Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-m6dg7 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-10T15:54:52.622Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Underdeveloped embryos and kinds of dormancy in seeds of two gymnosperms: Podocarpus costalis and Nageia nagi (Podocarpaceae)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  04 January 2013

Shun-Ying Chen ,
Carol C. Baskin ,
Jerry M. Baskin  and
Ching-Te Chien
Shun-Ying Chen
Affiliation:
Division of Silviculture, Taiwan Forestry Research Institute, 53 Nan-Hai Road, Taipei10066, Taiwan
Carol C. Baskin
Affiliation:
Department of Biology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky40506-0225, USA Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky40546-0312, USA
Jerry M. Baskin
Affiliation:
Department of Biology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky40506-0225, USA
Ching-Te Chien*
Affiliation:
Division of Silviculture, Taiwan Forestry Research Institute, 53 Nan-Hai Road, Taipei10066, Taiwan
*
*Correspondence E-mail: chien@tfri.gov.tw
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Although it has been speculated that seeds of the gymnosperm family Podocarpaceae have an underdeveloped embryo, no detailed studies have been done to definitively answer this question. Our purpose was to determine if embryos in seeds of two species of Podocarpaceae, Podocarpus costalis and Nageia nagi, from Taiwan are underdeveloped and to examine the kind of dormancy the seeds have. Embryos in fresh seeds of P. costalis were 4.6 ± 0.5 mm long, and they increased in length by about 54% before radicle emergence (germination), demonstrating that the embryo is underdeveloped at seed maturity. Seeds germinated to >90% at 30/20, 25/15 and 25°C in light in ≤ 4 weeks, without any cold stratification pretreatment. Thus, seeds of P. costalis have morphological dormancy (MD). Embryos in fresh seeds of N. nagi were 7.4 ± 0.8 mm long and they increased in length by about 39% before radicle emergence (germination) occurred, indicating that the embryo is underdeveloped at seed maturity. Seeds germinated to < 25% at 30/20 and 25°C in light in 4 weeks but to >90% at the same temperatures in 12 weeks. Thus, most seeds of N. nagi have morphophysiological dormancy (MPD). Although underdeveloped embryos are considered to be a primitive condition in seed plants, they also occur in the most advanced orders. The occurrence of underdeveloped embryos in Podocarpaceae documents that they are not restricted to a basal clade in gymnosperms.

Keywords

embryo growthmorphological dormancymorphophysiological dormancyNageiaPodocarpusradicle emergenceshoot emergence
Type
Short Communication
Information
Seed Science Research , Volume 23 , Issue 1 , March 2013 , pp. 75 - 81
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2013

