present climate), and 40 °C (future climate) with low or high humidity for a period of 3 months. Regardless of air humidity, the initial germination percentage of Alnus glutinosa, Betula pendula, Larix decidua, and Pinus sylvestris seeds decreased only slightly by 5–15% over the 91-day period when stored at 15 °C and 25 °C. For Populus tremula and Salix caprea, time windows of maximum 14–49 days and 42–91 days were identified, respectively. However, as climate change progresses with rising temperatures and increasing absolute air humidity values, the window of opportunity for successful germination will shorten for all studied tree species. In the moist air humidity variant of 40 °C, the germination percentage dropped to 0% after 42 days for Alnus glutinosa, Betula pendula, and Larix decidua. The natural regeneration window will be reduced by half from more than three months to about three weeks under climate change. The lifespan of Populus tremula and Salix caprea seeds will be shortened to 1 week. For Picea abies, the time window will shorten to a maximum of 28 days. [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]

This research was conducted to test the effect of oxygen content (low O2, high O2, air) during hermetic seed storage at 20±2℃ over 8 and 12 months on seed germination and seedling root and shoot length in tomato, onion, cabbage, and marrow seeds. Samples with low oxygen storage had higher seed germination as well as longer root and shoot lengths than both control and high oxygen storage. When the storage period extended from 8 to 12 months, the germination percentages also reduced. However, these results varied among the species. The greatest advantage of low oxygen storage was obtained in tomatoes, which exhibited 15% and 9% higher germination compared to the control after 8 and 12 months of storage, respectively. The longest root and shoot lengths of 6.4 cm and 11.6 cm, respectively, were obtained from the low oxygen storage treatments. A similar positive effect of low oxygen storage was observed in onion and cabbage seeds but not in marrows. Results indicated that oxygen level in the packets during storage can be an effective component to maintain high seed germination and seedling growth potential (seed vigour). The difference in the effect on different species is a matter of further research. [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]

ABSTRACT: Desiccation sensitivity is a condition present in seeds of several tree species of economic and ecological importance, which makes such seeds unable to tolerate drying and storage. Thus, studies that seek strategies to maintain the viability of such seeds after being subjected to drying are necessary. An alternative for this purpose is the use of priming in solutions of known osmotic potential. Solutions of polyethylene glycol (PEG), glycerol, as well as phytohormones such as abscisic acid (ABA) and salicylic acid (SA) are related to stress tolerance in seeds. The objective of this work was to study desiccation sensitive seeds of Inga vera, Eugenia uniflora and Tapirira guianensis, using solutions of PEG, SA, sucrose, glycerol and combinations of SA+PEG in an attempt of reducing seed desiccation sensitivity. The responses varied according to the species, but in general, successful results in maintaining the viability of the seeds after drying were obtained from the treatmen of seed with sucrose, glycerol and combinations of PEG and SA. Treatment of seeds with these compounds is promising in reducing the desiccation sensitivity of seeds of tree species.

The purpose of this work was to investigate the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in Allium fistulosum seeds stored under different conditions. Optimized seed storage conditions are essential to maintain seed viability, otherwise accumulation of ROS-induced oxidative damage can lead to seed aging. The A. fistulosum seed lots used in this study have been selected based on their breeding background and reproduction site. Seed samples were stored up to 22 months under six different conditions of temperature (25, 10, and 7.5 °C) and relative humidity (RH) (25% and 45% RH). A germination test and ROS quantification assay were performed on the samples collected after 12 and 22 months of storage, respectively. Within a time-window of 10 months, the tested seed lots evidenced a decrease in the germination rate associated with increased ROS levels. Correlation analysis also showed that ROS production was influenced by genotype. The reported data showed that ROS accumulation was dependent on the storage condition and genotype. Some of the tested seed lots appeared to be prone to ROS accumulation, independent of storage conditions. On the other hand, specific condition storages (25 °C, 25% RH; 25 °C, 45% RH; 10 °C, 25% RH; 7.5 °C, 25% RH) resulted in a lower impact on seed aging.

