Characterization Of Seeds Research Articles

Genetic Variability of Tunisian Faba Beans (Vicia faba L.) Based on Seeds’ Morphophysical Properties as Assessed by Statistical Analysis

Faba bean (Vicia faba L.) is a legume crop cultivated for its nutritious seeds that are an important worldwide source of human food and feed. Seeds characterization is a prerequisite step for faba bean quality improvement. The morphophysical characterization of the seeds of twenty-four local faba bean accessions following the UPOV descriptors and the AOAC International standards was carried out and assessed with an approach based on Euclidean statistical model. “205 Bulk” was the unique accession harboring white hilum color seed which is linked to low convicine grain content. Irregular seed shape was the most observed character among the studied accessions except “Badii” displaying an elliptical seed shape; therefore, seed shape did not allow discrimination within our Tunisian germplasm. Interestingly, the physical characters of the seeds showed significant diversity between the accessions for all the measured parameters. A highly significant variability was observed for axial, length, and width dimensions of seeds, with “Memdouh” being the longest and largest seed accession, whereas “01-02” was the shortest and narrowest. Classification of the studied faba bean germplasm accessions based on morphophysical characters using clustering by Euclidean distance revealed three different groups. Moreover, multivariate PCA analysis further classified the faba bean accessions into four main clusters. Correlation study performed by using Spearman’s test established positive correlations within physical parameters of seeds such as between mean length and mean width of seeds. Therefore, using morphophysical parameters screening, valuable phenotypes have been selected for deeper physiological characterization and further breeding programs.

A Genomic Analysis of Historic Chickpea Landraces

The collection of seeds and living plants at the N.I. Vavilov All Russian Institute of Plant Genetic Resources (VIR) contains historic chickpea landraces sampled from major historic centers of chickpea cultivation and secondary diversification. In this work, we analyze the results obtained from phenotype characterization of 407 historic chickpea landraces grown in the trial fields of Kuban experimental station in 2017. GWAS analysis identified three single nucleotide polymorphisms on chromosomes 2, 7 and 8 that were highly associated with the days to flowering phenotype trait. These single nucleotide polymorphisms and the regions of genome near to these single nucleotide polymorphisms were identified in previous studies. Estimation of the Genotype–Environment interaction for phenotypic traits coincident with plant seeds led to identification of the best genotypes in the environments. These genotypes have an alternative homozygote at loci Ca7:30930779 which shows similar phenotypic traits that were described during phenotype characterization of seeds grown in the trial fields of the Kuban experimental station in 2016 and with the period of flowering typical of phenotype characterization of the plants in 2017. These results can accelerate the search for the seed samples that are the most promising for cultivation of chickpea landraces.

Morphological and anatomical characteristics and temporal pattern of initial growth in Astrocaryum acaule Mart

Astrocaryum acaule Mart. is a palm with underground stem, common in lowland forests, known in Brazil as tucumã-í. The objective of this work was to perform the description and characterization of seeds and of the seedling emergence process, revealing morphological and anatomical patterns of A. acaule. Seedlings were obtained by sowing in vermiculite. The seed is spherical, with variations in shape and size according to the number of seeds in the fruit. Germination is adjacent, with formation of a coleoptile above the cotyledonary sheath. The germinative bud is emitted within between 30 and 130 days. The proximal and distal regions differentiate with growth, forming the seedling and the haustorium that transfers reserves through the reduced apocole. The initial root system differs in the hypocotyl-radicle region, below the insertion of leaf primordia, forming a lateral root and a late primary root. The first eophyll is expanded 120 days after the protrusion of the germinative button, with aculeate petiole, amphistomatic leaf blade, papillose epidermis, homogeneous mesophyll, and vascular system covered by fibers. Morphoanatomical characters reported in this study increase our knowledge about Amazonian palms and on organogenesis in their early stages of growth.

The Optical Absorption Coefficient of Bean Seeds Investigated Using Photoacoustic Spectroscopy

A knowledge about seed optical parameters is of great relevance in seed technology practice. Such parameters provide information about its absorption and reflectance, which could be useful for biostimulation processes, by light sources, in early stages of seed germination. In the present research photoacoustic spectroscopy (PAS) and the Rosencwaig and Gersho model were used to determine the optical absorption coefficient ( $$\beta $$ ) of five varieties of bean seeds (Phaseolus vulgaris L.), of different productive cycles; the seeds were biostimulated by laser treatment to evaluate the effects of biostimulation pre-sowing. It was found that the bean varieties V1, V2, V4, and V5 were optically opaque in the visible spectrum; in the case of the V3 variety, this sample was optically transparent from 680 nm. The varieties of the studied bean seeds showed significant statistical differences in sizes and also in their optical absorption spectra. The biostimulation effects showed that the seed samples with a higher optical penetration length had a positive biostimulation, in the percentage of germination, obtaining an enhancement of 47 % compared to the control sample. The utility of PAS for the optical characterization of seeds has been demonstrated in this study of the laser biostimulation process of this kind of samples.

