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Effect of water content and temperature on seed longevity of seven B rassicaceae species after 5 years of storage
Author(s) -
Mira S.,
Estrelles E.,
GonzálezBenito M. E.
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
plant biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.871
H-Index - 87
eISSN - 1438-8677
pISSN - 1435-8603
DOI - 10.1111/plb.12183
Subject(s) - longevity , biology , germination , desiccation , water content , botany , relative humidity , horticulture , recalcitrant seed , genetics , geotechnical engineering , physics , engineering , thermodynamics
Maximising seed longevity is crucial for genetic resource preservation and longevity of orthodox seeds is determined by environmental conditions (water content and temperature). The effect of water content (down to 0.01 g·H 2 O·g −1 ) on seed viability was studied at different temperatures for a 5‐year storage period in taxonomically related species. Seeds of seven B rassicaceae species ( B rassica repanda , E ruca vesicaria , M alcolmia littorea , M oricandia arvensis , R orippa nasturtium‐aquaticum , S inapis alba , S isymbrium runcinatum ) were stored at 48 environments comprising a combination of eight water contents, from 0.21 to 0.01 g·H 2 O·g −1 DW and six temperatures (45, 35, 20, 5, −25, −170 °C). Survival curves were modelled and P50 calculated for those conditions where germination was reduced over the 5‐year assay period. Critical water content for storage of seeds of six species at 45 °C ranged from 0.02 to 0.03 g·H 2 O·g −1 . The effect of extreme desiccation at 45 °C showed variability among species: three species showed damaging effects of drying below the critical water content, while for three species it was neither detrimental nor beneficial to seed longevity. Lipid content could be related to longevity, depending on the storage conditions. A variable seed longevity response to water content among taxonomically related species was found. The relative position of some of the species as long‐ or short‐lived at 45 °C varied depending on the humidity at which storage behaviour was evaluated. Therefore, predictions of survival under desiccated conditions based on results obtained at high humidity might be problematic for some species.