Comparison of the dynamic morphological and physiological characteristics of twin seeds during the germination of field sandbur

doi:10.11686/cyxb2023382

Abstract

Abstract:

The burs of Cenchrus longispinus contain two types of heteromorphic seeds， namely， M-type and P-type seeds， which germinate at different times， allowing adaptation of the plant to varying environmental conditions. To elucidate the physiological factors underlying the differences in germination， this study first compared the morphological structures and germination characteristics of the twin seeds， and measured the physiological indicators during the germination process （i.e. at the dry seed， imbibition， radical exposure， and sprouting stages）. The results showed that the 1000-seed weight， water absorption， and germination rate differed according to seed type， with the ranking being： M-type in burs>M-type>P-type， and water content change was P-type>M-type>M-type in burs. The seed coats of P-type seeds were denser than those of M-type seeds， and the hydrolytic pores of P-type seeds were both smaller and slower to allow water ingress than those of M-type seeds. The abscisic acid （ABA） contents of P-type seeds during the drying stage of seed maturation were significantly higher than those of M-type seeds， while the gibberellin （GA₄） content of P-type seeds at the radical exposure stage was higher than that of M-type seeds. The soluble protein content was greater in M-type seeds at the drying， imbibition， and radical exposure stages， while the soluble sugar contents of the twin seeds did not differ significantly during the early germination stages （drying and imbibition）. However， the soluble sugar contents were significantly higher in P-type seeds during the radical exposure and sprouting stages. The activity of glucose-6-phosphate （G6PDH） during the drying， imbibition， and radical exposure stages were significantly higher in M-type seeds but were higher in sprouting P-type seeds than in M-type seeds. In summary， the germination of M-type seeds before P-type seeds was associated with the seed coat structure and levels of ABA/GA₄， soluble protein content， and G6PDH activity， but not related to the soluble sugar content. There were significant differences in the internal germination mechanisms of M-type and P-type seeds.

Key words: heteromorphic seed germination, morphological structure, abscisic acid, gibberellin, soluble protein, soluble sugar, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase

Li-fen HAO, Xiao-yang XU, Yu JI, Rui WANG, De-bao WU, Yu-yu LI, Ke-jian LIN. Comparison of the dynamic morphological and physiological characteristics of twin seeds during the germination of field sandbur[J]. Acta Prataculturae Sinica, 2024, 33(9): 40-50.

Figures/Tables 8

Fig.1 Morphological characteristics of heteromorphic seeds and burs of C. longispinus

Table 1 Determination of 1000-grain weight， water content and germination rate of M-type seeds， P-type seeds and burs

种子类型Seed types	千粒重1000-grain weight （g）	含水量Water content （%）	萌发率Germination rate （%）
M型种子M-type seeds	7.73±0.08b	4.38±0.07a	83.89±0.92b
P型种子P-type seeds	4.50±0.09c	4.42±0.07a	56.72±1.73c
刺苞内M型种子M-type seed in burs	13.73±0.05a	4.23±0.05a	95.26±1.37a

Fig.2 Water absorption curve of heteromorphic seeds and burs of C. longispinus

Fig.3 Endosperm structure of M-type and P-type seeds of C. longispinus during germination

Fig.4 Changes of ABA and GA4 content in heteromorphic seeds （P-type and M-type） of C. longispinus during germination

Fig.5 Changes of soluble protein content in heteromorphic seeds （P-type and M-type） during germination of C. longispinus

Fig.6 Changes of soluble sugar content in heteromorphic seeds （P-type and M-type） during germination of C. longispinus

Fig.7 Changes of G6PDH activity in heteromorphic seeds （P-type and M-type） during germination of C. longispinus

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