Seed Size Research Articles

Offspring may succeed well next to their relatives, but it needs particular traits.

There is ongoing debate about whether offspring perform best next to phylogenetically distantly related adult neighbours (due to the scarcity of enemies and competitors) or next to closely related adults (due to the abundance of mutualists). Here we hypothesise that relatedness of adult neighbours affects which traits confer performance rather than performance itself. We studied seed removal, seed germination and sapling growth in Sessile Oaks (Quercus petraea and hybrids), and how they depend on size, shape and other traits, under both closely and distantly related canopies, manipulating offspring-density, presence of insects, and fungi, and spatial proximity to oaks. We found that phylogenetic distance of adult neighbours affects only little performance of offspring but strongly which traits confer performance to offspring, in particular the size and shape of seeds and saplings. Differences in trait-performance relationships mostly disappear once insects or conspecific competitors are excluded (albeit exclusion of fungi reinforced these differences). Effects of phylogenetic distance of neighbours were not replaceable by the percentage of the gymnosperms among neighbours, nor the environmental conditions considered. We suggest that by responding to a biotic micro-mosaic of selection pressures, Sessile Oak flexibly succeeds in diverse neighbourhoods. Sessile Oak might maintain the potential for both, convergence with and divergence from phylogenetically distantly related species, thereby reinforcing or eroding phylogenetic signal of niches.

Changes in size and chemical composition of fruits and seeds along an elevational gradient in the tropical tree Myrsine coriacea

Changes in size and chemical composition of fruits and seeds along an elevational gradient in the tropical tree Myrsine coriacea

Natural variation in the promoter of qRBG1/OsBZR5 underlies enhanced rice yield

Seed size, a key determinant of rice yield, is regulated by brassinosteroid (BR); however, the BR pathway in rice has not been fully elucidated. Here, we report the cloning and characterization of the quantitative trait locus Rice Big Grain 1 (qRBG1) from single-segment substitution line Z499. Our data show that qRBG1Z is an unselected rare promoter variation that reduces qRBG1 expression to increase cell number and size, resulting in larger grains, whereas qRBG1 overexpression causes smaller grains in recipient Nipponbare. We demonstrate that qRBG1 encodes a non-canonical BES1 (Bri1-EMS-Suppressor1)/BZR1(Brassinazole-Resistant1) family member, OsBZR5, that regulates grain size upon phosphorylation by OsGSK2 (GSK3-like Kinase2) and binding to D2 (DWARF2) and OFP1 (Ovate-Family-Protein1) promoters. qRBG1 interacts with OsBZR1 to synergistically repress D2, and to antagonistically mediate OFP1 for grain size. Our results reveal a regulatory network controlling grain size via OsGSK2–qRBG1–OsBZR1–D2–OFP1 module, providing a target for improving rice yield.

Allium taiseba, a new species of Allium sect. Scorodon (Amaryllidaceae) from Van province (Turkey)

A new species, Allium taiseba (A. sect. Scorodon), is described from Hoşap (Xoşap)/Van province, Turkey. It is morphologically similar to A. bingoelense, but it differs in several morphological features including inner tunic's colour of bulb, spathe length, tepal colours and size, stamen colour and length, ovary shape, style colour and length, capsule and seeds size. A comprehensive description of the new species is provided, including detailed photographs, geographical distribution map, habitat and ecology, vernacular names and IUCN conservation status.

Detection of moisture and size of winter melon seeds based on hyperspectral imaging and convex polygon size measurement

