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Ageing increases the sensitivity of neem (Azadirachta indica) seeds to imbibitional stress

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  22 February 2007

Oblé Neya ,
Elena A. Golovina ,
Jaap Nijsse  and
Folkert A. Hoekstra
Oblé Neya*
Affiliation:
The Graduate School ‘Experimental Plant Sciences’, Laboratory of Plant Physiology, Wageningen University, Arboretumlaan 4, Wageningen, The Netherlands Centre National de Semences Forestières, Ouagadougou 01, BP 2682, Burkina Faso
Elena A. Golovina
Affiliation:
The Graduate School ‘Experimental Plant Sciences’, Laboratory of Plant Physiology, Wageningen University, Arboretumlaan 4, Wageningen, The Netherlands K.A. Timiryazev Institute of Plant Physiology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Botanicheskaja 35, Moscow, 127276, Russia
Jaap Nijsse
Affiliation:
The Graduate School ‘Experimental Plant Sciences’, Laboratory of Plant Physiology, Wageningen University, Arboretumlaan 4, Wageningen, The Netherlands
Folkert A. Hoekstra
Affiliation:
The Graduate School ‘Experimental Plant Sciences’, Laboratory of Plant Physiology, Wageningen University, Arboretumlaan 4, Wageningen, The Netherlands
*
*Correspondence Fax: +31 317 484740, E-mail: oble.neya@wur.nl
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Abstract

Imbibitional stress was imposed on neem (Azadirachta indica) seeds by letting them soak for 1 h in water at unfavourable, low temperatures before further incubation at 30°C. Sensitivity to low imbibition temperatures increased with a decrease in seed moisture content (MC). To investigate a possible involvement of seed age in the extent of imbibitional damage, initially high-quality seed lots that differed in storage history (10 weeks versus 10 months) were examined at 4 and 7% MC (fresh weight basis). After 10 months of storage, the 7% MC seeds had become sensitive to imbibitional stress. Further drying (1 week) to 4% MC affected aged seeds more than non-aged seeds. Barrier properties of cellular membranes in axes excised after 1 d of rehydration were estimated using a spin-probe technique. The proportion of cells with intact membranes increased with increasing imbibition temperature. For each temperature tested, there were more cells with leaky membranes after 10 months than after 10 weeks of dry storage. Localization of embryo cells displaying loss of turgor and abnormal cellular structure was accomplished using cryo-planing, followed by cryo-scanning electron microscopy. Inspection of the cryo-planed surfaces confirmed that imbibitional damage was temperature dependent, occurring at the periphery. Ageing increased the number of imbibitionally damaged, peripheral cell layers. Germination was estimated to fail when less than 70% of axis cells were alive. We conclude that ageing increases the sensitivity to imbibitional stress. Both the fast ageing and the sensitivity to imbibitional stress might explain the apparent controversies about neem seed desiccation tolerance and storage behaviour.

Keywords

Azadirachta indicacryo-planingcryo-scanning electron microscopyelectron spin resonancegerminationimbibitionmembrane integrityseed viabilitytemperature
Type
Research Article
Information
Seed Science Research , Volume 14 , Issue 2 , May 2004 , pp. 205 - 217
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2004

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