Influence of Cathodic Water Invigoration on the Emergence and Subsequent Growth of Controlled Deteriorated Pea and Pumpkin Seeds.

Kayode Fatokun,Richard P Beckett,Jacques Cloete,Boby Varghese,Norman W Pammenter

doi:10.3390/plants9080955

Kayode Fatokun, Richard P Beckett + Show 3 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/plants9080955

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Abstract

The quality of seeds in gene banks gradually deteriorates during long-term storage, which is probably, at least in part, a result of the progressive development of oxidative stress. Here, we report a greenhouse study that was carried out to test whether a novel approach of seed invigoration using priming with cathodic water (cathodic portion of an electrolysed calcium magnesium solution) could improve seedling emergence and growth in two deteriorated crop seeds. Fresh seeds of Pisum sativum and Cucurbita pepo were subjected to controlled deterioration to 50% viability at 14% seed moisture content (fresh weight basis), 40 °C and 100% relative humidity. The deteriorated seeds were thereafter primed with cathodic water, calcium magnesium solution and deionized water. In addition, to study the mechanism of the impacts of invigoration, the effects of such priming on the lipid peroxidation products malondialdehyde (MDA) and 4-hydroxynonenal (4-HNE) and on the reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging enzymes superoxide dismutase and catalase were also determined in the fresh and deteriorated seeds. All priming treatments improved seed emergence parameters, subsequent seedling photosynthesis and growth relative to the unprimed seeds. In general, cathodic water was most effective at invigorating deteriorated seeds. Analysis of the lipid peroxidation products and antioxidant enzyme activities in invigorated seeds provided support for the hypothesis that the effectiveness of cathodic water in invigoration of debilitated orthodox seeds in general and of pea and pumpkin seeds in particular derive from its ability to act as an antioxidant.

Highlights

Orthodox seeds can be effectively conserved in seeds banks but, even during careful storage, can eventually deteriorate in vigour and viability [1,2]
Seed water contents were raised to 14% for both species in a vapour chamber, and the seeds were subjected to controlled deterioration (CD; accelerated ageing) at 40 ◦ C and 100% relative humidity (RH) in a digital oven (Series 2000, Scientific, Massachusetts, USA)
Mean emergence time, emergence index and uniformity of emergence were adversely affected by controlled deterioration when compared with the fresh unprimed seeds

Summary

Introduction

Orthodox seeds can be effectively conserved in seeds banks but, even during careful storage, can eventually deteriorate in vigour and viability [1,2]. The deterioration of seeds in gene banks is of global concern, as it affects the long-term conservation of genetic diversity of both wild and agricultural plants [3,4] essential for future breeding programs. Africa, where the effects of climate change are likely to be severe [5,6]. Deterioration of seeds can cause reduced or complete loss of seedling emergence on the field [7,8,9]. Seedlings of deteriorated seeds may display reduced photosynthesis and transpiration [10,11], slower growth and lower yields [12]. Even if poor quality seeds germinate or emerge, the quality of plants generated from such seed is not guaranteed [7,10,11]

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