The level of moisture content and size of winter melon seeds affect their storage, germination and growth processes. Moderate moisture and size are essential for seed germination and growth. Therefore, detecting the moisture and size of winter melon seeds is beneficial to improve their germination rate. Traditional seed moisture testing methods are complex to operate and require destructive sample preparation or chemical treatment. Common dimensional measurement methods are also time-consuming and laborious. Hyperspectral imaging technology can acquire information about the surface and internal structure of the target separately, it can be used to quickly and non-destructively detect the moisture and size of winter melon seeds. In this study, partial least squares regression (PLSR) and partial least squares support vector machine (LSSVM) models were established to predict the moisture content of winter melon seeds by using reflection and transmittance spectral data. The models were optimized using five variable selection methods. The optimal performance of the LSSVM model based on the CARS algorithm was achieved in both single reflection and transmission spectra. The RP2 and RMSEP of the model based on the reflection spectra were 0.9667 % and 0.0215 %, respectively. The RP2 and RMSEP of the model based on the transmission spectra were 0.9644 % and 0.0223 %, respectively. In low-level data fusion, the LSSVM model based on the CARS algorithm also achieved optimal performance, but with only a little improvement compared to a single model (reflection spectra or transmission spectra), with RP2 and RMSEP of 0.9679 % and 0.0212 %, respectively. In the mid-level data fusion, the LSSVM model also based on the CARS algorithm achieved the optimal performance, and the performance of the model was further improved. The RP2 and RMSEP of the model were 0.9738 % and 0.0191 %, respectively. Finally, the image processing algorithm and the convex polygon size measurement method was proposed to measure the size of winter melon seeds. The absolute error between the calibrated winter melon seed length and width and the true length and width was less than 0.22 mm, and the relative error was less than 2 %. The results show that hyperspectral imaging technology can accurately detect the water content of winter melon seeds. Data fusion method and LSSVM model based on CARS algorithm can detect the water content of winter melon seeds more accurately. The image processing algorithm combined with the convex polygon size measurement method can be effectively used to detect the size of winter melon seeds with high precision.

Seeds go up and down: The role of dung beetles in soil seed movement in the Southern Atlantic Forest of Argentina

Abstract The vertical movement of seeds performed by dung beetles from the soil bank and in animal faeces influences seed germination and the temporal dynamic of forest regeneration. While this process has been explored at the community level, the individual role of species is less understood. Here, we investigated the role of dung beetle size and seed size in this vertical movement under experimental conditions. We performed experiments using a gradient of dung beetle sizes and three sizes of artificial seeds (plastic beads) in two situations: inside faeces (secondary dispersal) and buried in the ground (soil bank). Through regression analysis, we related dung beetle size, seed size, and the initial position of seeds on the soil bank to the final position of seeds and their potential germination. For seeds in the soil bank, upward movement and exhumation were mainly of medium and large seeds, initially located at shallower depths, with larger beetles being primarily responsible for this movement. The downward movement was similar for all seed sizes. In dung seeds, the percentage of small seeds buried gradually increased with beetle size, while larger beetles made the main contribution for medium and large seeds. Besides, all seed sizes were buried at an average maximum bury depth of nearly 4 cm (the limit of the germination zone). The relative contribution of species depended on the interaction between dung beetles and seed sizes. Moreover, large dung beetles were essential for burying large seeds in the Southern Atlantic Forest.

Analysis of the role of the rice metallothionein gene OsMT2b in grain size regulation

Seed size is one of the three main characteristics determining rice yield. Clarification of the mechanisms regulating seed size in rice has implications for improving rice yield. Although several genes have been reported to regulate seed size, most of the reports are fragmentary. The role of metallothioneins (MTs) in regulating seed size remains unknown. Here, we found that OsMT2b was expressed in both spikelets and developing seeds. OsMT2b-overexpression lines had large and heavy seeds, and RNAi (RNA interference) lines had small and light seeds. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) observations revealed that OsMT2b regulated spikelet hull size by affecting cell expansion in the outer epidermis. Histological analysis indicated that OsMT2b affected the number of cells in the cross-section of spikelet hulls, which affected seed size. The fresh weight of seeds was consistently higher in OsMT2b-overexpression lines than in seeds of the wild-type (WT) and RNAi lines from 6 DAP (days after pollination) until maturity, indicating that OsMT2b affected seed filling. Reverse transcription-quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) analyses revealed that OsMT2b regulates the expression of reactive oxygen species scavenging-related genes involved in seed size regulation. In conclusion, our results indicated that OsMT2b positively regulates seed size, which provides a novel approach for regulating seed size with genetic engineering technology.

Isolation limits spring pollination in a UK fragmented landscape

Animal-mediated pollination determines the reproductive success of most flowering plants; this process however can be disrupted by environmental degradation, with habitat loss and fragmentation highlighted as a top driver of pollination deficits. Despite being a pervasive stressor worldwide, we still have rather limited empirical evidence on its effects on pollination services, especially for early spring pollination syndromes. We investigate this using a potted plant phytometry experiment in which we placed English Bluebell (Hyacinthoides non-scripta)—a species largely pollinated in spring—into a fragmented woodland habitat. We selected 51 woodland patches which varied in both size and distance from each other and placed 153 pots of bluebell plants in the patches for c.4 weeks to measure pollination. The woodlands were located in a matrix of grassland, the latter being of low plant species richness and overall in the patches, woodland plants showed a positive species-area relationship. We collected traits on bluebell reproduction, these included the number, size, quality of seeds, the number of seed capsules and the number of flowers that failed to set any seeds. We found that seed traits responded differently to patch area and isolation. Patch isolation negatively affected the number of seeds and capsules, whilst it did not affect the size and quality of seeds. Patch area had no effect on any traits, suggesting that patch area might not necessarily be a factor that affects pollination in this species. The number of flowers that failed to set seed was unaffected by either patch area or isolation. Our study suggests that woodland fragmentation impacts the pollination of understory spring flowering plants. Our results highlight the use of multiple traits of phytometer plants to evaluate pollination and the importance of connectivity in maintaining pollination services in small-fragmented landscapes.

