Use of chlrophyll fluorescence sorting to improve soybean seed quality

Abstract

-The occurrence of green seeded soybeans [Glycine max (L.) Merrill] is a problem closely related to unfavorable climatic conditions, mainly drought, that occurs during the final stages of seed maturation. This problem causes serious losses to soybean seed quality in Brazil. In these seeds, chlorophyll is not properly degraded during maturation, drastically reducing seed quality. Using the chlorophyll fluorescence technique, it is possible to remove green seeds from the seed lot, improving seed quality in several species in which the occurrence of green seeds is also a problem. The objective of this research was to study the use of the chlorophyll fluorescence technique in sorting green seeds from soybean seed samples and its effects on quality. Five seed samples of soybean, cultivar TMG 113 RR, with 0%, 5%, 10%, 15%, and 20% of green seeds were used in this study. Seeds from each sample were sorted into two fractions based on the chlorophyll fluorescence signals and then compared to the control (non-sorted seeds). The sorting process showed great differences between the low and high chlorophyll fluorescence fractions. It was concluded that: green seeds of soybeans present high chlorophyll fluorescence and that this characteristic affects the quality of the seeds; it is possible to improve the quality of soybean seed by removing green seeds using the chlorophyll fluorescence sorting technique.

Seed vigor testing: an overview of the past, present and future perspective

“…Some of these enzymes (biochemical markers) accumulate and others have progressively reduced synthesis and activity throughout deterioration; -variations in specific protein profiles, especially those related to respiration, lipid peroxidation and removal of free radicals could provide efficient indicators to monitor biochemical processes associated with seed vigor; -flow cytometry has opened new possibilities for quantification of cellular events, content and integrity of DNA, critical aspects related to the normal germination process and expression of seed vigor; -the evaluation of chlorophyll fluorescence is promising to the indirect determination of physiological potential of individual seeds by measurement of chlorophyll content (Cicero et al, 2009;Dell'Aquila, 2009); lack of degradation of this compound during seed maturation usually results negative effects on vigor.…”

NYEs/SGRs‐mediated chlorophyll degradation is critical for detoxification during seed maturation in Arabidopsis

“…Chl is rapidly degraded during the late phase of seed maturation, resulting in mature seeds essentially devoid of Chl (Holdsworth et al ., ). Despite the wide recognition that the residual Chl content is inversely associated with seed quality, the significance of rapid Chl degradation during seed maturation has been barely studied (Jalink et al ., ; Cicero et al ., ). The most famous green‐seed mutant is the Mendel's green cotyledon mutant in Pisum sativum (pea), which, as well as the long‐known green‐seed phenotype in Glycine max (soybean), has been identified to be caused by the mutations in NYE/SGR family genes (Armstead et al ., ; Zhou et al ., ; Fang et al ., ).…”

A comparative study of morphophysiological characteristics of flax in controlled and natural environmental conditions

“…A better understanding of the cellular, molecular and biochemical mechanisms that determine physiological potential of seeds is associated with the identification of markers, which include the chlorophyll content (Cicero et al, 2009; Dell'Aquila, 2009). Along with laboratory methods, an optical chlorophyll counter SPAD 502 (Minolta Camera Co. Ltd.) is used to determine the chlorophyll content in leaves of Triticum durum plants (Kendal, 2015).…”