The development of juvenile plants of the hybrid orchid Bratonia after seed cryopreservation

The development of juvenile plants of hybrid Bratonia orchid in vitro after seed storage in liquid nitrogen and the effect of nutrient medium composition on protocorm multiplication and plant regeneration were investigated. Cryopreservation did not inhibit the germination rate of seeds. Protocorms derived from cryopreserved seeds developed faster than protocorms from control (unfrozen) seeds during the first 45 days. But during further culturing, this tendency was not retained and finally protocorms from cryopreserved seeds had the same size as control ones. There were no significant differences in leaf number and shoot length between juvenile plants derived from unfrozen and cryopreserved seeds. We found that among four tested media liquid Morel medium was the most preferable for protocorm multiplication, and liquid ?S medium with half-strength macronutrients was the best one for the development of juvenile plants.     

高光谱成像技术检测玉米种子成熟度

成熟度是影响种子活力的重要因素之一,是种子质量的重要指标。种子分级时将成熟种子和未成熟种子区分开来可提高种子批活力,使种子批活力具有一致性。采用400~1 000 nm波段范围的高光谱成像技术研究成熟和未成熟玉米种子,找出二者区分度最高的特征波段图像,通过图像处理方法进行种子分类。选用主成分分析(PCA)法分析高光谱图像,分析差异最明显的PC2主成分图像的各波段权重系数并提取出特征波段(501 nm)。从70粒成熟度较低玉米种子样本高光谱图像上选取成熟和未成熟两类感兴趣区域,采用偏最小二乘回归(PLSR)法分析两类感兴趣区域的平均光谱,选取与成熟度相关的敏感波段(518 nm)。采用波段比运算并结合KW检验,分析两类感兴趣区域的平均光谱,找出差异最大的最优波段比(640 nm/525 nm)。以864粒玉米种子为研究对象,提取特征波段对应的单波段图像和最优波段比对应的波段比图像,采用图像处理技术分析图像并判别。结果表明：采用单波段灰度图像分割容易将玉米种子冠部的浅色部分误识别为种子成熟度较低的区域,识别准确率低;而采用640 nm/525 nm的波段比图像可以减轻这种不利影响,平均正确识别率为93.9%。该方法可以有效识别未成熟的玉米种子,为进一步开发在线分级装备提供了依据。     

Cryopreservation of seeds of a Thai orchid (Doritis pulcherrima lindl. ) by vitrification

Seeds from selfing of a Thai orchid (Doritis pulcherrima Lindl.) were successfully cryopreserved in liquid nitrogen (LN) using the vitrification method. Seeds from 3-month-old pods were sufficiently dehydrated in 2 ml cryotubes filled with highly concentrated vitrification solution (PVS2) at 25 +/- 2 degree C for 50 min. The seeds were then rapidly plunged into LN. After rapid warming, the PVS2 solution was replaced with 0.5 ml of 1.2M sucrose in modified Vacin and Went (1949) (VW) solution and kept at 25 +/- 2 degree C for 20 min prior to transfer on VW agar medium. About 62% of cryopreserved seeds treated with PVS2 solution were able to develop into normal seedlings while without that treatment there was no survival. This vitrification protocol appears to be a promising technique for the cryopreservation of some Thai orchid germplasm     

Impact of microsecond-pulsed plasma-activated water on papaya seed germination and seedling growth

The seed of Carica papaya consists of a hard shell-like testa with inhibitors in vivo causing slow, erratic and asynchronous germination. In this work, plasma-activated water prepared by microsecond-pulsed plasma jets (μPAW) was applied to treat papaya seeds. The μPAW after plasma activation of 30 min was about 40 ℃. The reactive species such as NO₂, NO₃, and H₂O₂ in the μPAW activated from deionized water were measured and correlated to the seed germination rate and the seedling growth performance. The μPAW-treated papaya seed achieved a higher germination rate of 90%, which is 26% higher than the control group using deionized water. Comparing the results with a hot water (40 ℃) reference group showed that the reactive species in μPAW played primary roles in germination improvement, with little effect caused by the heat shock. The μPAW also sterilized the treated seeds, reducing the germination stress. The morphological change in the seeds was observed by SEM, showing an effect of physical etching after treatment promoting seed imbibition. The biochemical mechanism of the seed germination was deduced with reference to the evolution of surface chemistry, functional groups, and ABA content. The accelerated seed metabolism observed was corresponded to the chemical modification pathway. Besides, early seedlings developed from treated seeds were observed to be healthy, grow more leaves, and have better root structures. The content of MDA in the treated papaya seedlings decreased along with increased SOD and higher ion concentration. The μPAW that can be prepared at atmospheric pressure for bulk production offers a low-risk and cost-effective seed priming technology that may significantly increase the production of agricultural crops.     

