Deterioration of orthodox seeds during ageing: Influencing factors, physiological alterations and the role of reactive oxygen species

Abstract

Seed viability is an important trait in agriculture which directly influences seedling emergence and crop yield. However, even when stored under optimal conditions, all seeds will eventually lose their viability. Our primary aims were to describe factors influencing seed deterioration, determine the morphological, physiological, and biochemical changes that occur during the process of seed ageing, and explore the mechanisms involved in seed deterioration. High relative humidity and high temperature are two factors that accelerate seed deterioration. As seeds age, frequently observed changes include membrane damage and the destruction of organelle structure, an increase in the loss of seed leachate, decreases of respiratory rates and ATP production, and a loss of enzymatic activity. These phenomena could be inter-related and reflect the general breakdown in cellular organization. Many processes can result in seed ageing; it is likely that oxidative damage caused by free radicals and reactive oxygen species (ROS) is primarily responsible. ROS can have vital interactions with any macromolecule of biological interest that result in damage to various cellular components caused by protein damage, lipid peroxidation, chromosomal abnormalities, and DNA lesions. Further, ROS may also cause programmed cell death by inducing the opening of mitochondrial permeability transition pores and the release of cytochrome C. Some repairs can occur in the early stages of imbibition, but repair processes fail if sufficient damage has been caused to critical functional components. As a result, a given seed will lose its viability and eventually fail to germinate in a relatively short time period.