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Endosperm cap weakening and endo-β-mannanase activity during priming of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum cv. Moneymaker) seeds are initiated upon crossing a threshold water potential

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 September 2008

Peter E. Toorop ,
Adriaan C. van Aelst  and
Henk W. M. Hilhorst
Peter E. Toorop*
Affiliation:
Laboratory of Plant Physiology, Wageningen Agricultural University, Arboretumlaan 4, NL-6703 BD Wageningen, Netherlands
Adriaan C. van Aelst
Affiliation:
Laboratory of Plant Cytology and Morphology, Wageningen Agricultural University, Arboretumlaan 4, NL-6703 BD Wageningen, Netherlands
Henk W. M. Hilhorst
Affiliation:
Laboratory of Plant Physiology, Wageningen Agricultural University, Arboretumlaan 4, NL-6703 BD Wageningen, Netherlands
*
* Tel: +31 317 484230 Fax: +31 317 484740peter.toorop@algem.pf.wau.nl
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Abstract

The relationship between endosperm cap weakening and endo-β-mannanase activity during priming and the time to germination after priming was studied in tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) seeds. During priming of seeds in −0.4 MPa PEG, the mechanical restraint of the endosperm cap decreased while the endo-β-mannanase activity in the endosperm cap increased. There was no decrease in required puncture force and no increase in endo-β-mannanase activity in seeds during priming in −1.0 MPa PEG. Two classes of seeds could be distinguished during priming in −0.7 MPa PEG: one with decreased required puncture force and one without. A strong correlation was found between the lowering of the mechanical restraint and endo-β-mannanase activity. It was concluded that individual seeds have to cross a threshold water potential in order to develop enzyme activity and lower their mechanical restraint. A decrease in required puncture force and increase in endo-β-mannanase activity correlated with ice crystal-induced porosity in the endosperm cap cell walls in scanning micrographs. It was presumed that ice crystal-induced porosity reflects cell-wall hydrolysis. Germination time after priming correlated positively with required puncture force during priming, depending on the osmotic potential. Seeds in −1.0 MPa PEG improved their time to germination, without a decrease in the required puncture force. Therefore it was concluded that lowering of the endosperm restraint during priming positively affects the time to germination of primed seeds but is not a prerequisite for rapid germination.

Keywords

cryo-scanning electron microscopyendo-β-mannanasegerminationprimingpuncture forcetomato seeds
Type
Physiology & Biochemistry
Information
Seed Science Research , Volume 8 , Issue 4 , December 1998 , pp. 483 - 492
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1998

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