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This study investigates the inhibitory effects of Diaporthe sp. isolate EC010 extract on barnyardgrass (Echinochloa crus-galli) seed germination and growth. Application of sequential extraction techniques to Diaporthe sp. mycelium resulted in partial separation of the phytotoxic compounds. The ethyl acetate (EtOAc) fraction most greatly reduced seed germination (81.01%), root length (89.18%), and shoot length (84.74%) compared to the control. Chemical characterization using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry revealed major constituents of linoleic acid, butyl ester (9.69%), hexadecanoic acid (7.99%), and 14-pentadecenoic acid (7.86%). With regard to physiological and biochemical indexes, treated seeds exhibited lower imbibition, significantly decreased α-amylase (EC 3.2.1.1) activity (p <0.05), and increased accumulation of malondialdehyde (85.52%) and hydrogen peroxide (141.10%). Moreover, activity of the antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase (EC 1.15.1.1) and guaiacol peroxidase (EC 1.11.1.7) was upregulated (67.24 and 61.62%, respectively), while catalase (EC 1.11.1.6) activity was downregulated (-33.75%). The inference is that an imbalance in ROS levels combined with reduced antioxidant potential drives the gradual accumulation of oxidative damage in seed cells and consequent loss of seed viability. All told, these results confirm the Diaporthe extract to induce oxidative stress and inhibit antioxidant enzymes. This study clearly demonstrates the oxidative damage associated with Diaporthe allelochemicals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Screening beech seeds of various origins to identify their reproductive and adaptive capabilities is important for the restoration of beech forests in Europe, especially in conditions of climate change. The aim of this study was to evaluate the morphometric characteristics and viability of beech seeds from five populations, collected in different years in the Slovak Republic. In this research, the seeds from Nitra-19; Detva-22; Orava-22 and two population of Roznava-22 were involved. The length of the seed ranged from 13.00 to 19.50 mm, and the width - from 5.50 to 12.50 mm. The eccentricity index varied from 1.74 to 1.81. The average weight of a thousand seeds in the populations, collected in different years, did not differ significantly, and modified in limits from 237.40 to 311.10 g. According to the Pearson correlation coefficient (0.7127), the closest relationship was found between the weight of seed and their width. The relationship between seed weight and length was less strong (0.6450). The viability of seeds, determined by two tests using 2.3.5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride and hydrogen peroxide solutions, ranged from 61.75 to 92.00%. The seeds from the Roznava-22 (2) and Detva-22 populations had the highest viability. There was no strong correlation between seed weight and viability (0.3639), as well as between seed weight and the altitude above sea level where the seeds were collected (0.2088). At the same time, a close correlation was found between seed viability and the altitude above sea level where the seeds were collected (0.6802). Thus, the data showed that beech seed populations from the Slovak Republic had homogeneous morphometric parameters, but differed significantly in terms of viability, which depended on the height of the beech plant growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of secondary metabolites secreted by plants on the growth and development of other plants that come after them or in the same environment, positively or negatively, is called allelopathy. This study aimed to determine the allelopathic effect of extracts obtained from forage turnips (Brassica rapa L.) on the germination and seedling development of the grass pea (Lathyrus sativus L.) plant. 500 g of forage turnip harvested during the flowering period was weighed, placed in 3 liters of pure water, and waited for 7 hours. Four different doses (100%, 75%, 50%, and 25%) were obtained from this extract. The 100% pure water was used as a control. The study, which was carried out as a petri study, was established according to the Randomized Plot Trial Design with 4 repetitions. Germination rate (GR), seed viability index (SVI), root and stem length, root and stem fresh-dry weight, root (RB), and stem biomass (SB) were determined in the grass pea irrigated with forage turnips. In the study, GR and SVI were between 72.00-96.00% and 24.98-49.38%, respectively. The highest root (61.83 kg/ha) and stem (1780.84 kg/ha) biomass weight was obtained from the treatment irrigated with 25% forage turnip extract. As a result, it was determined that 25% of the forage turnip extract had a positive effect on germination and seedling development of the grass pea, and after this dose, it had an inhibitory effect. This situation is also an indication that fodder turnip has a negative allelopathic effect on grass pea due to its rich bioactive component content. Accordingly, lower doses should be tested to understand more clearly the effect of fodder turnip on the development of the grass pea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we aimed to develop a method for the rapid and nondestructive prediction of wheat seed viability using Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS). Thirteen wheat cultivars were used to establish and validate an NIRS calibration model. The seed samples were divided into a calibration set (n=1,360) and a validation set (n=1,000), representing a wide range of germination rates created through the accelerated aging treatment (98±2% relative humidity, 40°C, 0-10 days). Spectral data were collected within the wavelength range of 400-2,500 nm. Among the three regression models tested, the Modified Partial Least Squares (MPLS) model exhibited the best performance for predicting seed viability, achieving the highest coefficient of determination (R² =0.936) and lowest standard error of calibration (SEC=7.514). The results of this study highlight the utility of NIRS-based models for the rapid, nondestructive assessment of seed viability in wheat. Additionally, this is the first study to apply NIRS for the nondestructive evaluation of wheat seed viability, providing a substantial advancement in seed quality assessment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Flowering plants are essentially sessile organisms that disperse their genes through pollination, expanding their areas of occurrence through seed dispersal. In orchids, seed dispersal is commonly mediated by air currents. Conversely, members of several genera have evolved seeds adapted to endozoochory. This is the case for Vanilla, the most economically important genus in the orchid family.The role of indehiscent fruits in the attraction and rewarding of Vanilla seed dispersers was investigated based on field observations, analysis of fragrances, reward substances, and investigation of seed viability through the digestive tract.Indehiscent Vanilla fruits are consumed exclusively by herbivores, i.e. agoutis. Besides providing nutritional rewards, the fruits are rich in polyphenols that are unpalatable to omnivores. The most dominant compound in fruits is attractive only to agoutis. This is the first study showing synzoochory in Orchidaceae and specificity of seed dispersal in orchids.Indehiscent fruits may have evolved early in Neotropical Vanilla in response to selection pressures mediated by large herbivores as the genus emerged ca. 34 Mya in South America, concomitantly with megafauna diversification in the Oligocene. Extinction of the megafauna during the Pleistocene has left agoutis as inheritors of seed dispersal in species with large fleshy fruits. Apart from the effects on omnivores, this study shows that indehiscent fruits of V. chamissonis are consumed exclusively by agoutis, providing the first evidence of target mutualism in orchid seed dispersal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The northern boreal forest treeline is usually considered to be the result of climate limiting tree reproduction. Although climate also influences the cycling of nutrients, the effects of nutrient availability on the treeline have largely been ignored. Various animal activities can alter nutrient cycling, creating microsites of highly fertile soil. Red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) act as ecosystem engineers in the nutrient-poor northern boreal woodlands by concentrating soil nutrients through their denning activities, increasing white spruce (Picea glauca) tree growth. Here, we examined how denning activity affects reproduction in white spruce by determining the number cones per tree, seeds per cone (with or without endosperm, i.e., filled or not) and their viability. Overall, seed production in the study region was low, with an average of 3.7 filled seeds and 0.73 viable seeds per cone. Denning activity affected all stages of seed production, with trees on dens producing an average of two times more cones, three times more total seeds, four times more filled seeds, and 18 times more viable seeds than trees growing away from dens. While cone counts per tree were a good predictor of filled seeds per tree, they were less reliable at predicting viable seeds per tree. Additionally, the number of cones on a tree does not predict the number of filled seeds in a cone, making it difficult for granivores like squirrels and birds to assess food availability from cone abundance. Overall, these results suggest that nutrient availability can play a crucial role in tree reproduction at the treeline and denning activities can create hotspots of seed production and seed viability, acting as a potential food source for granivores and locations for tree reproduction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Black soybeans are one of the soybean varieties that have black skin and have various ingredients that provide many benefits for the human body. The shrinking of soybean seeds causes a decrease in the quality and quantity of seeds which can result in reduced supply of seeds for seeding purposes during the storage process. One of