The expanding consumption of plant proteins in the diet to overcome the environmental issues associated with animal proteins is increasing the incidence of food-induced allergic reactions. One of the 21st-century research drivers in agriculture sciences is the development and validation of concrete approaches for modulating the expression of allergenic proteins in crops before harvesting. The increasing incidence of plant food allergies is primarily induced by seed storage proteins that clinicians are experiencing recently because of the more predominant use of plant-derived proteins in the food industry. Increased availability of high-throughput technologies has generated an ever-growing number of omics data, allowing us to have better structural knowledge of SSPs and molecular properties that can inform the allergenicity assessment. The recent systems for targeted genome engineering, without double-strand DNA breaks, allow the introduction of precise modifications directly into commercial plant species. Artificial intelligence is significantly transforming scientific research across every stage, assisting scientists, processing large-scale data, making predictions, automating tasks. During this epochal change, marked by the encounter between artificial intelligence and synthetic biology, a next-generation research assistant (NGA) is coming alive. Here, we propose a new conceptual vision to facilitate and speed up the editing of cross-reactivity sites to obtain hypoallergenic cultivars and avoid pleiotropic effects. Finally, we discuss the potential applications of this new way to conceive the research. NGA may be undoubtedly capable of managing the evolution of SPP allergies through the prediction of novel epitopes, as well as the prediction of immunological response mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most canopy species in lowland tropical rain forests in Southeast Asia, represented by Dipterocarpaceae, undergo mast reproduction synchronously at community level during a general flowering event. Such events occur at irregular intervals of 2–10 years. Some species do not necessarily participate in every synchronous mast reproduction, however. This may be due to a lack of carbohydrate resources in the trees for masting. We tested the hypothesis that interspecific differences in the time required to store assimilates in trees for seed production are due to the frequency of masting and/or seed size in each species. We examined the relationship between reproductive frequency and the carbon accumulation period necessary for seed production, and between the seed size and the period, using radiocarbon analysis in 18 dipterocarp canopy species. The mean carbon accumulation period was 0.84 years before seed maturation in all species studied. The carbon accumulation period did not have any significant correlation with reproductive frequency or seed size, both of which varied widely across the species studied. Our results show that for seed production, dipterocarp masting species do not use carbon assimilates stored for a period between the masting years, but instead use recent photosynthates produced primarily in a masting year, regardless of the masting interval or seed size of each species. These findings suggest that storage of carbohydrate resources is not a limiting factor in the masting of dipterocarps, and that accumulation and allocation of other resources is important as a precondition for participation in general flowering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Groundnut seeds are highly sensitive to deterioration mainly due to their chemical composition and moisture content. The high oil content and fatty acids of groundnut seeds reduces the seed viability well in advance due to lipid peroxidation process, which is the most frequent cause of seed ageing. As a result, not only lipid peroxidation, but also a series of reactions that produce toxic products occur. Stored seeds produce increased level of volatile organic compounds that leads to seed deterioration. Methods: The experiment was conducted to profile volatile organic compounds emitted from groundnut seeds during storage and also to analysis the volatile organic compounds through correlation and principal component analysis method. Volatile organic compounds profiling of stored groundnut seeds was done through Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS). The air sample was taken at monthly intervals from the glass bottle using solid-phase micro extraction (SPME) method. Result: The results of the study clearly demonstrated that, totally 52 volatile compounds comprising of 10 alcohols, 5 aldehydes, 15 acids, 9 esters, 7 alkanes, 3 alkenes, 2 ketones and 1 ether were trapped in stored groundnut seeds. Finally the study concluded that ethanol, 1-butanol, 1-hexanol, acetaldehyde, hexanal, Nonenal, 9,12,15-octadecatrionic acid, acetic acid and 3-methyl acetate were found to be highly negatively correlated with seed germination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is an essential staple crop in China. Appropriate storage methods and technology are critical to ensure the quality of seed potatoes, which is closely related to the field performance. So far, the diffused light storage (DLS) technique has been widely applied to potato crop. In this paper, two special potato varieties ('Chuanyu 117' and 'Mira') were treated at DLS for 60 days, and the effects of growth conditions on tuber sprouts and subsequent field performance were evaluated. The results showed that the DLS treatment significantly promoted the greening of potato tubers from highland and simultaneously affected the average sprouting rate, sprout length and number of sprouts at different storage stages, which indicated obvious interacting correlations between DLS treatments and potato varieties. Especially for 'Mira', the shortest average sprout length (2.7 mm) was obtained under 40–200 lx light level, while 'Chuanyu 117' had the shortest average sprout length (1.3 mm) under 5–10 lx and its sprout length was also controlled within 2.3 mm under 200–2000 lx. In the cultivation experiment that followed, the potato tubers with 4–6 mm and 2–3 mm sprout length had the highest yield after 90 days and 110 days planting, respectively. Overall, these results demonstrated that for seed potatoes harvested from the highland area followed by storing for 30 days in the lowland, the sprout length can be better controlled at 2–3 mm to obtain short and strong sprouts when stored under 40–200 lx or 200–2000 lx diffused light for 60 days, which is especially suitable in terms of fast field emergence after planting and final tuber yield for the autumn and winter cultivation of potato in the Chengdu Plain. It is also suggested that the DLS technique on seed potatoes could be used in the mixed single and double-cropping areas in Sichuan and other areas with similar geographical and climatic conditions. The findings of this study have several important implications in the storage, transportation, processing as well as seed potato market for commercial practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this work was to investigate the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in Allium fistulosum seeds stored under different conditions. Optimized seed storage conditions are essential to maintain seed viability, otherwise accumulation of ROS-induced oxidative damage can lead to seed aging. The A. fistulosum seed lots used in this study have been selected based on their breeding background and reproduction site. Seed samples were stored up to 22 months under six different conditions of temperature (25, 10, and 7.5 °C) and relative humidity (RH) (25% and 45% RH). A germination test and ROS quantification assay were performed on the samples collected after 12 and 22 months of storage, respectively. Within a time-window of 10 months, the tested seed lots evidenced a decrease in the germination rate associated with increased ROS levels. Correlation analysis also showed that ROS production was influenced by genotype. The reported data showed that ROS accumulation was dependent on the storage condition and genotype. Some of the tested seed lots appeared to be prone to ROS accumulation, independent of storage conditions. On the other hand, specific condition storages (25 °C, 25% RH; 25 °C, 45% RH; 10 °C, 25% RH; 7.5 °C, 25% RH) resulted in a lower impact on seed aging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seeds are classified as either: orthodox, seeds that tolerate dehydration; recalcitrant, seeds that are high in moisture content and cannot withstand intensive desiccation; or intermediate, seeds that survive dehydration but die during dry storage at low temperatures. Seed lifespan depends on the seed category and also varies from one species to another. The rate of loss of vigor and viability of orthodox seeds depends mainly on temperature and seed moisture content (MC); the lower the MC and storage temperature, the longer the longevity. Ultimately, storage in liquid nitrogen or seed ultra-drying by well-adapted processes should allow for long-term storage. The ageing of orthodox seeds is associated with numerous forms of cellular and metabolic damage (membrane integrity, energy metabolism, and the impairment of DNA, RNA, and proteins) in which reactive oxygen species play a prominent role. Interestingly, priming treatment can reinvigorate aged seeds by restoring the antioxidant systems. The storage of recalcitrant seeds is very difficult since they must be placed in a wet medium to avoid dehydration and at temperatures low enough to prevent germination but warm enough to avoid chilling injury. A better understanding of the mechanisms involved in ageing is necessary to identify markers in order to estimate seed longevity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Achieving high yield and good quality in crops is essential for human food security and health. However, there is usually disharmony between yield and quality. Seed storage protein (SSP) and starch, the predominant components in cereal grains, determine yield and quality, and their coupled synthesis causes a yield–quality trade‐off. Therefore, dissection of the underlying regulatory mechanism facilitates simultaneous improvement of yield and quality. Here, we summarize current findings about the synergistic molecular machinery underpinning SSP and starch synthesis in the leading staple cereal crops, including maize, rice and wheat. We further evaluate the functional conservation and differentiation of key regulators and specify feasible research approaches to identify additional regulators and expand insights. We also present major