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Differential effects of temperature on ultrastructural responses to dehydration in seeds of Zizania palustris

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 September 2008

P. Berjak ,
K. J. Bradford ,
D. A. Kovach  and
N. W. Pammenter
P. Berjak*
Affiliation:
Plant Cell Biology Research Unit, Department of Biology, University of Natal, King George V Ave, Durban, 4001South Africa
K. J. Bradford
Affiliation:
Department of Vegetable Crops, University of California, Davis, CA 95616-8631, USA
D. A. Kovach
Affiliation:
Department of Vegetable Crops, University of California, Davis, CA 95616-8631, USA
N. W. Pammenter
Affiliation:
Plant Cell Biology Research Unit, Department of Biology, University of Natal, King George V Ave, Durban, 4001South Africa
*
* Correspondence
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Abstract

The desiccation tolerance of Zizania palustris seeds has been debatable, but recently it has emerged that survival to low moisture contents is a function of the temperature during dehydration. Survival of dehydration is greatest at 25–30°C and viability declines as the dehydration temperature is reduced. On the other hand, extended hydrated chilling (stratification) is required to break dormancy. The present contribution examines the ultrastructural condition of embryonic axes of Zizania palustris after dehydration at various temperatures, and following reimbibition and stratification. Axis cells sustained least damage when dehydration was carried out at 25°C and ultrastructural deterioration was more severe with lower temperatures during water loss. Damage sustained as a result of unfavourably low dehydration temperatures was visible when seeds were fixed from the dry state and was generally exacerbated during fully imbibed stratification. However, 25°C represented the optimum dehydration temperature; seeds that had been dried at 30°C also showed considerable ultrastructural disturbance when fixed from the dry state. This was largely reversed during fully imbibed stratification, although signs of the damage that had been sustained still persisted. These observations are in keeping with the germination behaviour of Z. palustris seeds dehydrated at temperatures above and below 25°C. The results are discussed in terms of the predominance of one of two mechanisms of membrane deterioration, depending on the dehydration temperature, which are probably not mutually exclusive. It is hypothesized that, at temperatures above 25°C, damage by free-radical-mediated events may predominate, whereas, at temperatures below the optimum, irreversible lipid-phase transitions may be the major factor resulting in membrane damage.

Keywords

free radicalsdesiccation sensitivitydesiccation tolerancemembranesphase transitionsseedsultrastructural damagewild riceZizania palustris
Type
Short Communication
Information
Seed Science Research , Volume 4 , Issue 2 , June 1994 , pp. 111 - 121
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1994

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Footnotes

†

Present address: North Central Region Plant Introduction Station, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50010, USA.

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