Cryopreservation of Pistacia spp. seeds by dehydration and one-step freezing

Cryopreservation protocols by dehydration and one-step freezing were developed for seeds from three Pistacia species, i.e., P. vera, P. terebinthus and P. lentiscus, which were characterised by different initial germination percentages (100%, 17% and 81%, respectively). In P. vera, a maximum of 90% germination was obtained following 8 hours drying in silica gel (corresponding to 11.7% moisture content on a FW basis) and direct immersion in LN. In P. terebinthus and P. lentiscus, shorter periods of dehydration (1 hour and 15 min, respectively) were sufficient to reduce their moisture content to about 20%, which resulted in peak seed germination percentages from cryostorage of 16% and 47%, respectively. Following cryopreservation, the seeds germinated better on semi-solid MS medium, than on cotton wool wetted with dH(2)O or liquid MS medium. Finally, in P. vera and P. lentiscus, high and significant correlation coefficients were obtained between the TTC viability test and seed germinability after recovery from LN, provided that seeds which were considered positive in the test showed completely or partially red embryonic axes coupled to completely red cotyledons.     

高压对小麦种子发芽和幼苗生长的影响初探

 以豫麦18号小麦种子为材料，初步探索了不同压力和时间对不同处理的小麦种子发芽的影响，并对95 MPa压力、不同时间处理下发芽种子幼苗的生长情况进行测定。结果表明：在50~95 MPa压力下，直接真空包装的小麦种子均丧失发芽能力；在不同压力和时间下处理直接加水包装的小麦种子，种子发芽受到显著抑制；将水浸6 h再加水包装的小麦种子在95 MPa压力下处理4 h，能抑制小麦种子的发芽势和发芽率，但抑制强度较弱，也表明水可以有效降低高压对小麦种子的损伤。在95 MPa压力下、不同时间处理的直接加水包装的小麦种子幼苗的平均苗高和幼苗鲜重均大于对照。     

Long-term conservation through cryopreservation of immature seed of Mantisia spathulata and Mantisia wengeri; two endangered plants of north-east India

A successful protocol for long-term conservation of two endangered plants viz. Mantisia spathulata and M. wengeri has been devised through cryopreservation of immature seeds. Immature seeds of both the species were precultured in 0.6 M Sucrose and 2 M Glycerol for 3 h at 24 ± 2 degree C. Precultured seeds were then desiccated under the airflow of 27 ± 3 m min -1 velocity inside laminar air flow cabinet for different time periods. The seeds were then cryostored in liquid nitrogen for an hour. A maximum of 40 percent and 36.6 percent seed germination was recorded after cryostorage at moisture contents of 26.0 percent and 16.2 percent for M. spathulata and M. wengeri respectively. To protect these rare plants against loss due to disease, insect damage, or natural disaster a back up collection has been established using the protocol and applied to a large number of immature seeds that were obtained from the ex situ plants growing in the experimental garden of the North-eastern Hill University, Shillong.     

高静水压对水稻种子萌发及同工酶的影响

 利用不同静水压力和不同保压时间处理了籼稻粤香占种子，研究发现，随着压力的增加和保压时间的延长，水稻发芽率和成苗率明显下降，高压处理后的水稻在苗期的生长受到明显抑制，大约生长30 d株高才赶上对照；聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳显示高静水压力抑制了种子幼苗的酯酶（Esterase）同工酶的表达，但对其它几种同工酶如过氧化物酶（Peroxidase）、超氧化物歧化酶（Superoxider Dismutase）和苹果酸酶（Malic Enyme）等影响较小。利用同一压力和保压时间处理，不同类型的水稻（Oryza sativa L.）品种种子，其中包括籼稻（粤香占和南京11）、粳稻（秋光和台中65）和中间类型Bulu稻（Bulu Gendjah 和Bulu Rusa），结果发现所有类型水稻种子的发芽率和成苗率都显著降低，但因水稻类型的不同其影响程度也不同，籼型水稻南京11和粤香占的耐压性最弱，粳型水稻秋光和台中65最强，中间型Bulu水稻Bulu Gendjah和 Bulu Rusa居中。上述结果表明，静水高压能够显著降低水稻的种子的发芽率和成苗率，抑制幼苗前期的生长和酯酶同工酶的表达。     