strategies to leverage resultant information for simultaneous improvement of yield and quality by molecular breeding. Finally, future perspectives on major challenges are proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The peach palm (Bactris gasipaes) is an important alternative for heart-of-palm extraction, showing precocity, rusticity and high tillering. The seeds of this species are considered recalcitrant making storage for long periods and production of seedlings difficulty. This identified a combination of moisture content of peach palm seeds and temperature during storage for longer seed longevity. Seeds with 35% and 45% of moisture content (wet basis - wb) were storage at 20 °C and 25 °C during 180 days. The evaluations were carried out every 60 days by the germination test, emergence in sand, shoot length, diameter of stem, shoot dry matter, root dry matter and moisture content. It was observed that seeds with moisture content of 45% wb showed better performance during storage. The storage at 20 °C provides higher seed quality maintenance. Peach palm seeds maintain their viability for 120 days when stored with moisture content of 45% wb at 20 °C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The spaceflight storage of seeds is known to cause mutations affecting both their quality and the mature plants originating from them. To study the effects of space stress, tomato seeds of two cultivars (Lotus and Autumn rhapsody) were subjected to half a year of storage at the International Space Station (ISS), and then, sown in a greenhouse to produce tomato fruits. The space-treated plants gave smaller fruits with a stable total yield not significantly different from that of the control plants. Space-treated tomatoes showed significantly higher levels of dry matter, dietary fiber, monosaccharides and citric and malic acids and lower values of oxalic acid compared to the control plants. The pulp of space-treated fruits had 1.44–1.70 times lower levels of carotenoids, while their peel contained a 1.27–1.90 times higher pigment amount compared to the control plants. No significant changes in the total antioxidant activity (AOA), photosynthetic pigments and phenolic (TP) and proline content were recorded in the fruits due to seed spaceflight storage. Contrarily, space-treated tomatoes showed decreased levels of Ca, Sr and Mo and increased Se both in the fruit pulp and peel. The concentration of Fe and especially Pb was lower in space-treated fruit pulp. Positive correlations between Se and dry matter, Ca and Sr, Ca and Co, Ca and Fe, and Cr and carotenoids, and negative correlations between Se and Mo, Se and K, and Mo and dry matter were recorded. The results indicate that seed stress caused by long-term spaceflight affects both the biochemical characteristics and mineral composition of tomato fruits and causes the peel/pulp redistribution of carotenoids as well as macro- and micro-elements, improving Se accumulation levels in the fruit peel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current study was conducted based on the morphological, biochemical, and SSR characterization of wild Oat (Avena fatua L.) genotypes collected from three different Districts of Malakand Division, Pakistan. A significant variance was observed across all twenty morphological parameters, indicating a high likelihood that breeding programs would introduce fresh variety into adapted oat cultivars. A substantial variation was also found for leaf length (32.55%) and stem diameter (28.33%), as compared to the number of spikelet (15.66%). The harvest index and plant height had a high and positive correlation (0.79**), while a negative correlation (-0.76**) was observed for plant height and plant biomass. All genotypes were arranged into three groups based on the cluster analysis, each having a Euclidian distance of 87%. A total of 15 bands were visible for the total seed storage proteins, out of which 10 were polymorphic and 5 were monomorphic. The entire dataset of 54 oat genotypes was split into 2 lineages (L-1 and L-2) based on two-way cluster analysis, with a genetic distance of 36.5% between them and further subdivided into three subgroups at 60% genetic distance. The SSR markers used in this study successfully amplified genomic regions from oat genotypes. Out of 5 SSRs, HVM62 showed the prominent polymorphism, and among eight alleles detected, two were monomorphic and six were polymorphic. Z48431 had the highest PIC value (0.93), followed by HVM62 (0.89). Band-14 had the highest PIC value at 0.90%, followed by bands 9 and 10 (0.80% and 0.50%, respectively). Bands 8, 11, 12, and 13 had the lowest PIC value, correspondingly. The overall findings showed a significant degree of variety in the oat genotypes growing in District Swat and Dir, which offers the potential for the introduction of distinctive diversity in well-adapted oat cultivars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In degraded forest ecosystems, reintroduction of keystone-woody species is an important step for restoration because it provides regeneration niches. However, lack of information on how to propagate species restricts the use of native species; specially in tropical dry forests where seed germination is seasonal and is synchronized with the onset of the wet season. We evaluated the dormancy-breaking and germination