the factors that affect the viability of seeds during storage is the attack of warehouse pest insects, so it is necessary to control using vegetable insecticides by utilizing papaya leaf powder. This study aims to study the development of C. analis F. beetles due to the application of papaya leaf powder in seed storage and its effect on the viability of black soybeans of the Detam-1 variety. This experiment was carried out at the Basic Laboratory of the Faculty of Winaya Mukti University from June to August 2023. Environmental Design uses Complete Randomized Design consisting of 6 treatments and 4 repeats. Treatment dose of papaya leaf powder per 100 g black soybeans, namely: A = 0 g; B = 1 g; C = 2 g; D = 3 g; E = 4 g and F = 5 g. The results showed that the dose of papaya leaf powder 3 g per 100 g black soybeans seeds had an effect on the development of C. analis F beetles (mortality, number of eggs, number of larvae, number of pupae and number of imago), percentage of seed damage and percentage of seed weight, but did not affect the viability of black soybean seeds of the Detam-1 variety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding ecological and evolutionary processes driving species range expansion is essential to assess extirpation risks and reduce future biodiversity loss. During range expansion, spatial sorting eco-evolutionary model predicts enhanced dispersal rate in leading-edge populations through local accumulation of phenotypic traits related to dispersal. This process may result in a transient trade-off, whereby local fitness is temporarily sacrificed for the benefit of dispersal during range expansion. Here, we empirically tested the spatial sorting model and its fitness cost by assessing dispersal ability of 8138 white spruce (Picea glauca) winged seeds and seed viability along altitudinal gradients in two eastern Canadian mountain ranges with different dynamics according to contrasted historical disturbance regime, as well as in a lowland site representative of the species geographical range core. In the Uapishka mountains, stand-replacing wildfires have opened the forest cover and leading-edge populations are currently expanding upslope. Dispersal ability was enhanced at the expansion front whereas germination potential decreased. Treeline populations exhibit a trade-off maximizing dispersal over fitness, as expected from the spatial sorting model. By contrast, in the McGerrigle mountains where there is no evidence of wildfire activity, treeline populations established several millennia ago and there is currently no upslope range expansion. In these mountains, no trait variation was found along the altitudinal gradient, suggesting that a local optimum was reached for the traits involved in the trade-off between dispersal ability and seed viability. In the geographical core of the range, dispersal ability reaches its lowest values while germination potential is maximal, suggesting absence of a spatial sorting mechanism, but natural selection as the primary evolutionary process operating to increase local fitness. This study sheds light on the importance of intraspecific trait variation related to the dispersal ability of individuals and its transient impact on life-history in tree populations located at the expansion front. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Maintaining seed vigour during the storage process is essential for the success of germplasm banks of sexually propagated species such as Passiflora edulis. However, the literature is still scarce regarding efficient preservation methods, especially for long periods. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of different seed processing methods, types of packaging and storage conditions of Passiflora edulis seeds for a period of five years. Different seed processing methods (natural fermentation and use of a mixer), packaging (Falcon tubes, plastic bags and paper bags), storage temperatures (room temperature, cold chamber and refrigerator) and evaluation times (one, three and five years) were analysed. Seeds stored in a refrigerator and cold chamber maintained high germination (>90%) for up to five years. However, seeds stored at room temperature reduced their viability after one year of storage. No significant variations were observed between the seed processing and packaging methods evaluated. Absence of respiratory activity was confirmed by the tetrazolium test performed on seeds stored for five years at room temperature. To maintain the vigour of P. edulis seeds, it is recommended to store them in a cold room or refrigerator in different packaging and using different methods for seed extraction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sea beet (Beta vulgaris L. subsp. maritima (L.) Arcang.) is a wild member of the Amaranthaceae family and a progenitor for all the cultivated beets (Beta vulgaris subsp. vulgaris). It is a source of stress-resistant genes, contributing 21 valuable traits to sugar beet through multiple breeding approaches. Despite its importance, the core morphological diversity of sea beet within the Egyptian Mediterranean coastal region has not yet been thoroughly explored. The field observations indicated notable morphological diversity among sea beet populations. This study investigated the morphological diversity of six sea beet populations along with their associated soil and climatic conditions in their primary habitats. Our morphometric investigations identified two varieties: Beta vulgaris subsp. maritima var. glabra, characterized by glabrous, erect, larger basal leaves, and Beta vulgaris subsp. maritima var. pilosa, distinguished by its hairy, prostrate form with smaller basal leaves. These varieties exhibited differences in their spatial distribution, showing high variations at the inter- and intra-population levels as well as the variety level. Soil parameters significantly influenced population morphological variability, which demonstrated a strong positive correlation with soil organic carbon. Our results highlight the need for precise survey and molecular characterization to secure these potential genetic resources from alteration and loss, especially in coastal habitats that are particularly sensitive to future climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the partial legalization of high-THC Cannabis sativa across 23 states for recreational use and 38 states for medical purposes in the United States, the Cannabis industry is poised for significant growth. Projected to reach a sales volume of $50.7 billion by 2028, this growth is driven by the trend of lifting Cannabis prohibition. High-THC C. sativa cultivars, containing more than 0.3% delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC) as defined by the 2018 US Farm Bill, are used for both medicinal and recreational purposes. Cannabis sativa is a short day, dioecious, annual plant, where female plants are favored for THC production, which requires seed feminization techniques to ensure an accurate female plant population. This involves using an ethylene inhibitor to induce sex reversal, leading to male flower development on female plants, allowing for self-pollination and the production of feminized seeds. However, challenges such as seed viability and the occurrence of male flowers in progeny have been noted. This review provides guidelines to enhance the production of viable feminized seeds in high-THC Cannabis cultivars. Literature findings indicate that Silver Thiosulfate (STS) is the most effective ethylene inhibitor for sex reversal and seed feminization in high-THC Cannabis cultivars. Specifically, a single dose of 3 mM STS should be applied during the vegetative stage via foliar spraying until runoff, followed by exposure to a short photoperiod of up to 12 hours to induce flowering and seed production. Progeny plants should be assessed for seed germination rate and compared for growth performance with the original parent plant to assess the declining effects of inbreeding. Adhering to these guidelines can improve the quality and viability of feminized seeds, meeting commercial market standards and industry demands for high-THC Cannabis cultivars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Scots pine is a crucial component of ecosystems in Europe and Asia and a major utility species that comprises more than 60% of total forest production in Poland. Despite its importance, the genetic relationships between key conservation and the commercial value of Scots pine ecotypes in Poland remain unclear. To address this problem, we analyzed 27 populations (841 trees) of the most valuable Polish Scots pine ecotypes, including the oldest natural stands in all 24 regions of provenance established for the species in the country. By examining maternally inherited mitochondrial markers, nuclear microsatellite loci, and thousands of SNP markers from a genotyping array, we evaluated the genetic structure between and within them. These multilevel genomic data revealed high genetic similarity and a homogeneous structure in most populations, suggesting a common historical origin and admixture of populations after the postglacial recolonization of Central Europe. This research presents novel data on existing genomic resources among local ecotypes defined within strictly managed Polish regions of provenance, challenging their validity. Formal tests of the progeny of seed stands are needed to check whether the diversity in adaptation and quantitative traits still supports the delineation of provenance regions. In parallel, the health status of selected populations and the viability of seeds from these regions should be monitored to detect early‐stage symptoms of their environmental stress. It seems reasonable that periodic shortages of forest reproductive material (FRM) in a given region of provenance could be supplemented with the one from other regions that match their climatic envelope. Together, our results have important implications for the management of native Scots pine stands, particularly elite breeding populations, as they contribute to the discussion of the boundaries of provenance regions and the transfers of FRM that face increasing climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High