Physical and rheological characterization of seeds of three legume trees

El algarrobo chileno (Prosopis chilensis (Mol) Stuntz), la tara (Caesalpinea spinosa (Mol) Kuntze) y la acacia de las tres espinas (Gleditsia triacanthos L) ofrecen un interesante potencial para promover el desarrollo de las zonas aridas. En el endosperma de sus semillas existe una goma del tipo galactomanano que posee propiedades viscosantes y estabilizadoras de emulsiones. Se realizo una investigacion para evaluar las caracteristicas fisicas de las vainas y semillas y las propiedades reologicas de las gomas de estas especies. Se estudiaron frutos de cinco ecotipos de algarrobo (Region de Coquimbo y Region Metropolitana), de tara (Region de Coquimbo) y de acacia de las tres espinas (Region Metropolitana). Se midieron las dimensiones de las vainas, numero de semillas/ vaina, peso de semillas, rendimiento y parametros de color de cotiledon y goma y las propiedades reologicas de las gomas extraidas. Las gomas se extrajeron manualmente y se secaron a 50 oQ En algarrobo, las semillas pesaron 0,04 g y el rendimiento de goma vario entre 25,5 y 31,5%. Las semillas de tara pesaron 0,14 g y las de acacia de las tres espinas 0,16 g, con un rendimiento de goma 31,0 y de 40,1% y respectivamente. Las gomas presentaron una alta luminosidad y contribucion del amarillo y baja contribucion de rojo. Las dispersiones, en todas las gomas estudiadas, presentaron un comportamiento no newtoniano del tipo Herschel-Bulkley, correspondiendo a un fluido inelastico, independiente del tiempo. La viscosidad aparente de la goma de algarrobo fluctuo entre 0,020 y 0,12, la de tara entre 0,06 y 1,3, y la de acacia de las tres espinas entre 0,034 y 0,08 Pa*s. Las gomas de estas especies tienen caracteristicas reologicas que permitirian su aplicacion en alimentos.

Growth performance, variability in yield traits and oil content of selected accessions of Jatropha curcas L. growing in a large scale plantation site

Jatropha curcas L. (JCL) is gaining global popularity as a potential feed stock of biodiesel and a candidate species for waste land reclamation. Although the oil yield of this species is better than any other non-edible oil yielding plants, the lack of agronomic practices defame this species for further exploitation. Furthermore, there is paucity of data on the growth performances and yield of JCL plantations. In this context, a systematic study on passport data and yield performance of JCL germplasms (including their indigenous collection number (IC No.), morphological characterization of seeds and seed oil content) growing in a large scale plantation site at Solar Energy Center, Gurgaon, India were carried out during 2007-2008. Ten elite accessions of JCL were screened from this site based on their growth performance and biomass characterization and were deposited at National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources, New Delhi for registration. The oil content of the 10 registered accessions was ranged from 17% to 34%. Cluster analysis was performed to find out promising germplasms. Cluster analysis formed two prominent groups, each one with two sub-clusters. The promising accessions can be further explored for crop improvement programs. Furthermore, multi-locational trials are essential for optimizing the agropractices for maximum yield for a sustainable biodiesel production. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Characterization of seeds with different moisture content by photoacoustic microscopy

Photoacoustic (PA) technique has important applications for material characterization and nondestructive evaluation of opaque solid materials. PA microscopy allows the acquisition of information of samples with inhomogeneous structures as agricultural seeds. A determining factor for seed safe storage is their moisture content. Seeds stored at high moisture content exhibit increased respiration, heating, and fungal invasion resulting in poor seed vigor and viability. Low moisture content, in the seed to be stored, is the best prevention for these problems. In this study, Photoacoustic Microscopy (PAM) was used to characterize seeds with different moisture content. In the PAM experimental setup the photoacoustic cell and its sensor, an electret microphone, are mounted on an x-y stage of mobile axes, with spatial resolution of 70 μm. The excitation light source is a fiber coupled laser diode, at 650 nm wavelength, modulated in intensity at 1 Hz of frequency, by the reference oscillator of a lock-in amplifier. By using a microscope objective the laser beam was focused on the seed surface. The resolution was enough to obtain differences in the obtained images, which are dependent on the moisture content. This method, to study differences in the seed moisture content, is nondestructive and could be useful for a sustainable Agriculture.