requirements of nine keystone-woody species from Dry Chaco Forest. Most fresh viable seeds of the keystone species are nondormant, but viability decreases during dry-cold storage restricting the use of some species. Seeds of three keystone species germinated to higher percentages in light than darkness and those of five species germinated equally well in light and darkness; seeds of Castela coccinea germinated to higher percentages in darkness than in light. Alternating vs. constant temperatures had no effect on germination in seven species. Seeds of Anisocapparis speciosa and Cynophalla retusa were nondormant and remained viable for only 1 month during cold-dry storage; and 62–95% of the seeds of the other seven species were nondormant. Dormancy-break was studied in five of the seven species; seeds of four species had physiological dormancy and one had physical dormancy. Dormancy-breaking was promoted by environmental conditions in the habitat, i.e. warm stratification, after seed dispersal. Castela coccinea, Achatocarpus praecox, Mimosa detinens, and Capparicordis tweedieana are the most suitable keystone species for the restoration of overgrazed areas in the Dry Chaco Forest because their seeds germinate to a high percentage and retain viability during dry storage at low temperatures. Seeds of Mimosa detinens and Capparicordis tweedieana required mechanical scarification and 6-weeks of warm stratification, respectively, for dormancy-break. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the addition of mango seed extract (MSE) in goat meatballs was assessed. The efficacy of three different levels of MSE extract, namely T1 = (2.5 mL/100 g of meat emulsion v/w), T2 = (5.0 mL/100 g of meat emulsion v/w), T3 = (7.5 mL/100 g of meat emulsion v/w), and T0 (control without mango seed extract), was conducted for evaluation of changes in water activity (aW), pH, total phenolic compounds, DPPH, peroxide value, TBARS, microbial quality, and sensory attributes of the goat meatballs stored at refrigerated temperature (4 ± 1 °C). Incorporation of the mango seed extract T3 (7.5 mL/100 g) showed that it can potentially better maintain change in pH and water activity. Total phenolic and DPPH activity decreased significantly (P0.05) among all samples throughout storage; however, the highest value was noted for T3 among all samples. The MSE-added goat meatballs (T3) group had lower significant (p < 0.05) peroxide values than the other samples. The T3 sample added with MSE exhibited significant (p < 0.05) lower TBRAS values as compared to other treatments. Comparatively lower microbial proliferation and better sensory attributes were maintained among the treated groups during the entire storage time. The results show that the inclusion of MSE extract T3 (7.5 mL/100 g) is a promising natural antioxidant that can maintain a better quality of goat meatballs at refrigerated temperature (4 ± 1 °C) under aerobic packaging conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agave reproduction can occur both sexually and asexually; however, the vast majority of species mainly propagate asexually. Seed germination studies are of great importance in conservation biology, ecological restoration, and the development of management plans. Our aim was to determine the effect of the crossing system and storage time on the germination success in seeds of Agave obscura (Agavaceae), a species endemic to Mexico. The seeds were derived from manual cross-pollination, manual self-pollination, and natural pollination, and had been stored for 19 and seven months. Germination experiments were conducted under controlled light conditions at 25 °C. The percentage of germination in seeds stored for seven months (76%) was higher than in those stored for 19 months (46%) (df = 1, dev.resid = 1439.6, Pr (> chi) = < 0.05)) Crossing systems show effects in the percentage of germination (P(> │Chi │ < 0.05). The seed germination capacity decreased as a function of storage time. Seed storage time had no effect on subsequent seedling size, but pollination type did affect seedling growth. A. obscura produces viable seeds with germination capacity in a natural manner, which favors the maintenance of natural populations, although it's necessary to evaluate other ecological processes such as the establishment of seedlings in the field and their survival in different age categories. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Potato seed tubers are colonized and inhabited by soil-borne microbes, that can affect the performance of the emerging daughter plant in the next season. In this study, we investigated the intergenerational inheritance of microbiota from seed tubers to next-season daughter plants under field condition by amplicon sequencing of bacterial and fungal microbiota associated with tubers and roots, and tracked the microbial transmission from different seed tuber compartments to sprouts. Results: We observed that field of production and potato genotype significantly (P < 0.01) affected the composition of the seed tuber microbiome and that these differences persisted during winter storage of the seed tubers. Remarkably, when seed tubers from different production fields were planted in a single trial field, the microbiomes of daughter tubers and roots of the emerging plants could still be distinguished (P < 0.01) according