temperatures (HTs) and high vapor pressure deficits (VPDs) have significant impacts on maize yields, partly due to the high sensitivity of maize tassels. However, there are few studies quantifying the impacts of HTs and VPDs on maize tassel performance under changing environments. Therefore, we carried out a two-year field experiment that included 20 inbred lines and four sowing dates. Compared with the first sowing date, the seed set in the second sowing date decreased by ~80% in both years. The opened spikelet ratio (OSR) and pollen viability (PV) were the key determinants of seed set, and their respective correlation coefficients with seed set were 0.58 and 0.90. The OSR and PV decreased by ~20% and ~50%, respectively, under high-temperature stress. When Tmax exceeded 32.5 °C or the VPD exceeded 0.91 KPa, PV began to decline; when Tmax exceeded 33.8 °C or VPD exceeded 1.10 KPa, the OSR began to decline. The OSR was more dependent on genotypic background than PV (28.4% vs. 19.7%). The maize tassel water content was significantly correlated with the OSR and PV. Based on the OSR and PV values, the 20 genotypes were divided into three different groups, namely the high H, middle M, and low L groups. The H group, on average, had the highest kernel number per ear and seed set, followed by the M and L groups. The average seed sets of the H, M, and L genotypes under the second sowing date were 17.4%, 10.9%, and 0%, respectively, in 2019 and 13.8%, 7.9%, and 0.6%, respectively, in 2020. The present results indicate that selecting maize varieties with a high OSR is an effective approach for improving maize yield under heat stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Plant seeds from weeds and energy crops have the potential to survive anaerobic digestion (AD). Species able to form physically dormant, i.e., hardseeded (HS) seeds seem particularly resistant. However, it is not yet known to what extent the storage of the digestate after AD affects seed viability. Methods: Seed survival of five HS and six non-HS (NHS) species was investigated in three combinations of digestate storage (DS) and AD. First, untreated seeds were exposed to DS for maximum 12 weeks. To simulate short-circuited AD (ADshort) in biogas reactors, seeds were second subjected to lab-scale AD for 1 day before DS. Third, seeds of six species were exposed to full-scale AD (ADfull) followed by DS. Seed viability was determined using a combination of germination tests and tetrazolium staining. Viability was modeled as a function of exposure time. Results and discussion: Seed viability was affected by DS, AD and AD + DS, but responses varied greatly between species and treatments. With increasing exposure time, viability decreased after a lag-phase, remained stable or even increased. The NHS species Cichorium intybus , Daucus carota , Echium vulgare , and Verbascum thapsus were most susceptible, with seed-killing close to 100% if DS was involved. The HS species Malva sylvestris , Melilotus albus and Melilotus officinalis were most resistant. They survived all treatments and were alive after 35 days of ADfull plus 3 months of DS. The resistance potential of the HS species Abutilon theophrasti and Malva alcea and of the NHS species Chenopodium album and two tomato varieties was intermediate. None of them survived ADfull + DS, but except A. theophrasti they were viable after ADshort + DS. With few exceptions, seed-killing by AD + DS was higher than that by AD alone. In conclusion, DS and AD + DS have the potential to reduce seed viability, but do not completely inactivate all species. Therefore, digestate can be contaminated with viable seeds and may lead to the spread of weeds, especially after a short-circuited AD. In order to ensure the sustainable use of digestates in terms of weeds, we recommend to investigate the factors contributing to seed inactivation and the quantity of seed introduced to AD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sapindus mukorossi (SM) is a fast-growing deciduous tree found extensively in tropical and sub-tropical regions of Asia. The conversion of SM seed shell (left over after extracting the pulp and kernal) to value added products through pyrolysis needs in-depth knowledge about its thermal degradation behavior. The present work studies the physicochemical properties, pyrolysis behavior, and kinetics of this less explored biomass feedstock for thermochemical conversion. The elemental composition, gross composition and higher heating value (HHV) of the SM shell is found to determine its energy potential. The kinetics of the pyrolysis reaction influence the breakdown of solid biomass into final products. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), wherein the sample is heated at various heating rates (5, 10, 20 °C/min) at inert condition reveals the thermal degradation profile of SM seed shell. Three important isoconversional model-free techniques, notably Friedman, Ozawa-Flynn-Wall (OFW), and Kissinger-Akahira-Sunose (KAS) approaches, are employed to obtain the kinetic triplet data, the thermodynamic parameters are also determined. The C, H, N, S and O content of the SM shell was found to be 39.82%, 4.64%, 0.64%, 0.64% and 54.26% respectively. The SM seed shell had a volatile matter, fixed carbon and HHV of 68.5%, 20.9% and 16.6 MJ/kg respectively which revealed its energy potential for thermochemical conversion. From the TGA curve, the maximum thermal degradation was observed between 200 °C and 500 °C. The values of average activation energy determined using models Friedman, OFW and KAS are 152.28 kJ mol-1, 140.05 kJ mol-1 and 138.14 kJ mol-1, respectively. The frequency factor was found to vary widely between 103 and 1015. The variation in activation energy and frequency factor as the conversion progresses indicated complicated processes during the thermal deterioration of SM. The biomass degradation occurs by diffusion and nucleation mechanisms when the conversion value is between 0.2 and 0.5, and for conversion values in the range of 0.6-0.8, the degradation occurs by diffusion mechanisms. The physicochemical characteristics of SM are found to be comparable with that of the commonly available biomasses. The detailed investigations presented in this paper have clearly demonstrated the viability of SM seed shell as a viable feedstock for the pyrolysis process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In fire‐prone ecosystems, plant traits are influenced by the fire regime, thus reproduction and establishment can be altered by this disturbance. Changes in fire frequency and history can therefore influence seed and germination traits.We investigated the effects of short‐term fire exclusion on seed and germination traits of species from tropical open savannas. Seeds from 27 species were collected from two areas with distinct fire histories: recently and frequently burned (RB) or unburned for 5 to 7 years (E). Seeds from both areas underwent germination trials under optimal conditions for 30 days. Also, 10 species were exposed to high temperature treatments (100 or 200 °C) and seed and germination traits measured. Comparisons were then made for each trait, analysing each species separately, between the two areas.Approximately 85% of species studied had at least one of their germination traits altered in the RB area compared to the E area. Clear differences included lower viability and faster germination in seeds from RB areas. Seed traits of 70% of measured species differed between the two areas.Our results show species‐specific trait response to different fire histories. For example, faster germination and lower viability of seeds from RB plots suggest selection for faster maturing individuals and differences in resourcing, respectively, under a regime of frequent fire. This study provides insights into fire effects on regeneration responses of tropical savanna species and also points to the need for more studies evaluating the effects of fire history on seed traits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Deterioration of rice (Oryza sativa L.) affects grain quality and seed viability during storage. Lipoxygenase (LOX), a key enzyme in lipid metabolism, directly affects the rate of ageing. Here, we found that knock-out of lipoxygenase gene OsLOX1 by CRISPR/Cas9 delayed loss of seed viability and quality. Transcriptome analysis showed that during storage, OsLOX1 affected transcription of multiple genes, including genes related to lipid metabolism and antioxidant pathways such as phosphatase and acetaldehyde dehydrogenase, which may regulate the seed storability. The genes significantly down- and up-regulated only in Ningjing 4 after NA for 13 months and 3 days of AA suggesting that OsLOX1 likely promoted seed viability in rice by balancing ageing and storage related genes, and regulated the seed storability through the amino acid synthesis and metabolic pathways. Moreover, knock-out of OsLOX1 without CRISPR/Cas9 not only improved the seed viability, but also had little impact on agronomic traits. More importantly, the OsLOX1 knock-out lines were approved in 2019 (Agricultural Foundation of China Report No. 770). Collectively, our study showed that knock-out of OsLOX1 is beneficial for prolongation of seed viability and can be directly applied to agricultural production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mediterranean climates, characterised by hot and dry summers, have predictable fire regimes, and many species with physical seed dormancy (PY) thrive after wildfires. While it is well known that PY is released after heat shock in these species, intraspecific variation in seed response to heat is less understood. This research explores, for the first time, the variability in the traits of Cistus ladanifer seeds from the same central Spain population over eight years. It examines seed germination and viability under different heat shocks and the relationships among seed traits and climatic variables. While the response to heat shock remained constant over the years studied, achieving the highest germination percentages after heat shock at 100 °C, seed germination varied between years, and environmental conditions affected seed traits. Seed moisture content