Cryopreservation of tea (Camellia sinensis L.) seeds and embryonic axes

This study investigated the tolerance to desiccation and freezing of tea seeds, embryonic axes (EAs) and cotyledonary embryonic axes (CEAs, consisting of EAs with portions of cotyledons still attached). No seeds germinated after desiccation and cryopreservation. EAs extracted from seeds desiccated to 18.9% moisture content (fresh weight basis) and cryopreserved showed 20.7% survival but plantlet production from these EAs was impossible. When EAs and CEAs were extracted from seeds before being submitted to desiccation and freezing, survival of control and frozen samples was equivalent with both types of materials. However, plantlet production was significantly higher from control and cryopreserved CEAs than EAs. The maturity stage of the seeds from which CEAs were extracted had an important effect on their survival and plant production percentages, mature seeds providing better results than early mature and late mature seeds. The highest percentages of plantlet production from cryopreserved CEAs, which ranged between 75.1 and 80.4%, were achieved for EA moisture contents between 21.5 and 15.0%.     

Beneficial role of carbon nanotubes on mustard plant growth: an agricultural prospect

Nowadays an increasing application of nanotechnology in different fields has arisen an extensive debate about the effect of the engineered nanoparticles on environment. Phytotoxicity of nanoparticles has come into limelight in the last few years. However, very few studies have been done so far on the beneficial aspects of nanoparticles on plants. In this article, we report the beneficial effect of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) having diameter of ~30 nm on Brassica juncea (mustard) seeds. Measurements of germination rate, T ₅₀ (time taken for 50% germination), shoot and root growth have shown encouraging results using low concentration of oxidized MWCNT (OMWCNT) treated seeds as compared to non-oxidized as well as high concentration OMWCNT treated seeds. For toxicity study we measured the germination index and relative root elongation, while conductivity test and infra-red spectra were also performed to study the overall effect of oxidized and non-oxidized nanotubes on mustard seeds and seedlings.     

FTIR光谱结合曲线拟合研究萌发水稻种子

种子的萌发是种子生命历程中的主要组成部分之一,了解种子萌发过程中经历的生理生化变化,准确确定种子的活力,对农业生产很重要,因而,研究种子萌发有重要意义。采用傅里叶变换红外光谱结合曲线拟合研究不同萌发程度的水稻种子,以探寻种子贮藏物质动员情况,对不同萌发时间的水稻种子进行傅里叶变换红外光谱、二阶导数光谱、二维相关红外光谱和曲线拟合研究。结果显示,原始红外光谱整体相似,光谱反映出水稻种子的主要贮藏物质为淀粉、蛋白质和脂肪;吸收峰强度比A_{1 659}/A_{1 019},A_{1 740}/A_{1 019},A_{1 157}/A_{1 019},A_{1 157}/A_{1 081}随萌发时间的增加而降低。814～1 000和1 028～1 340 cm-1范围内的二维相关红外光谱结果显示自动峰个数和最强自动峰的位置、强度随种子萌发时间的增加而变化,表明种子在萌发过程中糖类和蛋白质发生变化。二阶导数光谱在1 200～950 cm-1范围内出现七个峰,其中988 cm-1处的峰随萌发时间的增加向较高波数蓝移,而1 053和1 158 cm-1处的峰向较低波数红移,表明水稻种子在萌发过程中多糖的结构和含量可能发生了变化;在1 700～1 600 cm-1范围内出现九个峰,其中1 641和1 692 cm-1处的峰呈现随萌发时间的增加红移到较低波数的趋势,表明水稻种子在萌发过程中蛋白质的结构和含量可能发生了变化;在1 800～1 700 cm-1范围二阶导数光谱仅观察到1 712和1 744 cm-1处的两个峰,其中1 744 cm-1由脂类物质C═O伸缩振动引起,为脂肪的特征峰。为进一步研究水稻种子萌发过程中贮藏物质的具体变化,以二阶导数光谱确定的子峰位置和数目为依据,对原始红外光谱的1 200～950与1 800～1 600 cm-1区域进行曲线拟合分析。曲线拟合结果显示,随萌发时间的增加,多糖和蛋白质的相对含量总体上呈现下降趋势,脂肪的相对含量先降后升。研究表明,傅里叶变换红外光谱结合曲线拟合可作为研究种子萌发的有效手段。     