to the production field of the seed tuber. Surprisingly, we found little vertical inheritance of field-unique microbes from the seed tuber to the daughter tubers and roots, constituting less than 0.2% of their respective microbial communities. However, under controlled conditions, around 98% of the sprout microbiome was found to originate from the seed tuber and had retained their field-specific patterns. Conclusions: The field of production shapes the microbiome of seed tubers, emerging potato plants and even the microbiome of newly formed daughter tubers. Different compartments of seed tubers harbor distinct microbiomes. Both bacteria and fungi on seed tubers have the potential of being vertically transmitted to the sprouts, and the sprout subsequently promotes proliferation of a select number of microbes from the seed tuber. Recognizing the role of plant microbiomes in plant health, the initial microbiome of seed tubers specifically or planting materials in general is an overlooked trait. Elucidating the relative importance of the initial microbiome and the mechanisms by which the origin of planting materials affect microbiome assembly will pave the way for the development of microbiome-based predictive models that may predict the quality of seed tuber lots, ultimately facilitating microbiome-improved potato cultivation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Seed deterioration is an unavoidable process during seed storage resulting in declined germination and vigour of the seeds and the seeds have different storage potential under different storage condition. Maintenance of germination and vigour requires new alternative method of storage conditions viz., packaging material and temperature conditions. Storage potential of groundnut seeds cv. VRI 8 and the changes associated with the seeds stored under different storage conditions were investigated in this study. Methods: The efficiency of modified atmospheric storage with different combination of CO2, N2 and O2 and vacuum packaging under different storage temperature (25℃, 5℃ and -5℃) for maintaining the storage behaviour of seeds up to 8 months were evaluated and the gas mixture was checked in gas analyzer at regular intervals. Result: The seeds stored under modified atmospheric storage (MAS) condition with a gas mixture of 0% CO2, 100% N2 and 0% O2 at -5℃ temperature condition, maintained germination and seed vigour above 70% with a minimum increase in seed moisture content even after 8 months of storage and even when these seeds kept under ambient condition also maintained germination above 70% after 8 months of storage while the seeds stored under ambient condition registered less germination of below 70% by 6 months of storage itself. Down-regulation of antioxidant defence system viz., catalase and peroxidase activity and the minimum accumulation of malondialdehyde and H202 content in the embryo indicated the less oxidative damage in the seeds stored under MAS compared to ambient condition. Thus, the study highlighted that the seeds have better storage potential under modified atmospheric storage condition with low atmospheric temperature through maintaining the seed quality by reducing their metabolic activity and storing these seeds under ambient condition could be a cost-effective method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: Globally, plant species are facing numerous threats; an issue particularly acute for island floras, which often exhibit high levels of endemism. Ex situ conservation in seed banks is an important tool for plant conservation. However not all species' seeds can be stored in conventional seed banks. Data on seed storage behaviour are therefore vital for conservation decision making. Aims: To review available seed storage information for the New Zealand (NZ) indigenous seed plant flora, 86% of which are endemic. Methods: We compiled seed storage information for the NZ flora from databases and existing literature, and used boosted regression trees models to investigate predictors of seed storage behaviour for NZ woody plants. We used existing global models to predict the likely storage behaviour for the NZ woody flora where this was unknown, to examine the overall contribution that conventional seed banking could make towards NZ plant conservation. Key results: Data were available for 412 of 1823 seed plants, of which 83% produced orthodox seeds that can be stored in a conventional seed bank. Of the woody flora, the incidence of non-orthodox seeds was positively correlated with seed mass, plant height, biotic dispersal, and habitat diurnal temperature range. Eighty-one percent of the woody flora are predicted to produce orthodox seeds. Conclusions and implications: Conventional seed banking is likely to be suitable for a high proportion of the NZ flora. However, work is required to gain further seed storage behaviour data for NZ species, and to develop protocols for alternative ex situ conservation strategies for non-orthodox species, especially those facing in situ conservation threats. Seed banks are an important tool for plant conservation. However not all species can be stored. We compiled information on seed storage for New Zealand plants, finding that 83% could be stored in a seed bank. Plants unable to be banked are generally bird-dispersed canopy trees, including some threatened