Chemical composition and characterisation of seeds from two varieties (pure and hybrid) of Aesculus hippocastanum

Investigations have been conducted on some samples of naturally desiccated horse-chestnuts ( Aesculus hippocastanum), representative of the two most common mediterranean varieties: the pure species (AHP, giving white flowers), and a hybrid (AHH, giving pink flowers). Different experimental techniques have been used to gain more information on morphological structure and chemical composition of these complex matrices. Surface analysis by SEM showed no differences in such floured samples (wild type), while thermal behaviour (DSC) outlines some significant differences between them. Chemical composition reveals some differences in residual moisture (AHP = 6.97%; AHH = 6.59%), proteins (AHP = 2.64%; AHH = 1.82%), lipids (AHP = 4.13%; AHH = 5.10%), glucides (AHP = 15.2%; AHH = 14.3%), and ashes (AHP = 2.51%; AHH = 2.19%). Most likely, these characters modulate other undifferentiated chemical parameters, such as cold water solubility (CWS:AHP = 53.9%; AHH = 48.6%), and total inorganic soluble salts (TISS:AHP = 2.18%; AHH = 1.92%). Principal component analysis was applied to differentiate the two horse-chestnuts varieties. In particular, the first principal component effectively distinguish and discriminates AHH and AHP samples in two well-separated categories, giving, at the same time, some information on the influence of the whole set of chemical compositional parameters.

NIR - AN ALTERNATIVE TOOL IN HORTICULTURAL BIOTECHNOLOGY

Molecular marker techniques are mostly based on the detection of nucleic acids preferably DNA or sometimes proteins or other molecules. Genomic markers are more stable and sensitive than the others and do not depend on environmental factors but are more cost-consuming than simple protein or biochemical markers. All of these techniques are destructive and also need different chemicals for the measurement. Near-Infra-Red spectroscopy offers a nondestructive tool for quick investigation of biological samples and is safe for the environment. The technology is already widespread in pharmaceutical - and food industry and more and more widespread in agriculture, mostly in the cereal industry. Some examples are given for characterization of seeds of horticultural plants such as bean, melon, watermelon using NIR spectroscopy to prove that NIR is an alternative technology for variety identification, selection, and to measure hybridity and quality of seed samples, the technique is safe for the environment. The use of NIR in horticultural biotechnology has many advantages over conventional marker techniques, especially for seed biotechnology. Calibration still remains the most important limitation for the acceptance of the technology, fairly closely followed by the cost of the instruments.

A Test Rig for LDV and Seeding Characterization for High Speed Turbomachinery Application: Experimental Results

The accuracy and data rate of Laser Doppler Velocimetry (LDV) are strongly influenced by several parameters. To optimize measurements, a system for setting up the velocimeter, not influenced by the specific environment, is needed. It is necessary to choose several optical parameters, to evaluate insemination techniques (not influenced by specific flow fields) and to compare seeding performance in a right range of velocities. A supersonic wind tunnel was constructed, to evaluate the measurement LDV system in a range of velocities from 50 m/s to 450 m/s using various kinds of seeding. Tests were performed both in accelerating velocity zones and in the presence of shock waves. Comparative tests were made using suspension in water of various materials as seeding: Polystyrene (PSL), microballoons, four kinds of commercial aluminum oxide powder in distillate (pH = 6) and acid water (pH = 2), plus other oxides like TiO_2 and ZrO_2.

Characterization of seeds from 10 IUFRO Sitka spruce provenances using trace element profiles as determined by X-ray energy-dispersive spectrometry

Trace-element profiles for seeds collected from 10 International Union of Forest Research Organization provenances of Sitka spruce (Piceasitchensis [Bong.] Carr.) from the Pacific Northwest were determined by X-ray energy-dispersive spectrometry. Stepwise discriminant analyses were used to examine potential significant differences among groups and separate samples were used as unknowns to test each discriminant function. Three analyses were made, the first to discriminate among the 10 provenances, the second to discriminate among the five Canadian provenances only, and the third to discriminate the Canadian provenances grouped by soil types at provenance origin. Significant differences (P < 0.01) among groups were observed in all cases. High degrees of success were achieved in identifying "unknowns" and classifying them to their source groups (80–100%). Several variables were common among the three analyses, suggesting that the elemental profile of each provenance is a reflection of both environmental condition (soil chemistry) and the genetic makeup (mineral uptake). The use of this technique in forest seed certification is discussed.