Zygotic and nucellar embryo survival following dehydration and cryopreservation of citrus intact seeds

A cryopreservation procedure by dehydration and direct immersion in liquid nitrogen was developed for seeds of four polyembryonic Citrus species, and the sexual or nucellar origin of the recovered seedlings was investigated. Seeds of three species could be desiccated in a sterile air flow to 16 percent (C. sinensis) or 10 percent (C. aurantium and C. limon) moisture content with a negligible reduction in germination levels. Differently, the germinability of C. deliciosa seeds dropped to 50 percent after drying to 15 percent moisture content. Following dehydration treatments, a reduction in the average number of seedlings per germinated seed was always observed. However, all four species benefited from desiccation in terms of protection during immersion in liquid nitrogen, with C. sinensis and C. aurantium showing the greatest survival (93 percent germination) after cryopreservation. The Inter-Simple Sequence Repeat analysis of seedlings recovered from cryopreserved seeds showed that the dehydration/cryopreservation procedure promotes the germination of zygotic embryos and reduces the number of apomictic seedlings per seed.     

~(12)C~(6+)离子束与电子束辐照对薰衣草当代诱变效应的比较

采用100 MeV的~(12)C~(6+)离子束和1.2 MeV的电子束辐照薰衣草干种子,研究了2个品种的薰衣草干种子对不同辐射源的辐照生物学效应,以期找到薰衣草干种子的最佳诱变参数。结果表明:不论是薰衣草701还是702,经~(12)C~(6+)离子辐照后,其发芽率表现为先增大后减小的趋势;经电子束辐照后,发芽率随着剂量的升高而降低,电子束辐照后的发芽率要低于~(12)C~(6+)离子束。另外,2个品种的薰衣草经~(12)C~+离子辐照后,其胚轴胚根长度以及幼苗鲜重也较电子束辐照后的大。由此可知,重离子的辐照效果优于电子束的,有利于后期筛选出新的薰衣草突变株。     

基于近红外光谱分析的高丹草种子发芽率检测研究

高丹草中粗蛋白质以及碳水化合物的含量丰富,适合青贮处理.优质的高丹草种子是发展畜牧业十分重要的前提,发芽率是检验种子质量最常规的指标之一,播前种子发芽率检测与筛选十分必要.现阶段采用发芽试验法进行种子发芽率的检测,周期长、成本高.基于此,提出利用近红外光谱对高丹草种子进行发芽率的快速、无损检测.选择适量的高丹草种子样品...     

Beneficial effect of post -thawing osmoconditioning on the recovery of cryopreserved coffee (Coffea arabica L.) seeds

Osmoconditioning-controlled rehydration of seeds in a solution with low osmotic potential -has been shown to reinvigorate aged seeds. The present work aimed at investigating the effect of osmoconditioning on the germination of cryopreserved seeds of Coffea arabica, whose viability and vigour are drastically affected by cryopreservation. For cryopreservation, seeds were desiccated to 0.21 g H2O/g dw, cooled at 1 degree C/min to -50 degree C, then immersed rapidly in liquid nitrogen. After rapid rewarming, seeds were osmoconditioned for 1 to 6 weeks using solutions with osmotic potentials between -1 and -4 MPa. The time to produce half of the final percentage of normal seedlings, T50, was about three fold lower with osmoconditioned seeds than with non-osmoconditioned seeds (12-14 d vs 36 d). Moreover, after a 6-week osmoconditioning treatment with solutions with osmotic potential of -1 and -1.25 MPa, the percentage of seedlings recovered from cryopreserved seeds was 64-74%, against 13-16% only for cryopreserved seeds which were not osmoconditioned.     