species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: Seed banking is the most efficient and cost-effective method of preserving plant germplasm, but not all species can be conserved by conventional practices. Further, restoration of plant populations from seeds often is hindered by a lack of a priori knowledge of seed dormancy and germination requirements. Aims: Our objective was to determine seed desiccation, initial freezing tolerance and the dormancy-breaking and germination requirements of Coprosma kauensis , a dioecious shrub endemic to Kauaʻi Island in Hawaiʻi. Methods: The effects of temperature and gibberellic acid (GA3) on germination of fresh seeds were tested in light/dark at 15/5, 25/15 and 20/10°C with and without treatment with GA3. To test effects of desiccation and initial freezing on germination, seeds were dried to 15% relative humidity at 15°C and then stored at −20°C. Key results: Regardless of incubation temperature and treatment (or not) with GA3, final germination ranged from 78 to 88%; however, time to 50% germination decreased at 20/10°C for seeds treated with 500 ppm GA3. There was no significant difference in final germination percentage between freshly harvested seeds and those desiccated, nor of those desiccated and then subsequently frozen at −20°C. Conclusions: Fresh seeds of C. kauensis exhibit a low degree of nondeep physiological dormancy. They can germinate over a range of temperatures, but germination speed is increased by GA3. Fresh seeds are desiccation and freeze tolerant (after 6 months storage). Implications: This vulnerable Kauaʻi endemic species easily can be propagated from seeds. Future studies should investigate long-term longevity at various storage temperatures. Seeds of Coprosma kauensis , an IUCN Red List Vulnerable endemic Hawaiian species, germinate over a range of temperatures, but germination rate (speed) is increased by gibberellic acid (GA3). Fresh seeds are desiccation tolerant and can survive short-term storage at −18°C. However, future studies are needed to determine the optimal temperature for long-term storage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Developing a fast and non-destructive methodology to identify the storage years of Coix seed is important in safeguarding consumer well-being. This study employed the utilization of hyperspectral imaging (HSI) in conjunction with conventional machine learning techniques such as support vector machines (SVM), k-nearest neighbors (KNN), random forest (RF), extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost), as well as the deep learning method of residual neural network (ResNet), to establish identification models for Coix seed samples from different storage years. Under the fusion-based modeling approach, the model's classification accuracy surpasses that of visible to near infrared (VNIR) and short-wave infrared (SWIR) spectral modeling individually. The classification accuracy of the ResNet model and SVM exceeds that of other conventional machine learning models (KNN, RF, and XGBoost). Redundant variables were further diminished through competitive adaptive reweighted sampling feature wavelength screening, which had less impact on the model's accuracy. Upon validating the model's performance using an external validation set, the ResNet model yielded more satisfactory outcomes, exhibiting recognition accuracy exceeding 85%. In conclusion, the comprehensive results demonstrate that the integration of deep learning with HSI techniques effectively distinguishes Coix seed samples from different storage years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chilling is a major abiotic stress affecting rice growth, development and geographical distribution. Plant vacuolar processing enzymes (VPEs) contribute to the seed storage protein processing and mediate the programmed cell death by abiotic and biotic stresses. However, little is known about the roles of plant VPEs in cold stress responses and tolerance regulation. Here, we found that OsVPE2 was a chilling-responsive gene. The early-indica rice variety Xiangzaoxian31 overexpressing OsVPE2 was more sensitive to chilling stress, whereas the OsVPE2-knockout mutants generated by the CRISPR-Cas9 technology exhibited significantly enhanced chilling tolerance at the seedling stage without causing yield loss. Deficiency of OsVPE2 reduces relative electrolyte leakage, accumulation of toxic compounds such as reactive oxygen species and malondialdehyde, and promotes antioxidant enzyme activities under chilling stress conditions. It was indicated that OsVPE2 mediated the disintegration of vacuoles under chilling stress, accompanied by the entry of swollen mitochondria into vacuoles. OsVPE2 suppressed the expression of genes that have a positive regulatory role in antioxidant process. Moreover, haplotype analysis suggested that the natural variation in the OsVPE2 non-coding region may endow OsVPE2 with different expression levels, thereby probably conferring differences in cold tolerance between japonica and indica sub-population. Our results thus reveal a new biological function of the VPE family in regulating cold resistance, and suggest that the gene editing or natural variations of OsVPE2 can be used to create cold tolerant rice varieties with stable yield. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]