Abstract
In a search for useful seed aging signals as biomarkers for seed viability prediction, we conducted an experiment using terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay and 4′,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) staining to analyze morphological and molecular changes in naturally aged (NA) and artificially aged (AA) flax (Linum usitatissimum L.) seeds. A total of 2546 sections were performed from 112 seeds of 12 NA and AA seed samples with variable germination rates. Analyzing 1384 micrographs generated from TUNEL assay and DAPI staining revealed few alterations of the cellular morphology of the NA and AA seeds. Also, the revealed DNA degradations in the aged flax seeds appeared to be associated with seed samples of low germination rates. These results suggest that oily flax seed aging may alter the cellular morphology differently than starchy wheat seed aging. The results also imply that the TUNEL assay and DAPI staining may not yield informative assessments on cellular alterations and DNA degradation after the aging of oily seeds.
Highlights
Monitoring seed viability during long-term storage is an important and challenging task for the management and conservation of ex situ stored seeds in gene banks, as the unpredictable loss of seed viability during storage occurs and can lead to the depletion of valuable plant genetic resources [1,2].Currently, a germination test is the standard method used to assess the viability of ex situ conserved seeds [1,3]
(47% and 12%, respectively) was observed. These results show that both naturally aged (NA) and artificially aged (AA) treatments caused reduction in flax seed viability
The revealed DNA degradations in the aged flax seeds appeared to be associated with the seed samples with low germination rates
Summary
Monitoring seed viability during long-term storage is an important and challenging task for the management and conservation of ex situ stored seeds in gene banks, as the unpredictable loss of seed viability during storage occurs and can lead to the depletion of valuable plant genetic resources [1,2].Currently, a germination test is the standard method used to assess the viability of ex situ conserved seeds [1,3]. Seed viability loss is associated with changes in cellular membrane damage, weakened energy metabolism, production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and their counter balance, lipid peroxidation, compromised RNA and protein synthesis, inactivation of enzymes, and DNA degradation [4,7,8,9,13,14,15]. Some of these changes, such as DNA degradation, were the consequences of Plants 2018, 7, 34; doi:10.3390/plants7020034 www.mdpi.com/journal/plants
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