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Natural and artificial seed ageing in maize: germination and DNA synthesis

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 September 2008

Germán Gutiérrez
Affiliation:
Dpto. Bioquímica Vegetal, División de Bioquímica y Farmacia, Facultad de Química, UNAM. Avenida Universidad y CopilcoMéxico 04510, D FMéxico Centro de Genética, Colegio de Posgraduados, 56230 Montecillo Texcoco, México
Felipe Cruz
Affiliation:
Dpto. Bioquímica Vegetal, División de Bioquímica y Farmacia, Facultad de Química, UNAM. Avenida Universidad y CopilcoMéxico 04510, D FMéxico Centro de Genética, Colegio de Posgraduados, 56230 Montecillo Texcoco, México
Juan Moreno
Affiliation:
Centro de Genética, Colegio de Posgraduados, 56230 Montecillo Texcoco, México
Victor A. González-Hernández
Affiliation:
Centro de Genética, Colegio de Posgraduados, 56230 Montecillo Texcoco, México
Jorge M. Vázquez-Ramos*
Affiliation:
Dpto. Bioquímica Vegetal, División de Bioquímica y Farmacia, Facultad de Química, UNAM. Avenida Universidad y CopilcoMéxico 04510, D FMéxico
*
* Correspondence

Abstract

The effect of natural and artificial seed ageing has been compared in terms of physiological and biochemical responses of several maize genotypes. The physiological parameters were: viability, germinability, emergence in sand and dry matter accumulation. The biochemical parameters were: DNA synthesis and DNA polymerase activity. A close and direct relationship was found between seed deterioration and DNA metabolism in all maize materials which responded to ageing according to their genetic constitution; i.e., vigorous genotypes suffered less severe damage or recovery was faster than in the low-vigour genotypes. Coordination of events at appropriate times would seem a critical factor for proper seed germination.

Type
Research Papers
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1993

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