Identification of Hotspot Regions for Candidate Genes Associated with Peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) Pod and Seed Size on Chromosome A05

The size of peanut pods and seeds, which directly affects yield and quality, also has significant implications for mechanized production and market efficiency. Identifying relevant loci and mining candidate genes is crucial for cultivating high-yield peanut varieties. In this study, we employed advanced generation recombinant inbred lines developed by crossbreeding Huayu 44 and DF12 as the experimental material. Quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping for traits related to pod and seed size was conducted across six environments. A total of 44 QTLs were detected, distributed on chromosomes A02, A05, B04, B08, and B10. An enrichment region for multiple QTLs was also identified on chromosome A05 (19.28~52.32 cm). In this region, 10 KASP markers were developed, narrowing the enrichment area to two candidate gene hotspot regions of 600.9 kb and 721.2 kb. By combining gene prediction and functional annotation within the intervals, 10 candidate genes, including those encoding cytochrome P450 protein, polyamine synthase, mannose-1-phosphate guanylyltransferase, pentatricopeptide repeat protein, and E2F transcription factor, were identified as regulators of pod and seed size. This study provides technical support for the genetic improvement and key gene identification of peanut pod and seed size.

Transcriptome Analysis and Identification of Genes Associated with Cotton Seed Size.

Cotton seeds, as the main by-product of cotton, are not only an important raw material for edible oil and feed but also a source of biofuel. The quality of cotton seeds directly affects cotton planting and is closely related to the yield and fiber quality. However, the molecular mechanism governing cotton seed size remains largely unexplored. This study investigates the regulatory mechanisms of cotton seed size by focusing on two cotton genotypes, N10 and N12, which exhibit notable phenotypic variations across multiple environments. Developing seeds were sampled at various stages (5, 20, 30, and 35 DPA) and subjected to RNA-seq. Temporal pattern clustering and WGCNA on differentially expressed genes identified 413 candidate genes, including these related to sugar metabolism that were significantly enriched in transcriptional regulation. A genetic transformation experiment indicated that the overexpression of the GhUXS5 gene encoding UDP-glucuronate decarboxylase 5 significantly increased seed size, suggesting an important role of GhUXS5 in regulating cotton seed size. This discovery provides crucial insights into the molecular mechanisms controlling cotton seed size, helping to unravel the complex regulatory network and offering new strategies and targets for cotton breeding to enhance the economic value of cotton seeds and overall cotton yield.

Allometry and the distribution of fruit and seed traits across tropical plant species

AbstractFruit and seed morphometry was studied across 1070 plant species belonging to 140 families from 27 contrasting plant communities. The main objectives were to identify allometric relationships and describe the frequency distributions of the weights and sizes of fruits and seeds across plant species, regardless of any qualitative attribute or community type. The frequency distributions of 12 morphometric variables were then determined. Pearson correlations were used to describe associations between quantitative attributes and estimate the slopes of the lines (allometric coefficients) obtained. In general, small fruits and seeds (<1 cm) prevailed in the sample examined. The frequency distributions of the weight and size parameters of the fruits and seeds were bell‐shaped, with the exception of the number of seeds per fruit, which was skewed to the right. The highest allometric coefficients were found between the dry weights and sizes of the fruits and seeds, suggesting that these traits are mutually supporting. The cost of seed packaging per fruit, or the pericarp/seed ratio, tended to decrease with increasing investment in progeny, and the number of seeds per fruit decreased with an increase in seed weight. The significant associations between the fruit shape indexes and the morphometric attributes show that the shape of fruits is related to their size and weight. The highest allometric coefficients were found between the dry weights and sizes of the fruits and seeds. Fruit and seed size can predict their biomass and vice versa. There is a close relationship between fruit biomass values and their components (seeds and pericarp). Most species invest more biomass in pericarp (protection and dispersal) compared with the investment in progeny (seed per fruit). The sample examined could be influenced taxonomically along with selective pressures that favour the reproductive economy of the species and suggest that morphometric traits have evolved in coordination.

