Abstract
Abstract: The aim of this study was to analyze the regenerative capacity of Eugenia involucrata seeds as a possible strategy to ensure the production of new seedlings when they are going through a period of water deficit. Progressive water deficit conditions over time (up to 60 days for seeds and 270 days for seedlings) and in intensity (up to -5 MPa for seeds and -10 MPa for seedlings) were simulated, and seedling regeneration was analyzed. The results showed that these seeds can survive even under the most extreme conditions (-5 MPa for 60 days) and some seedling tissues as well (-5 MPa for 270 days). Furthermore, roots and seedlings continued to develop from apparently necrotic tissue on the seed surface, showing that, when necessary, these seeds use their mechanism of formation of new roots and seedlings to ensure species survival under water stress conditions.
Highlights
The ability to produce new roots and seedlings from fractions of the same seed or cracked seeds has been extensively studied in domesticated species of Eugenia (E. brasiliensis, E. involucrata, E. pyriformis, and E. uniflora) and non-domesticated species (E. candolleana, E. cerasiflora, E. pruinosa, and E. umbelliflora) (Delgado et al, 2010; Amador and Barbedo, 2011; Teixeira and Barbedo, 2012; Amador and Barbedo, 2015; Alonso et al, 2019)
Experiment 1: tolerance of germinant seeds to water deficit - the formation of roots and normal seedlings from seeds incubated for 30 days at different water potentials did not show a difference among the potentials (Figure 4A)
This formation was wholly a consequence of the structures already existing at the end of incubation at -5 MPa, whereas in those arising from greater water potentials, there was some regeneration of new structures (Figure 4B)
Summary
The ability to produce new roots and seedlings from fractions of the same seed or cracked seeds has been extensively studied in domesticated species of Eugenia (E. brasiliensis, E. involucrata, E. pyriformis, and E. uniflora) and non-domesticated species (E. candolleana, E. cerasiflora, E. pruinosa, and E. umbelliflora) (Delgado et al, 2010; Amador and Barbedo, 2011; Teixeira and Barbedo, 2012; Amador and Barbedo, 2015; Alonso et al, 2019). Alonso and Barbedo (2020) studied the elimination of successive germinations in whole and fractioned seeds of Eugenia and showed that these seeds are able to produce new roots and seedlings after removal of up to the third root or seedling they produce. Alonso and Barbedo (2020) studied the elimination of successive germinations in whole and fractioned seeds of Eugenia and showed that these seeds are able to produce new roots and seedlings after removal of up to the third root or seedling they produce. They suggest that this regenerative ability is associated with a strategy of perpetuation of the species in the face of unfavorable environmental conditions. The authors suggest that Eugenia seeds are intolerant to desiccation, they may have invested in mechanisms which avoid water loss in vital tissues, allowing the germination and development of seedlings when conditions become favorable
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