Abstract
Seeds are an important life cycle stage because they guarantee plant survival in unfavorable environmental conditions and the transfer of genetic information from parents to offspring. However, similar to every organ, seeds undergo aging processes that limit their viability and ultimately cause the loss of their basic property, i.e., the ability to germinate. Seed aging is a vital economic and scientific issue that is related to seed resistance to an array of factors, both internal (genetic, structural, and physiological) and external (mainly storage conditions: temperature and humidity). Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are believed to initiate seed aging via the degradation of cell membrane phospholipids and the structural and functional deterioration of proteins and genetic material. Researchers investigating seed aging claim that the effective protection of genetic resources requires an understanding of the reasons for senescence of seeds with variable sensitivity to drying and long-term storage. Genomic integrity considerably affects seed viability and vigor. The deterioration of nucleic acids inhibits transcription and translation and exacerbates reductions in the activity of antioxidant system enzymes. All of these factors significantly limit seed viability.
Highlights
reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation occurs due to the low activity of the antioxidant system and differences in the content of late embryogenesis abundant (LEA) defense proteins content [7]. The sensitivity of these seeds is likely further increased by their structure, which does not protect against mechanical damage [22]
According to the “oxidative window” hypothesis, both lower and higher levels of ROS have a negative effect on seed germination, and a positive effect is only possible within a critical range of concentrations [48]. These results demonstrate that maintaining redox balance in seed cells considerably affects seed viability during drying [2]
The nature of m5 C oxidation, whether this modification originates from ROS activity, and its role in plant genome demethylation during water deficit conditions still needs to be investigated
Summary
Seeds are exposed to oxidative damage caused by reactive oxygen species (ROS). Transcript, and gene analyses have provided some data on orthodox seed tolerance to desiccation. This tolerance is due to limited metabolism (following drying) and an extensive antioxidant system, the activity of which depends on a complex signaling network [7,8,9,10]. Roberts [20] classified these seeds as being sensitive to water loss and/or storage at low temperatures. ROS accumulation occurs due to the low activity of the antioxidant system and differences in the content of LEA defense proteins content [7] The sensitivity of these seeds is likely further increased by their structure, which does not protect against mechanical damage [22]
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