Identification of Multiple Genetic Loci and Candidate Genes Determining Seed Size and Weight in Soybean

Identification of Multiple Genetic Loci and Candidate Genes Determining Seed Size and Weight in Soybean

WRKY10 Regulates Seed Size through the miR397a-LAC2 Module in Arabidopsis thaliana.

In angiosperms, seed size is a critical trait that is influenced by the complex interplay between the endosperm and seed coat. The HAIKU (IKU) pathway, involving the transcription factor WRKY10, plays a crucial role in regulating seed size in Arabidopsis thaliana. However, the downstream targets of WRKY10 and their roles in seed size determination remain largely unexplored. Here, we identified LACCASE2 (LAC2), a laccase gene involved in lignin biosynthesis, as a new downstream target of WRKY10. We observed that the expression of LAC2 was upregulated in the mini3 mutant, which is defective in WRKY10. We demonstrated that WRKY10 directly binds to the promoter of miR397a, activating its expression. miR397a, in turn, represses the expression of LAC2. Genetic analyses revealed that a mutation in LAC2 or overexpression of miR397a partially rescued the small seed phenotype of the MINISEED3 (MINI3) mutant mini3. Conversely, the overexpression of LAC2 in the wild type led to a decrease in seed size. These findings suggest that LAC2 functions as a negative regulator of seed size, and its expression is modulated by WRKY10 through miR397a. Our study uncovers a novel WRKY10-miR397a-LAC2 pathway that regulates seed size in Arabidopsis, providing new insights into the complex regulatory network governing seed development in plants.

RNA Sequencing Reveals Transcription Factors and Genes in Phenylpropanoid Biosynthesis That Positively Regulate Size and Weight of Oak Tree Seeds

Acorn size is of great importance, both ecologically and economically. However, the long lifespan is an obstacle to improvement in breeding. Keumsura1ho is a recently bred cultivar of oak (Quercus acutissima Carruth) selected after eight years of selection due to its larger acorns and higher weight compared to the control. In the present study, we investigated the transcriptional mechanisms underlying the outstanding morphological characteristics of Keumsura1ho. For this purpose, one- and two-year-old acorns from the control and Keumsura1ho groups were used for comparative transcriptome analyses of their seeds. Among morphological characteristics, the Keumsura1ho seeds were 18.3% longer than those of the control. Seed width and depth were 33.9% greater than those of the control. In the transcriptome analysis, genes related to seed size were further enriched, with biennial Keumsura1ho showing higher enrichment in comparison to control genes. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis revealed that the upregulated genes of the two-year-old Keumsura1ho seeds showed higher enrichment in phenylpropanoid metabolism compared to the control, with OMT1 and PRXs exhibiting high expression levels. This pathway has a significant impact on seed coat lignification and size in Keumsura1ho. The results of this study will benefit the development of breeding techniques by identifying marker genes for seed size.

Implementing YOLO Convolutional Neural Network for Seed Size Detection

Implementing YOLO Convolutional Neural Network for Seed Size Detection

Metabolic, transcriptomic, and genetic analyses of candidate genes for seed size in watermelon.

Seed size (SS) constitutes a pivotal trait in watermelon breeding. In this study, we present findings from an examination of two watermelon accessions, namely, BW85 and F211. Seeds from BW85 exhibited a significant enlargement compared to those of F211 at 13 days after pollination (DAP), with the maximal disparity in seed length and width manifesting at 17 DAP. A comprehensive study involving both metabolic and transcriptomic analyses indicated a significant enrichment of the ubiquinone and other terpenoid-quinone biosynthesis KEGG pathways. To detect the genetic region governing seed size, a BSA-seq analysis was conducted utilizing the F2 (BW85 × F211) population, which resulted in the identification of two adjacent QTLs, namely, SS6.1 and SS6.2, located on chromosomes 6. SS6.1 spanned from Chr06:4847169 to Chr06:5163486, encompassing 33 genes, while SS6.2 ranged from Chr06:5379337 to Chr06:5419136, which included only one gene. Among these genes, 11 exhibited a significant differential expression between BW85 and F211 according to transcriptomic analysis. Notably, three genes (Cla97C06G113960, Cla97C06G114180, and Cla97C06G114000) presented a differential expression at both 13 and 17 DAP. Through annotation, Cla97C06G113960 was identified as a ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme E2, playing a role in the ubiquitin pathway that mediates seed size control. Taken together, our results provide a novel candidate gene influencing the seed size in watermelon, shedding light on the mechanism underlying seed development.