was negatively correlated with the maximum summer temperatures, and seed viability was positively related to annual precipitation. Germination at 100 °C was lower in warmer years as more seeds did not break their PY. In conclusion, despite the fact that PY appears to be genetically determined, it also depends on the environmental conditions experienced by the mother plant. This interannual phenotypic variability may help Cistus ladanifer to cope with the increasingly unpredictable conditions imposed by climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seed aging is a complex process that involves various physiological and biochemical changes leading to a decline in seed viability during storage. However, the specific biomarkers for assessing the degree of seed aging in rice remain elusive. In this study, we isolated a golden hull mutant, gh15, from the indica rice Z15 by employing a radiation mutagenesis technique. Compared with the wild type (WT) Z15, the mutant gh15 displayed a golden hue in the hull, stem, and internodes, while no significant differences were observed in the key agronomic traits. A genetic analysis showed that the gh15 phenotype is regulated by a single recessive gene, which possibly encodes cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase OsCAD2. Significant differences of seed aging tolerance were observed between gh15 and WT after six months of natural storage and artificial aging treatment, with gh15 exhibiting a markedly lower aging tolerance compared to the WT. Haplotype assays indicated that the Hap2 of OsCAD2 was significantly associated with the dark coloration of the hull and lower seed aging tolerance. The molecular marker of OsCAD2 associated with seed color was explored in rice. These findings demonstrate that the golden hull serves as a potential biomarker for the rapid assessment of seed aging tolerance in rice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polyethylene glycol (PEG) is one of the most commonly used seed initiators, in order to regulate the seed water uptake during seed priming. This study aims to investigate the effect of seed water uptake on the priming behavior under different PEG concentrations and priming times using low-field nuclear magnetic resonance (LF-NMR) technology. The aqueous phase state of maize seeds was dynamically monitored to be initiated by the different PEG concentrations. A prediction model of maize seed germination was constructed to clarify the relationship between seed water uptake and priming effect using machine learning. LF-NMR data was collected from the maize seeds at each node of priming time. A systematic analysis was carried out to determine the effects of PEG priming on seed germination and seedling growth. The optimal conditions of priming treatment were determined to evaluate the physical and chemical indicators, such as the vigor index of maize seeds. The pattern of water uptake was obtained in the maize seeds during priming. A regression model was also constructed to predict the priming effect of maize seeds. The main findings were summarized as follows: Firstly, there were some effects of PEG priming on the germination and seedling growth of maize seeds. Two-way ANOVA analysis showed that there were highly significant effects of PEG priming time and priming concentration on the germination indexes of maize seeds. Among them, the effect of priming time on the germination indexes of maize was much larger than that of priming concentration. With the increase of priming time (0-48 h), the viability of maize seeds showed a tendency to increase and then decrease, where the most suitable priming time was 16 h. Secondly, the water uptake of maize seed was elucidated during priming. The internal water of maize seeds was divided into two kinds of water components: bound water (0.1 ms < T21 < 20 ms) and free water (20 ms < T22 < 400 ms), according to the length of LF-NMR T2 relaxation time. With the increase of priming time (0-48 h), the content of bound water increased and then gradually stabilized, while the content of free water continued to rise. The total water content increased and then gradually slowed down. The content of bound water had just entered the stagnation stage, while the increasing trend of A21 signal amplitude decreased basically without increase, indicating an appropriate indicator to judge the priming time of maize seeds. Finally, the medium Gaussian support vector machine (SVM) model and exponential gaussian process regression (GPR) model were constructed to assess the priming effect of maize seeds, respectively, according to the data before and after the screening of LF-NMR feature parameters. Among them, the exponential GPR model was achieved in the validation set R² of 0.920 for maize seed germination after feature screening, which was better than 0.900 before that. The water absorption kinetics of the seed was elucidated to verify the priming efficacy. The experiment proved that the moisture variations during seed priming detected by LF-NMR can be expected for the rapid screening of the optimal priming conditions. The finding can also provide a new idea for the parameters setting and rapid evaluation during corn seed priming. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many plants rely on soil seedbanks to persist in fire‐prone ecosystems. However, knowledge of plant responses to fire is largely based on above‐ground dynamics. Quantifying how fire influences the seedbank of a diverse range of species will improve fire management.Here, we aim to understand how the timing of fires influences species occurrence in the soil seedbank, and how this relates to species traits, in a Mediterranean‐type ecosystem. We sampled the soil seedbank across 57 sites that represent a range of fire frequencies (1–9 fires in 81 years) and time since fire (1–81 years). Through a 15‐month germination experiment, we identified 39,701 germinates from 245 plant species. Using nonlinear models, we quantified the responses of 75 species' soil seedbanks to fire history and compared these to above‐ground responses.Fire influenced species' soil seedbanks according to seed longevity and species' life‐history traits. We observed a response of 15 species' seedbanks to time since fire: All were species with long‐lived seed, including eight annuals, five resprouters and an obligate seeder. Similarly, we observed a response of 17 species' seedbanks to fire frequency, 16 of which had long‐lived seed. Extensive periods without fire (>40 years) increase seedbank availability for annuals that form a long‐lived seedbank, and frequent fire (every ≤15 years) depletes it. We did not detect a consistent influence of fire on species from several other functional types. Many (53%) species found in the soil seedbank were not found in the above‐ground vegetation, and seven of the 22 modelled displayed an above‐ground influence of fire.Synthesis and applications: Fire frequency influences the probability of species occurrence in the soil seedbank. Frequent fire depletes seed availability of species that depend on long‐lived soil seedbanks for persistence. Yet, other species, including perennials with short‐lived seed storage, appear to be resilient to the frequency of fires experienced to date. We suggest fire management should aim to generate variation in fire frequencies within the landscape, including areas of low fire frequency, tailored to maintain rich plant diversity within the soil seedbank. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The downsizing of disperser assemblages by selective defaunation is a worldwide phenomenon thought to have important consequences in animal‐dispersed plants. Numerous large‐seeded Neotropical plants currently depend on the last megafaunal survivors, the large tapirs Tapirus spp., and medium‐sized frugivores. The extent to which medium frugivores are functionally equivalent to tapirs remains unresolved. We combined feeding trials, seed dispersal kernel modeling based on seed retention times and animal movement simulation (Levy walks), and germination experiments in a large‐seeded palm to assess the dispersal quality provided by the largest (tapirs) and two medium (foxes and howler monkeys) frugivore species in terms of dispersal distances and gut passage effects on germination. Tapirs retained the seeds in the gut for much longer (mean = 221 hours) than howlers (43 h) and foxes (22 h). Median dispersal distance by tapirs (1252 m) was 14 and 40 times larger than that by foxes (88 m) and howlers (31 m), respectively. The seed dispersal kernel of tapirs showed a 5th percentile value (291 m) larger than the 95th percentiles of foxes (285 m) and howlers (108 m). Manually depulped and gut‐passed seeds germinated in similar proportions, showing, respectively, 3.5 and 2.5–2.9 times higher values than intact fruits. Germination probability and seed viability decreased with retention time in howlers' and tapirs' gut, with howlers showing a steeper negative relationship. Such detrimental effect implies a trade‐off between germination success and dispersal distance. We conclude that tapirs may not play a unique role in germination enhancement but move seeds much further than medium frugivores, thus playing a critical role as long‐distance dispersers of many plants. This study provides important insights on palm–frugivore interactions and the potential consequences for large‐seeded plants of losing the last megafaunal representatives in the Neotropics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The tetrazolium (TZ) test is a reliable but destructive method for identifying viable seeds. In this study, a non-destructive seed viability analysis method for Allium ulleungense was developed using multispectral imaging and stacking ensemble learning. Using the Videometerlab 4, multispectral imaging data were collected from 390 A. ulleungense seeds subjected to NaCl-accelerated aging treatments with three repetitions per treatment. Spectral values were obtained at 19 wavelengths (365–970 nm), and seed viability was determined using the TZ test. Next, 80% of spectral values were used to train Decision Tree, Random Forest, LightGBM, and XGBoost machine learning models, and 20% were used for testing. The