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Seed ageing of four Western Australian species in relation to storage environment and seed antioxidant activity

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  22 February 2007

D.J. Merritt ,
T. Senaratna ,
D.H. Touchell ,
K.W. Dixon  and
K. Sivasithamparam
D.J. Merritt*
Affiliation:
Botanic Gardens and Parks Authority, Kings Park and Botanic Garden, West Perth, WA 6005, Australia Department of Soil Science and Plant Nutrition, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia
T. Senaratna
Affiliation:
Botanic Gardens and Parks Authority, Kings Park and Botanic Garden, West Perth, WA 6005, Australia Department of Soil Science and Plant Nutrition, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia
D.H. Touchell
Affiliation:
School of Forestry and Wood Products, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, MI 49931-1295, USA
K.W. Dixon
Affiliation:
Botanic Gardens and Parks Authority, Kings Park and Botanic Garden, West Perth, WA 6005, Australia
K. Sivasithamparam
Affiliation:
Department of Soil Science and Plant Nutrition, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia
*
*Correspondence Fax: +61 089480 3641, Email: dmerritt@kpbg.wa.gov.au
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Abstract

The influence of the storage environment on seed viability and antioxidant potential was examined for four species native to Western Australia: Acacia bivenosa DC., Anigozanthos manglesii D. Don, Banksia ashbyi E.G. Baker, and Mesomelaena tetragona (R. Br.) Benth. Seeds were stored at four water contents (at c. 5%, 11–15%, 20–23% and 50% relative humidity) at each of five temperatures (–196, –18, 5, 23 and 50°C), and seed germination and seedling vigour monitored over an 18-month period. Deterioration was apparent in all species (except A. bivenosa) stored at 50°C, with 11% RH maximizing longevity for B. ashbyi and M. tetragona seeds, and 5% or 11% RH preventing deterioration for A. manglesii seeds. Seed viability generally remained high for all species stored at 23°C or less. Notably, however, germination and seedling vigour of A. manglesii and M. tetragona seeds gradually declined when stored at –18°C, suggesting that storage at this temperature was detrimental. The antioxidant activity of lipid extracts of seeds after 18 months storage at 5, 23 and 50°C was also examined to determine whether the seed viability decline was associated with a loss of antioxidants. Antioxidant activity varied between storage treatments and was not related to seed viability.

Keywords

Acacia bivenosaAnigozanthos manglesiiantioxidantsBanksia ashbyicryostorageMesomelaena tetragonaseed storageviability
Type
Research Article
Information
Seed Science Research , Volume 13 , Issue 2 , June 2003 , pp. 155 - 165
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2003

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