Germination of Senegalia mellifera seeds in response to presowing treatments

This study aimed to evaluate the size of Senegalia mellifera seeds and determine the most effective scarification techniques to improve germination. The experiment, conducted at Botswana University of Agriculture and Natural Resources, involved ten presowing treatments, including control, nicking, soaking in sulphuric acid for different durations, and boiling water for varying periods. A completely randomized design (CRD) was used for the experiment. Germination data was transformed using arcsine to meet normal distribution requirements and then analyzed using analysis of variance (ANOVA). The results showed that the presowing treatments had a statistically significant effect on germination (P<0.00001). Seeds treated with sulphuric acid, nicking, and those left untreated exhibited the highest germination rates, while seeds treated with boiling water showed the lowest germination percentages. These findings indicate that the seed coats of S. mellifera are permeable to water and air, and presowing treatments do not show any significant effect on the successful germination of S. mellifera seed.

Design and experiment of an intelligent testing bench for air-suction seed metering devices for small vegetable seeds

In order to realise the real-time monitoring of seeding quality of small vegetable seeds, and solve the problem of inconvenience caused by the small particle sizes of vegetable seeds, an intelligent testing bench for air-suction seed metering device for small vegetable seeds with a particle diameter of 0.5–3 mm was designed, and a complementary quality monitoring and controlling system was developed. The photoelectric sensing technology and image recognition technology were used together in the system. Photoelectric sensing technology was used for real-time monitoring of seed counting, while the image recognition technology can dynamically monitor the missed seeding, repeated seeding and the falling trajectory of seed deposition in real time. The system was installed on the air-suction intelligent testing bench to test the monitoring accuracy of the monitoring system. The experimental results demonstrated that the monitoring accuracy of drilling quality monitoring system was over 97%, the monitoring accuracy of miss seeding was over 95%, and the monitoring accuracy of repeated seeding was over 93%. Furthermore, the monitoring system was less affected by the seed particle size, shape, and plant spacing, etc., and the system was stable, which effectively realised the real-time monitoring of the operation of air-suction metering device.

When Size Matters: New Insights on How Seed Size Can Contribute to the Early Stages of Plant Development.

The seed habit is the most complex and successful method of sexual reproduction in vascular plants. It represents a remarkable moment in the evolution of plants that afterward spread on land. In particular, seed size had a pivotal role in evolutionary success and agronomic traits, especially in the field of crop domestication. Given that crop seeds constitute one of the primary products for consumption, it follows that seed size represents a fundamental determinant of crop yield. This adaptative feature is strictly controlled by genetic traits from both maternal and zygotic tissues, although seed development and growth are also affected by environmental cues. Despite being a highly exploited topic for both basic and applied research, there are still many issues to be elucidated for developmental biology as well as for agronomic science. This review addresses a number of open questions related to cues that influence seed growth and size and how they influence seed germination. Moreover, new insights on the genetic-molecular control of this adaptive trait are presented.

Seed Size and Spatial Placement Effects on Emergence Growth and Foliar Yield of Fluted Pumpkin (Telferia occidentalis (f.) Hook) in South Eastern Ecological Zone of Nigeria

Field experiments were conducted at the Teaching and Research Farm of the Akwa Ibom State University, Obio Akpa Campus, between May, 2022 and October 2023, to examine the effects of seed size of fluted pumpkin and spatial placement of the seeds in the pod, on the emergence, growth and foliar yield of fluted pumpkin. The experiment consisted of three seed size categories (small, medium and large) and three spatial placement locations in the pod (Proximal section, Distal section and Middle section). The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design and replicated four times. Results indicated significant effects of spatial placement of seeds in the pod on some growth and yield parameters. Seeds from the middle section of the pod produced plants with the highest number of leaves (49.27), the widest stem girth (2.15cm) and the highest foliar yield (0.59 tones/ha). The size of seeds also significantly influenced the growth and foliar yield of fluted pumpkin. The large seeds produced plants with highest number of vines (5.10),the highest number of leaves (49.81), the highest seedling vigour index (8.78), the widest stem girth (1.26 cm) and the highest foliar yield (0.52 tons/ha). Farmers who are interested in producing fluted pumpkin vegetables are therefore advised to sow large seeds, and seeds from the middle section of the pod.