models classified viable and non-viable seeds with an accuracy of 95–91% on the K-Fold value (n = 5) and 85–81% on the test data. A stacking ensemble model was developed using a Decision Tree as the meta-model, achieving an AUC of 0.93 and a test accuracy of 90%. Feature importance and SHAP value assessments identified 570, 645, and 940 nm wavelengths as critical for seed viability classification. These results demonstrate that machine learning-based spectral data analysis can be effectively used for seed viability assessment, potentially replacing the TZ test with a non-destructive method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the in vitro digestion of vacuum-impregnated yam bean snacks enriched with Pediococcus acidilactici and mango seed polyphenols, focusing on bacterial survival and polyphenol bioaccessibility. The snacks were prepared by vacuum impregnation (VI) with solutions containing either mango seed extract, P. acidilactici, or a combination of both, followed by dehydration. The antimicrobial activity of the treatments was assessed against pathogens, revealing limited effectiveness, likely due to insufficient concentrations of mango seed extract and the intrinsic resistance of the bacteria. VI of mango seed extract improved the total soluble phenols (TSP) content up to 400% and maintained the initial probiotic concentration (106 cell/mL). In vitro digestion was performed to simulate gastrointestinal conditions, measuring the stability of TSP and the survival of P. acidilactici. The results indicated that the viability of P. acidilactici fluctuated throughout the digestion process (106 to 104 log UFC/g), the polyphenols showed varying degrees of bioaccessibility (11 to 30%), and the TSP content in the intestinal fraction ranged from 1.95 to 6.54 mg GAE/g. The study highlights the potential of VI for incorporating functional components into plant-based snacks, though further optimization is necessary to enhance the stability of P. acidilactici and the effectiveness of the bioactive ingredients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seed storage life in tropical areas is shortened by high humidity and temperature and the general inaccessibility to dehumidifying and refrigeration systems, resulting in rapid decreases in seed viability in storage as well as a high incidence of fungal and insect infestations. The dry chain, based on rapid and deep drying of seeds after harvest followed by packaging in moisture-proof containers, has been proposed as an effective method to maintain seed quality during medium-term storage in humid climates, even without refrigeration. In addition, seed drying with zeolite drying beads can be more effective and economical than sun or heated-air drying under these warm, humid conditions. In this paper, we review recent published literature regarding the dry chain, considering different crop species, storage environments and seed traits. In addition, we provide new original data on the application of dry chain methods and their implementation at larger scales in South Asia, Latin America and Pacific Island Countries. The clear conclusion is that the combination of reusable drying beads and waterproof storage containers enables the implementation of the dry chain in tropical climates, enhancing seed viability and quality in storage of many crop species. The dry chain approach can therefore significantly enhance seed security for farmers in many tropical countries. Finally, we propose actions and strategies that could guide further scaling-up implementation of this technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Natural populations of Saposhnikovia divaricata (Turcz. ex Ledeb.) Schischk. have recently been subjected to strong anthropogenic impact due to biologically active substances with a wide spectrum of action detected in plants. The purpose of this study is to determine the state of natural populations of S. divaricata and identify biological features of the species that contribute to the stability of the populations. Seven coenopopulations have been studied in the Republic of Buryatia. Phytocenoses and ontogenetic states of S. divaricata are described, demographic indicators of coenopopulations are given, and environmental and biological factors affecting the existence of this species have been identified. S. divaricata has a wide ecological amplitude and occurs from tree communities to steppes and fallow areas. Its proportion in communities does not exceed 2% of the general projective cover. Most populations are characterized by a low density of individuals (5–48 individuals/100 m2) due to the destruction of plants (root extraction). One stable population without damage (density of 209 individuals/100 m2) and one recovering population (113 individuals/100 m2) have been revealed. The height of generative plants varies significantly from 35 to 100 cm, depending on the growing conditions. Environmental factors that negatively affect the stability of natural populations of S. divaricata include biotic (massive damage to seeds by invertebrates) and anthropogenic (root harvesting and grazing) ones. A number of biological features determine the strategy of the species in nature: a probable low stock of seeds in soil and a sharp rise in the amount of seedlings during seed dispersal; biological longevity of seeds for more than 5 years; early contractility of roots; dormant buds and renewal buds in the leaf axils of previous years are protected by remnants of leaf sheaths; when the apical bud is damaged, monopodial growth is changed to sympodial (more often at the beginning of the virginal ontogenetic state); duration of the pregenerative period of 10–12 years; and monocarpicity, up to 50% of generative individuals in the population form false whorls, the percentage of fruit formation in a simple umbel is 50–100%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Globalization of social and economic activities has led to the large-scale redistribution of plant species. It is still unclear how the traits aid the successful invasion of alien species. Here, we downloaded global plant trait data from the TRY-Plant Trait Database and classified alien species in China into four groups: high, medium, need attention and harmless according to their distribution and degree of harm to local plant communities based on existed studies. The relationship between plant functional traits and invasion level was clarified, and we established a prediction model based on plant functional traits and taxonomy. The results showed that species with smaller seeds, smaller individuals, lower special leaf area and longer seed bank longevity (SL) are more likely to be an invasive species after introduction to foreign ecosystems. In summary, exotic species with longer SL and lower seed dry mass are more likely to be invasive in China. We also trained two predictive models to check if we can predict a species' invasion. Combining the two models together, statistically, we could predict if a species is invasive from its traits and taxonomy with a 91.84% accuracy. This model could help local governments, managers and stakeholders to evaluate shall we introduce some plant species in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As part of this research, an investigation was conducted to assess the impact of utilizing natural biostimulants on the biochemical and seedling characteristics of cowpea seeds variety VBN 4. Specifically, the study aimed to determine the most capable biostimulant in promoting enzyme activity and seedling vigor when applied at a 5% concentration for a period of eight hours. A total of eight different biostimulants were utilized in treating the seeds, and their outcomes were compared to those of untreated control seeds. The results revealed that humic acid at a 5% concentration and an eight-hour treatment period had the highest values for both enzyme activity and seedling vigor. Following closely behind were Pseudomonas fluorescens and brown kelp extract, showcasing their promising qualities as biostimulants. Overall, this study highlights the significant benefits that biostimulants offer to farmers as a means to increase seed viability and vigor. Based on these findings, it can be concluded that incorporating natural biostimulants into agricultural practices is a valuable strategy for improving crop yield and overall plant health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, breeding initiatives have been made to reduce the fecundity of invasive plants leading to sterile cultivars. The wildtype form of heavenly bamboo (Nandina domestica Thunb. (Berberidaceae) and seven cultivars were evaluated for landscape performance, fruit production and seed viability at three sites in Florida located in southwest, northcentral, and north Florida. For heavenly bamboo cultivars in north Florida, 'Emerald Sea', 'Greray' (Sunray®), 'Lemon-Lime', 'Murasaki' (Flirt™), 'SEIKA' (Obsession™), and 'Twilight' performed well throughout much of the study with average visual quality ratings between 3.54 and 4.60 (scale of 1 to 5). In northcentral Florida heavenly bamboo cultivars are 'Emerald Sea', 'Greray', 'Lemon-Lime', 'Murasaki', 'SEIKA', and 'Twilight' performed well throughout much of the study with average quality ratings between 4.49 and 4.94. In southwest Florida, 'Emerald Sea', 'Greray', 'Lemon-Lime', 'Murasaki', and 'SEIKA' performed well with average quality ratings between 3.40 and 4.83. At all three sites, 'Emerald Sea' and the wildtype were similar in size, having the greatest growth indices compared to medium-sized cultivars ('Greray', 'Lemon-Lime', 'Twilight' and 'SEIKA') and dwarf-sized cultivars ('Chime' and 'Murasaki'). For three consecutive fall-winter seasons of the study, 'Chime', 'Greray', and 'Lemon-Lime' heavenly bamboo did not fruit at any of the study sites. Among the three sites, 'Murasaki' had 97.7% to 99.9% fruit reduction, 'SEIKA' had 97.7% to 100% fruit reduction, and 'Twilight' had 95.9% to 100% fruit reduction compared to the wildtype at respective sites. Seeds collected from low fruiting cultivars ('Murasaki', 'SEIKA', and 'Twilight') had 33.3% to 66.7% viability, as determined by tetrazolium tests. In comparison, 'Emerald Sea' produced as much, if not more, fruit as the wildtype, especially in northern Florida, with seed viability ranging from 6.7% to 29.0% among sites. Nuclear DNA content of cultivars were comparable to the wildtype, suggesting they are diploids. These findings identified four low to no fruiting heavenly bamboo cultivars recommended for landscape use ('Lemon-Lime', 'SEIKA', 'Murasaki', and 'Greray'). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) seeds are an interesting raw material for malting regarding its relatively high bioactive compounds concentration and proven advantageous properties in different food products and dietary supplements. In the first stage of the study, important seeds properties relevant to the malting process including moisture content, seed viability, and water absorption capacity were determined. However, a few parameters determining the seeds' usability for malt preparation, such as germination ability and water sensitivity, are different in comparison to typical malting raw materials such as barley or wheat. However, they make it possible to obtain high-quality hemp malt. In the next stage of research, spectroscopic and chromatographic analyses, including measurements of antioxidant activity and protein separation by SEC-HPLC, were conducted. The results showed that the malting process improved the total antioxidant potential of hemp seeds by 15%, leading to an increase in the concentration of lower molecular weight proteins and oligopeptides—below molecular mass of 10 kDa—responsible for this high antioxidant activity. The processing of hemp seeds reduced the phytate content while increasing phosphate fractions with fewer phosphate groups, which may have a beneficial effect on nutritional value. These results suggest that malting hemp seeds needs optimalization of the process but can increase its nutritional value as a promising raw material in the food industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Araucaria angustifolia is a species known for its valuable wood and nuts, but it is threatened with extinction. The plantation of forests for genetic resource conservation is a complementary strategy designed to reduce the species' genetic variability loss. This study aimed to evaluate the technical and economic viability of A. angustifolia for genetic conservation through use. The analyzed provenance and progeny trial was established in 1982 in Itapeva, Brazil. It was structured using a compact family blocks design with 110 open-pollinated progenies from five natural populations, three replicates, ten plants per subplot, and 3.0 m × 2.0 m spacing. After 33 years, the trial was evaluated for total height, diameter at breast height, wood volume, and survival. The variance components and genetic parameter estimates were performed using Restricted Maximum Likelihood/Best Linear Unbiased Prediction methods (REML/BLUP) methods with the Selegen software (version 2014). The production and management scenarios were obtained using the SisAraucaria software (version 2003). Sensitivity analysis and economic parameter estimates were obtained through various economic evaluation methods using the Planin software (version 1995). In general, the genetic parameters indicated that the population has enough variability for both conservation and breeding purposes, suggesting technical viability for the establishment of a seed orchard. The economic parameters indicated that the commercialization of wood and araucaria nuts proved to be more profitable than wood production by itself. In conclusion, araucaria genetic conservation through use is a technically and economically viable ex situ conservation strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In soybean production, numerous strategies are utilized to enhance seed quality and mitigate the effects of biotic and abiotic stressors. Zn-based nutrient priming has been shown to be effective for field crops, and biopriming is a strategy that is becoming increasingly important for sustainable agriculture. On the other hand, there is a lack of information about the effect of comprehensive nutrient priming and biopriming techniques on soybean seed quality and viability and seed health. This study was performed to assess the benefits of nutrient priming with Zn, biopriming with Bacillus megaterium and Bradyrhizobium japonicum (single and co-inoculation), and combination of nutrient priming and biopriming on the seed quality and viability, as well as seed infection caused by Alternaria spp. and Fusarium spp. Three different laboratory tests were employed: germination test, accelerated aging test, and seed health test. The results revealed that all tested priming treatments have a beneficial effect on seed germination, initial plant growth, and reduction of seed infection in normal and aged seeds. Additionally, comprehensive priming with Zn, Bacillus megaterium, and Bradyrhizobium japonicum reduced the occurrence of Alternaria spp. (−84% and −75%) and Fusarium spp. (−91% and −88%) on soybean seeds in the germination and accelerated aging tests, respectively, as compared to the control, which proved to be the most effective treatment in both optimal and stressful conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Canola (Brassica napus L. var. oleifera Moech) is one of the main oilseeds for edible and industrial purposes. For the evaluation of the physiological quality of a lot of seeds, the tetrazolium test has been considered as a promising alternative, due to the speed and efficiency in the characterization of viability. The present study aimed to adapt the methodology of the tetrazolium test to evaluate the quality of canola seeds. Alth B4 and Hyola 433 hybrids were used. The study involved the characterization of the initial profile of the lots by determining the moisture content, weight of a thousand seeds, first count, germination test, germination speed index, emergence, initial stand, emergency speed index. Pre-conditioning of the seeds was carried out, defining the soaking curve and the seeds placed to soak for periods of 10, 12, 14, 16, 18 and 22 hours, by the methods of hydration on paper and direct immersion in water and the adequacy of the tetrazolium test methodology as a function of different concentrations (0.075%; 0.5% and 1.0%) and immersion periods of 2, 4 and 6 hours. The results indicated that the lowest concentrations and lowest imbibition periods present a higher percentage of viability for canola seeds. It was concluded that the tetrazolium test is efficient to evaluate the viability in canola seeds with pre-conditioning of the seeds in hydration in paper for 10 hours at 25 °C, followed by the total removal of the tegument, in the tetrazolium solution of 0.075% per 2 hours at 30°C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cavanillesia platanifolia is a tree species distributed in the tropical dry forest ecosystem threatened by the fragmentation and loss of its habitat. Reforestation is thus to be considered for its conservation. The ex situ production of young individuals is key for any reforestation plan. In this study, we compare the recruitment capacity in nursery of two seed conservation treatments: cold conservation vs. conservation at ambient temperature. The emergency rate increased and the seedlings grew more vigorous in cold-preserved seeds. In addition, seedling mortality was significantly reduced in cold-preserved seeds, which we believe is due to a slowdown in seed ageing and a decrease in pathogenic activity. This easily replicable and economic nursery cultivation methodology can be incorporated into the potential reforestation plans of C. platanifolia, as well as to other threatened plant species of the neotropic with seeds of similar characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Canopy storage of seed (serotiny) is an important persistence strategy in fire‐prone environments. Serotinous populations can be threatened when fire intervals are shorter than the time needed to accumulate seed, or when longer than plant lifespans.Understanding how fire regimes influence canopy seedbanks requires study of the timing of plant maturity, seed output and germination traits. Research that spans plant functional types, such as resprouters or obligate seeders, helps to understand the mechanisms through which fire has influence.Using field data collected at 57 sites in a Mediterranean shrubland of southeastern Australia, we modelled how time since fire and mean fire interval influenced infructescence (hereby cone) production. Additionally, seed output, viability and germination speed were assessed in the laboratory.Reproductively mature resprouters were first observed 2 to 4 years post‐fire in the field, and reproductively mature obligate seeders 6 years post‐fire, depending on the species. Reproductively mature plants were not observed at short mean fire intervals: until 3 and 9 years for resprouters and nine and 18 years for obligate seeders, again, varying by species. When resprouter species reached maturity, we observed a decline in cone production as time since fire increased. This decline was not observed for obligate seeder species.Fire influenced the number of viable seeds produced within cones for one resprouter species, Allocasuarina paludosa, but we did not detect a relationship for other species.Germination speed was faster for species that produce few seeds per cone, and slower for species that produce many seeds, indicating a trade‐off between fire‐related seed traits. For example, Hakea rostrata, which holds two seeds per cone, germinated mostly within the first few weeks, while Callitris rhomboidea, which holds many seeds per cone, germinated asynchronously over 9 months.Short intervals between fires reduce canopy seed production for the serotinous species studied. Obligate seeders were more sensitive to frequent fire than resprouters. In the context of expected increases in wildfire frequency and droughts in Mediterranean ecosystems, our findings suggest that serotinous species' reproduction and recruitment will be differentially impacted depending on a suite of functional traits. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The seed bank is an important part of the weed life cycle since it is where weed seeds rest. Seed banks are the only source of future weed populations for those annual and perennial weed species that reproduce only through seeds. As a result, understanding the fate of seeds in the seed bank may be crucial for overall weed management. When weed seeds reach the seed bank, a number of factors determine how long they may stay viable. Seeds in the seed bank can sense their surroundings and use these stimuli to go dormant or commence germination. Soil and crop management strategies can have a direct impact on the environment of seeds in the soil weed seed bank, allowing them to be utilised to manage weed seed longevity and germination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alstroemeria spp. and carnation (Dianthus caryophyllus L.) have considerable and increasing economic importance in the floriculture market, therefore breeders carry out intense breeding programs to select new superior varieties. However, poor germination of hybrid seeds remains a bottleneck. Based on this assumption, seed pre-treatments and in vitro germination protocols, using different germination substrates, were applied in Alstroemeria spp. and carnation to improve germinability. Seed viability was tested using the 2,3,5-triphenyl tetrazolium chloride (TTC) test, and resulted in 91.10% ± 2.33 and 86.66% ± 3.85 in Alstroemeria and carnation, respectively. In Alstroemeria, pre-treatment with potassium nitrate (KNO3) in combination with modified ½ Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium ensured high germination uniformity combined with high germination percentage, showing significantly higher values than the control. In carnation, a suitable seed sterilization procedure was set up (up to 95.8% sterility); treatments with gibberellic acid (GA3) and KNO3 did not influence germination percentage compared to the control. A high multiplication rate of seedling lines was obtained on hormone-free MS medium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seed germination (GS) and seedling growth are vital plant stages that can be affected by stresses such as drought and aging, which cause deterioration and reduce seed viability. With the aim of homogenizing and improving GS, priming treatments with biostimulants such as the antioxidant melatonin are commonly used in seeds. In this study, the effects of melatonin on germination and seedling growth in two different situations, i.e., aging seeds of rice, barley, and sorghum and under polyethylene glycol (PEG)-induced drought stress in sorghum, were studied. Aged seeds were primed for 7 days in different concentrations of melatonin, and drought stress seeds were primed for 24 h before PEG treatment for 7 days, and germination and initial growth parameters were monitored. Aging-seeds of rice and barley showed the maximum response in terms of germination percentage at 20 µM melatonin and 0.05 µM respectively; while aging-seeds of sorghum showed improvement in germination for practically all concentrations studied, even the highest tested at 50 µM. Regarding the effect of melatonin treatments on drought stress in sorghum seeds, all the studied parameters showed a significant attenuation of the adverse effects of drought stress, alleviating them, for all concentrations tested but especially at 200 µM melatonin. The results obtained confirm that priming seeds with melatonin under low germinability conditions relieves stress and improves both germination and seedling growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phenolic compounds (phenolics) are secondary metabolites ubiquitous across plants. The earliest phenolics are linked to plants' successful transition from an aquatic to a terrestrial environment, serving as protection against damaging ultraviolet (UV) radiation, and as antioxidants to reduce oxidative stress in an atmosphere with an increasingly high O2:CO2 ratio. In modern plants, phenolics are best known for the defense against fungal and bacterial pathogens and as antifeedants that deter herbivory. Phenolics also play a role in seed dormancy, delaying germination, and lengthening viability in the seed bank. Many plants' seeds are endozoochorous – dispersed by animals, like birds, who eat and later excrete the seeds. Plants send visual signals to attract birds with UV‐sensitive (UVS) vision for pollination and seed dispersal. As fruits ripen, antioxidant activity and phenolic content decrease. The waxy cuticle of fruits increases in UV reflection as phenolic rings, which absorb UV light, degrade. The UV contrast that birds detect may act as an honest signal, indicating nutritional changes in the fruit. However, there is little evidence to support the evolution of UV coloration during ripening being driven by frugivore selection. Antioxidant properties of fruit phenolics may be dually adaptive in plants and avian frugivores. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The persistence of a soil seed bank influences weed management options. However, for many species, the degree of persistence of a soil seed bank is unknown. We assessed how long seeds remain in the soil for two invasive weeds, Chrysanthemoides monilifera subsp. monilifera (boneseed) and C. monilifera subsp. rotundata (bitou bush), as seeds of these species were predicted to have different longevity in the soil associated with differences in seed coat thickness. Seeds of both subspecies were buried at two depths at two sites in eastern Australia. Seeds were tested for germinability and viability regularly over an 8‐year period. Freshly collected seeds had quite low viability, and there was a rapid decline in viability in the first couple of years after burial, with C. m. rotundata declining faster than C. m. monilifera. Some seeds, however, remained viable in the soil at some sites for up to 8 years, with high site‐to‐site variability. The variability in viability from site to site may be due to the length of time soils remain moist: a combination of rainfall quantity and humidity levels. The low numbers of seeds remaining viable at 8 years indicate progressively lower probabilities of recruitment at sites following weed control but also suggest that monitoring for both subspecies needs to occur for a long period to minimize the risk of reinfestation from the seed bank. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seed vigor is a complex trait encompassing seed germination, seedling emergence, growth, seed longevity, and stress tolerance, all are crucial for direct seeding in rice. Here, we report that the AP2/ERF transcription factor OsRAV1 (RELATED TO ABI3 AND VP1) positively regulates seed germination, vigor, and salt tolerance. Additionally, OsRAV1 was differently expressed in embryo and endosperm, with the OsRAV1 localized in the nucleus. Transcriptomic analysis revealed that OsRAV1 modulates seed vigor through plant hormone signal transduction and phenylpropanoid biosynthesis during germination. Haplotype analysis showed that rice varieties carrying Hap3 displayed enhanced salt tolerance during seed germination. These findings suggest that OsRAV1 is a potential target in breeding rice varieties with high seed vigor suitable for direct seeding cultivation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Efficacy of cyanobacteria-based/biofilms and their formulations as seed coating evaluated. • Storability in terms of seed germination and vigor tested in two chickpea varieties. • Cyanobacterial seed coating led to significant enhancement in vigor indices. • Anabaena laxa and cyanobacterial consortium were the top performers. • Field performance needs to be undertaken to validate the beneficial impact of coated seeds. The efficacy of selected cyanobacterial formulations as seed coating for improving seed germination, vigor, and storability of two chickpea varieties Pusa 3062 (Desi) and Pusa 3022 (Kabuli) was evaluated. The application of microbial formulations through seed coating, and recommended chemical treatment (± RST) exhibited a positive impact on seed storability (upto 6 months). This was evident from improvement by 2–4 % higher seed germination, and 25–57 % higher vigour indices, even after 6 months storage; with notable interactions between varieties and treatment methods. Highest percent germination in Desi and Kabuli chickpea varieties after 6 months of storage was observed in An-Rh biofilm + RST (99.25) and BF1- 4 cyanobacterial consortium + RST (95 %), respectively. Percent decrease in germination over the storage period was greater in Kabuli, and among all treatments, across both varieties, in control. Viability studies of the seed coatings with cyanobacteria, using chlorophyll, microscopy and growth as indices, further supported their longevity and beneficial impact upto 6 months storage. Out of all treatments, Anabaena laxa followed closely by BF1- 4 Cyanobacterial consortium + RST were superior. The mean effect of treatments was influenced significantly by variety and their interactions with the period of storage (0, 3, 6 months). PCA validated the significant influence of treatments, with vigor indices as dominant variables. Seed coating with these cyanobacterial formulations can be recommended as an effective strategy to enhance crop vigor as well as seed storability, along with testing the field performance to further validate the beneficial impact of coated seeds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The exposure of the seeds to environmental stresses constitutes a limiting factor that controls the success of germination and the creation of new seedlings. Germination rate and seedling growth from bean were examined after imbibition of seeds with deionized water (control), co-precipitation Fe3O4 NPs1 (43 nm), or green synthesis Fe3O4 NPs2 (6 nm). Fe3O4 NPs increased the germination rate. The results showed that Fe3O4 NPs2 had a higher positive effect on seed germination and growth compared to Fe3O4 NPs1. The effects of Fe3O4 NPs1 and Fe3O4 NPs2 on the germination of bean seeds varied depending on NP concentrations and sizes. Fe3O4 NPs2 caused higher metabolic activities (increase in amino acids and soluble sugar contents) and lower solute leakage, which controlled seed viability. Moreover, peroxidase (GPOX; EC 1.11.1.7) and dehydrogenase (EC; 1.1.1.1) activities were induced in response to NPs application, which improved defense mechanisms and reduced oxidative damage. Fe3O4 NPs2 had a greater favorable effect on seed germination and growth than Fe3O4 NPs1. Following nanoparticle dose control for each plant species, we advise using green synthesis NPS in the new agricultural products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Backgrounds: Sinojackia xylocarpa Hu is a deciduous tree in the Styracaceae family, and it is classified as a Class II endangered plant in China. Seed storage technology is an effective means of conserving germplasm resources, but the effects of different storage conditions on the quality and associated metabolism of S. xylocarpa seeds remain unclear. This study analyzed the physiological and metabolic characteristics of S. xylocarpa seeds under four storage conditions. Results: Our findings demonstrate that reducing seed moisture content and storage temperature effectively prolongs storage life. Seeds stored under that condition exhibited higher internal nutrient levels, lower endogenous abscisic acid (ABA) hormone levels, and elevated gibberellic acid (GA3) levels. Additionally, 335 metabolites were identified under four different storage conditions. The analysis indicates that S. xylocarpa seeds extend seed longevity and maintain cellular structural stability mainly by regulating the changes in metabolites related to lipid, amino acid, carbohydrate, and carotenoid metabolic pathways under the storage conditions of a low temperature and low seed moisture. Conclusions: These findings provide new insights at the physiological and metabolic levels into how these storage conditions extend seed longevity while also offering effective storage strategies for preserving the germplasm resources of S. xylocarpa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Exposure to elevated temperatures and relative humidity expedites the seed aging process, finally leading to seed viability loss. In this context, certain proteins play a pivotal role in safeguarding the longevity of seeds. However, the seedproteomic response to loss viability in Salvia hispanica L., commonly known as chia, remains incompletely understood. Methods: This work explores the application of proteomics as a potent tool for uncovering molecular responses to viability loss caused by artificial aging in two chia genotypes, WN and MN. Results: By using a quantitative label-free proteomics analysis (LC-MS/MS), 1787 proteins wereidentified in chia seeds at a 95% confidence level, including storage proteins, heat shock proteins (HSPs), late embryogenesis abundant proteins (LEA), oleosins, reactive oxygen species (ROS)-related enzymes, and ribosomal proteins. A relatively low percentage of exclusive proteins were identified in viable and nonviable seeds. However, proteins exhibiting differential abundancebetween samples indicated variations in the genotype and physiological status. Specifically, the WN genotype showed 130 proteins with differential abundancecomparing viable and non-viable seeds, while MN displayed changes in the abundance of 174 proteins. While both showed a significant decrease in keyproteins responsible for maintaining seed functionality, longevity, and vigor withhigh-temperature and humidity conditions, such as LEA proteins or HSPs, ROS, and oleosins, distinct responses between genotypes were noted, particularly in ribosomal proteins that were accumulated in MN and diminished in WN seeds. Discussion: Overall, the results emphasize the importance of evaluating changes in proteins of viable and non-viable seeds as they offer valuable insights into the underlying biological mechanisms responsible for the maintenance of chia seed integrity throughout high-temperature and humidity exposure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lipids are organic nonpolar molecules with essential biological and economic importance. While the genetic pathways and regulatory networks of lipid biosynthesis and metabolism have been extensively studied and thoroughly reviewed in oil crops such as soybeans, less attention has been paid to the biological roles of lipids in rice, a staple food for the global population and a model species for plant molecular biology research, leaving a considerable knowledge gap in the biological roles of lipids. In this review, we endeavor to furnish a current overview of the advancements in understanding the genetic foundations and physiological functions of lipids, including triacylglycerol, fatty acids, and very-long-chain fatty acids. We aim to summarize the key genes in lipid biosynthesis, metabolism, and transcriptional regulation underpinning rice's developmental and growth processes, biotic stress responses, abiotic stress responses, fertility, seed longevity, and recent efforts in rice oil genetic improvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Seeds of woody plant species, such as those in the Acer genus like Norway maple (Acer platanoides L.) and sycamore (Acer pseudoplatanus L.), exhibit unique physiological traits and responses to environmental stress. Thioredoxins (Trxs) play a central role in the redox regulation of cells, interacting with other redox-active proteins such as peroxiredoxins (Prxs), and contributing to plant growth, development, and responses to biotic and abiotic stresses. However, there is limited understanding of potential variations in this system between seeds categorized as recalcitrant and orthodox, which could provide insights into adaptive strategies. Methods: Using proteomic analysis and DDA methods we investigated the Trx-h1 target proteins in seed axes. We complemented the results of the proteomic analysis with gene expression analysis of the Trx-h1, 1-Cys-Prx, and TrxR NTRA genes in the embryonic axes of maturing, mature, and stored seeds from two Acer species. Results and discussion: The expression of Trx-h1 and TrxR NTRA throughout seed maturation in both species was low. The expression of 1-Cys-Prx remained relatively stable throughout seed maturation. In stored seeds, the expression levels were minimal, with slightly higher levels in sycamore seeds, which may confirm that recalcitrant seeds remain metabolically active during storage. A library of 289 proteins interacting with Trx-h1 was constructed, comprising 68 from Norway maple and 221 from sycamore, with distinct profiles in each seed category. Recalcitrant seed axes displayed a wide array of metabolic, stress response, and signaling proteins, suggesting sustained metabolic activity during storage and the need to address oxidative stress. Conversely, the orthodox seed axes presented a protein profile, reflecting efficient metabolic shutdown, which contributes to their extended viability. The results of the study provide new insights into seed viability and storage longevity mechanisms. They enhance the understanding of seed biology and lay the foundation for further evolutionary research on seeds of different categories. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To survive extreme desiccation, seeds enter a period of quiescence that can last millennia. Seed quiescence involves the accumulation of protective storage proteins and lipids through unknown adjustments in protein homeostasis (proteostasis). Here, we show that mutation of all six type–II metacaspase (MCA–II) proteases in Arabidopsis thaliana disturbs proteostasis in seeds. MCA–II mutant seeds fail to restrict the AAA ATPase CELL DIVISION CYCLE 48 (CDC48) at the endoplasmic reticulum to discard misfolded proteins, compromising seed storability. Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) localization of CDC48 relies on the MCA–IIs-dependent cleavage of PUX10 (ubiquitination regulatory X domain–containing 10), the adaptor protein responsible for titrating CDC48 to lipid droplets. PUX10 cleavage enables the shuttling of CDC48 between lipid droplets and the ER, providing an important regulatory mechanism sustaining spatiotemporal proteolysis, lipid droplet dynamics, and protein homeostasis. In turn, the removal of the PUX10 adaptor in MCA–II mutant seeds partially restores proteostasis, CDC48 localization, and lipid droplet dynamics prolonging seed lifespan. Taken together, we uncover a proteolytic module conferring seed longevity. Here, the authors have generated a metacapase type II depletion model providing evidence for their paramount role in seed longevity. They also show that this is accomplished by regulating the ERAD, the proteostatic pathway crucial for seeds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Single seed metering devices for Chinese flowering cabbage planting machines have suffered such deficiencies as low efficiency, poor accuracy, and instability. To overcome these limitations, a pneumatic double disc precision seed metering device was designed. This innovative device can simultaneously plant four rows, considering the specific agricultural requirements and the geometric characteristics for Chinese flowering cabbage seeds. The precise parameters of the key component seed disc were derived through theoretical calculation. In addition, a detailed account was given for the working principle and workflow of the seed metering device. The discrete element method and EDEM software were employed to optimize the seed disc by exploring the effects of seed disc rotational speed and interleaving seed slots on seed viability. Orthogonal rotation experiments were conducted to evaluate the impact of seed disc rotational speed and negative pressure. While rates of qualified seeding, double seeding and missing seeding were adopted as test indicators. Testing results show that, at a seed disc rotational speed of 41.5 r/min and a negative pressure of 3.80 kPa, the average qualified seeding rate is 90.13%, the average missing seeding rate is 3.30%, and the average double seeding rate is 6.02%. These values satisfy the agricultural requirements for planting Chinese flowering cabbage. The findings can also provide valuable insights for the structural optimization and design of precision seed metering devices for Chinese flowering cabbage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]