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Baskin, C.C. and Baskin, J.M. (1998) Seeds: ecology, biogeography, and evolution of dormancy and germination. San Diego, Academic Press.Google Scholar
Baskin, C.C. and Baskin, J.M. (2005) Underdeveloped embryos in dwarf seeds and implications for assignment to dormancy class. Seed Science Research 15, 357–360.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Baskin, C.C. and Baskin, J.M. (2007) A revision of Martin's seed classification system, with particular reference to his dwarf-seed type. Seed Science Research 17, 11–20.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Baskin, C.C., Chien, C.T., Chen, S.Y. and Baskin, J.M. (2008) Germination of Viburnum odoratissimum seeds: a new level of morphophysiological dormancy. Seed Science Research 18, 179–184.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Baskin, J.M. and Baskin, C.C. (2004) A classification system for seed dormancy. Seed Science Research 14, 1–16.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Baskin, J.M. and Baskin, C.C. (2008) Some considerations for adoption of Nikolaeva's formula system into seed dormancy classification. Seed Science Research 18, 131–137.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Baskin, J.M., Baskin, C.C., Chien, C.T. and Chen, S.Y. (2006a) Seed dormancy in the early diverging eudicot Trochodendron aralioides (Trochodendraceae). Seed Science Research 16, 71–75.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Baskin, J.M., Hidayati, S.N., Baskin, C.C., Walck, J.L., Huang, Z.Y. and Chien, C.T. (2006b) Evolutionary considerations of presence of both morphophysiological and physiological seed dormancy in the highly-advanced euasterids II order Dipsacales. Seed Science Research 16, 233–242.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Cheng, G., Tang, X., Gao, H. and Shen, S. (2004) Dormancy mechanism and relieving techniques of seeds of Taxus cuspidata Sieb. et Zucc. Journal – Beijing Forestry University 26, 5–9(in Chinese with English abstract).Google Scholar
Chien, C.T., Kuo-Huang, L.L. and Lin, T.P. (1998) Changes in ultrastructure and abscisic acid level, and response to applied gibberellins in Taxus mairei seeds treated with warm and cold stratification. Annals of Botany 81, 41–47.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Chien, C.T., Chen, S.Y., Chang, S.H. and Chung, J.D. (2012) Seed germination and storage of Cycas taitungensis (Cycadaceae). Taiwan Journal of Forest Science 27, 1–11.Google Scholar
Del Tredici, P. (2007) The phenology of sexual reproduction in Ginkgo biloba: ecological and evolutionary implications. The Botanical Review 73, 267–278.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Devillez, F. (1978) Influence de la température sur la postmaturation et la germination des graines de l'if (Taxus baccata L.). Bulletin de la Classe des Sciences l'Academie Royale de Belgique 64, 203–218.Google Scholar
Dodd, M.C. and Van Staden, J. (1981) Germination and viability studies on the seeds of Podocarpus henkelii Stapf. South African Journal of Science 77, 171–174.Google Scholar
Ferrandis, P., Bonilla, M. and Osorio, L.C. (2011) Germination and soil seed bank traits of Podocarpus angustifolius (Podocarpaceae): an endemic tree species from Cuban rain forests. International Journal of Tropical Biology 59, 1061–1069.Google ScholarPubMed
Figueroa, J.A. (2003) Seed germination in temperate rain forest species of southern Chile: chilling and gap-dependency germination. Plant Ecology 166, 227–240.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Figueroa, J.A. and Lusk, C.H. (2001) Germination requirements and seedling shade tolerance are not correlated in a Chilean temperate rain forest. The New Phytologist 152, 483–489.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Finch-Savage, W.E. and Leubner-Metzger, G. (2006) Seed dormancy and the control of germination. The New Phytologist 171, 501–523.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Forbis, T.A., Floyd, S.K. and de Querioz, A. (2002) The evolution of embryo size in angiosperms and other seed plants: implications for the evolution of seed dormancy. Evolution 56, 2112–2125.Google ScholarPubMed
Grushvitzky, I.V. (1967) After-ripening of seeds of primitive tribes of angiosperms, conditions and peculiarities. pp. 329–336+8 figuresin Borris, H. (Ed.) Physiologie, ökologie und biochemie der keimung. Greifswald, Germany, Ernst-Moritz-Arndt Universität.Google Scholar
Hong, K.Y., Jhuang, P.H., Chien, C.T., Huang, Y.J. and Fan, Y.B. (2009) Germination and storage of seeds of the endangered plant, Nageia nagi. Scientific Agriculture 57, 170–175(in Chinese with English abstract).Google Scholar
Hong, T.D. and Ellis, R.H. (1996) A protocol to determine seed storage behaviour. Rome, International Plant Genetic Resources Institute.Google Scholar
International Seed Testing Association (2007) ISTA handbook on moisture determination (1st edition). Nijënstein, H.; Nydam, J.; Don, R.; McGill, C. (Eds) Bassersdorf, Switzerland, International Seed Testing Association.Google Scholar
Li, H.L., Keng, H., Yang, Y.P. and Lu, S.Y. (1994) Podocarpaceae. pp. 557–566in Editorial Committee of the Flora of Taiwan (Ed.) Flora of Taiwan, vol. 1, (2nd edition). Taiwan, Editorial Committee of the Flora of Taiwan.Google Scholar
Linkies, A., Graeber, K., Knight, C. and Leubner-Metzger, G. (2010) The evolution of seeds. The New Phytologist 186, 817–831.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Liu, D., Yu, H.L. and Guo, H.H. (2011) An analysis of dormancy and dormancy release in Taxus chinensis var. mairei seeds. Seed Science and Technology 39, 29–43.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Martin, A.C. (1946) The comparative internal morphology of seeds. The American Midland Naturalist 36, 513–660.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Meyen, S.V. (1984) Basic features of gymnosperm systematics and phylogeny as evidenced by the fossil record. The Botanical Review 50, 1–111.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Naylor, R.E.L. (1981) An evaluation of various germination indices for predicting differences in seed vigour in Italian ryegrass. Seed Science and Technology 9, 593–600.Google Scholar
Negash, L. (1992) In vitro methods for the rapid germination of seeds of Podocarpus falcatus. Ethiopian Journal of Science 15, 85–97.Google Scholar
Ng, F.S.P. (1992) Manual of forest fruits, seeds and seedlings, vol. 2. Kuala Lumpur, Forest Research Institute Malaysia.Google Scholar
Nikolaeva, M.G. (1977) Factors controlling the seed dormancy pattern. pp. 51–74in Khan, A.A. (Ed.) The physiology and biochemistry of seed dormancy and germination. Amsterdam, North-Holland.Google Scholar
Nikolaeva, M.G., Rasumova, M.V. and Gladkova, V.N. (1985) Reference book on dormant seed germination. Danilova, M.F. (Ed.). Leningrad, ‘Nauka’ Publishers (in Russian).Google Scholar
Nikolaeva, M.G., Lyanguzova, I.V. and Pozdova, L.M. (1999) Biology of seeds. St. Petersburg, V.L. Komarov Botanical Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences (in Russian).Google Scholar
Quinn, C.J., Price, R.A. and Gadek, P.A. (2002) Familial concepts and relationships in the conifers based on rbcL and matK sequence comparisons. Kew Bulletin 57, 513–531.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Royal Botanic Gardens Kew (2008) Seed Information Database (SID). Version 7.1. Available athttp://data.kew.org/sid/ (accessed accessed May 2008).Google Scholar
Shepperd, W.D. (2008) Ginkgoaceae–Ginkgo family. Ginkgo biloba L. pp. 559–561in Bonner, F.T.; Karrfalt, R.P. (Eds) The woody plant seed manual. USDA Forest Service, Agriculture Handbook 727.Google Scholar
Wang, B.S.P., Lin, T.P. and Chang, T.T. (1998) Control of fungal growth with sphagnum for cold stratification and germination of tree seeds. Taiwan Journal of Forest Science 13, 101–108.Google Scholar
West, W.C., Frattarelli, F.J. and Russin, K.J. (1970) Effect of stratification and gibberellin on seed germination in Ginkgo biloba. Bulletin of the Torrey Botanical Club 97, 380–384.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Yang, C.J., Chien, C.T., Liao, Y.K., Chen, S.Y., Baskin, J.M., Baskin, C.C. and Kuo-Huang, L.L. (2011) Deep simple morphophysiological dormancy in seeds of the basal taxad Cephalotaxus. Seed Science Research 21, 215–226.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Zhang, Z.-Q., Liao, W.-B., Zhong, L. and Chen, Z.-M. (2000) Biological study on seed germination of Taxus mairei. Forest Research 13, 280–285(in Chinese with English abstract).Google Scholar