Effect of radioactive and non-radioactive mercury on wheat germination and the anti-toxic role of glutathione

Studies to test the noxious effect of mercury ions on wheat germination and seedling growth showed that germination rate, shoot length, and fresh weights varied as a function of their concentration in the treatment solutions. At the same concentration, the radioactive mercury proved to be more harmful to the living seeds and seedlings. The detoxification action of glutathione for both radioactive and non-radioactive mercury was also followed. After a seven-day period of germination in the presence of the investigated compounds, the wheat plantlets were cut from the seeds, and their height, weight, and residual radioactivity were measured. The shoot length decreased from 8.1 (blank) to 4.6 cm (non-radioactive mercury) or even to 2.5 cm ((203)Hg), while glutathione had both an anti-toxic and an anti-radiotoxic effect (6.4 and 6.0 cm, respectively). The root weight of the lot decreased from 1.7 to 0.7 g and 0.4 g, respectively, while glutathione showed a healing action (1.5 and 1.7 g). The radioactive ions accumulated especially in roots (35.5 %), and less in shoots (11.2 %). Results were statistically validated.     

The mechanism of adhesion and germination in the carpospores of Porphyra spiralis var. amplifolia (Rhodophyta, Bangiales)

Spore release is the primary means of dispersion employed by red algae, and it provides insight into the elements linking the stages of their life history. In most red algae, spores are released within a sheath-like envelope of mucilage, which is responsible for their primary attachment. However, few studies have characterized the polysaccharides involved in the adhesion of seaweed spores. Therefore, in this paper, the process of spore germination and adhesion in Porphyra spiralis var. amplifolia is described, as representative of the germination pattern of the Naccaria type. Using FITC-labeled lectins, we discovered high concentrations of α-D-mannose, α-D-glucose and β-D-galactose in the mucilage. The germ tube reacted with RCA-FITC, indicating the presence β-D-galactose, and the rhizoidal cells showed the presence of α-D-mannose, α-D-glucose and β-D-galactose, indicating their importance to substrate adhesion. Using light and transmission electron microscopy, we also conducted an analysis of spore ultrastructure. We found that the differentiation of a vacuole in the spore is one of the most important processes marking the initial stage of germination. Thus, as the degree of vacuolation increases, whole cell contents move towards the germ tube, which undergoes several successive divisions forming the sporophytic phase. Therefore, we can conclude that germination in Porphyra spiralis var. amplifolia is characterized by (1) the fixation of carpospores in the substrate by sugars present in the mucilage and (2) the polarization of cell contents by the processes of vacuolization and germ tube formation.     

大气压氩气冷等离子体射流处理对芥菜种子发芽率及根长的影响

研究大气压条件下空气环境中氩气放电冷等离子体射流处理对芥菜种子发芽率及幼苗根长的影响。比较了不同的放电电压和不同的处理时间下芥菜种子的发芽率及根长。结果表明,与对照组比较,在放电电压1.6kV、处理时间120s 和30s 的条件下,等离子体射流处理对种子的生长起到了促进作用;在放电电压2.2kV、处理时间120s 及放电电压2.8kV 的条件下,等离子体射流处理对种子的生长发育起到了抑制作用。     

Nandrolone decanoate increases the volume but not the length of the proximal and distal convoluted tubules of the mouse kidney

Anabolic androgenic steroids are widely used by athletes for increasing their muscle mass. These drugs are also used by some patients with chronic renal disease. But the effect of these drugs on the renal structure has received less attention. To investigate which parts of the kidney are affected by these drugs, mice kidneys were studied stereologically after injection of nandrolone decanoate (ND), an anabolic androgenic steroid. The treated group received nandrolone decanoate intraperitoneally (solved in olive oil) in doses of 3mg/kg of body weight and administered in one, two and three doses, respectively, in the first, second and third week of treatment. The mice in the control group received an olive oil solution. One week after the last injection, the mice were anaesthetized and their kidney removed. The analysis of data revealed that the weight of kidney was increased approximately 30% (p < or = 0.006) and its volume increased approximately 25% (p < or = 0.02) in ND treated mice in comparison with the control group. The volume of the cortex increased in ND treated animals approximately 44% (p < or = 0.006). Proximal convoluted tubules (PCT) and distal convoluted tubules (DCT) volume increased approximately 25% (p < or = 0.02) and approximately 68% (p < or = 0.02) in ND treated mice. The volume of glomeruli, other ducts, connective tissues, vessels and the length of PCT, DCT, collecting and Henle's ducts and vessels did not show significant differences. CONCLUSION: ND can increase the volume of the renal cortex and its two main parts, i.e. PCT and DCT in mice.