Abstract
The contents of cells may comprise and/or consist of up to 80% water. Removal of cellular water may be accompanied by and/or associated with disruptions and/or disturbances of normal cellular events and/or organization. Desiccation tolerance has evolved adaptations - mechanisms and/or processes - to deal with the situation. Dehydration, germination and ageing may lead to the generation and/or production of free radicals. (Re)active oxygen species may result in cellular damage and/or death. Antioxidants detoxify and/or process free radicals. Active oxygen species may also be involved and/or participate in an integrated intracellular signaling network. This paper attempts an overview and/or review of free radical processes – activity and/or processing - in seed desiccation sensitivity and/or tolerance in the context and/or light of the latter.
Highlights
The free-radical theory of ageing originated in the medical sciences more than half-a-century ago [1]
ROS metabolism needs to be studied during all stages of development maturation drying, the ascorbate system may play a central role in embryogenesis and cell growth mainly because ascorbate may control cell-cycle progression and/or totipotency of plant protoplasts has been related to the activity of the cell antioxidant machinery since a direct correlation exists between high AOS content and repressed expression of totipotency
AOS and antioxidants probably play a wider role in seed physiology than is currently appreciated as illustrated by the studies reviewed elsewhere and/or here
Summary
The free-radical theory of ageing originated in the medical sciences more than half-a-century ago [1]. Orthodox seeds are devoid of an important source of AOS through photosynthetic electron transport in chloroplasts except in the early developmental phase, the sources of AOS in seeds probably vary considerably, the mitochondrial respiratory chain is one of the major sources of AOS, peroxisomes are a possible source of AOS, other sources of AOS have been characterized more recently in plants including NADPH oxidases of the plasma membrane and/or pH-dependent cell-wall peroxidases and/or amine oxidases and/or non-enzymatic autoxidation of lipids may represent a potential source of AOS in seeds during dry storage when enzymatic activities and metabolism are negligible.
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