Histochemical and ultrastructural studies on Salix alba and S. matsudana seeds

Abstract

Mature seeds of Salix alba L. and Salix matsudana Koidz. are exendospermous and consist of an embryo and a seed coat. Ultrastructural studies show the presence of protein bodies, lipid bodies, chloroplasts, and a nucleus in the cells of most of the embryo tissues. Protein bodies always contain two or more globoid crystals. Energy-dispersive X-ray analysis of globoid crystals revealed the presence of P, K, Mg and Ca as the main constituents in all tissues. The chloroplasts present well-developed grana and, frequently, starch grains in the stroma. In cells of apical meristems, plastid endomembranes are non-organised in grana and deposits of phytoferritin are present in the stroma. Some cells of the subdermal layers of the cotyledons and hypocotylradicle axis present a large central vacuole and a narrow peripheral band of cytoplasm within which the protein bodies are scarce. Seeds of the two species studied here have recently been characterised as orthodox with short viability. The present study was carried out in an attempt to advance in the characterisation of these seeds as part of a comprehensive study of Salicaceae seeds.

Seed Carotenoid and Tocochromanol Composition of Wild Fabaceae Species Is Shaped by Phylogeny and Ecological Factors

“…Additionally, the scattered distribution of tocotrienols within the plant kingdom is not yet completely understood ( Falk and Munné-Bosch, 2010 ). Together with tocochromanols and carotenoids, Chl can also sometimes be present in seeds, mostly as a remnant of incomplete degradation during seed maturation but also as part of a fully operative photosynthetic apparatus in a couple of species in which mature seeds are photosynthetic ( Maroder et al, 2003 ). From an anthropocentric perspective, the presence of Chl in seeds is usually considered a negative aspect due to reduced seed storability [as is the case of photosynthetic seeds from Salix ( Roqueiro et al, 2010 )] and decreased marketability of seed crops [e.g., for soybean seeds with incomplete degradation of Chls ( Teixeira et al, 2016 )].…”

Czech Approach to Implementation of Ecological Network

“…If the seeds fail to find a suitable place for germination, they would lose their germinative capacity within a few days (Chmelař, Meusel 1986). White willow is ranked in the group of species with an orthodoxically short viability of seeds also by Maroder et al (2003). Our experiments show that the seeds can keep a nearly 100% germinative capacity for 3 days that are followed by a rapid decrease.…”

Impact of protective agents and drying methods on desiccation tolerance of Salix nigra L. seeds

“…In Salix spp seeds the chloroplasts with chlorophyll and thylakoid membranes are conserved in mature seeds (Maroder et al, 2003), which could lead to the production of free radicals (FRs) by auto-oxidation affecting phospholipids, glycoproteins and the relation between PUFAs and SFAs (Roqueiro et al, 2010 and. Some authors have reported that the auto-oxidation process generates FRs and ROS which produce damage to molecules, membranes and organelles (Priestley and Leopold, 1983;Priestley, 1986;Wilson and McDonald, 1986;Ponquett et al, 1992;Maroder et al, 2003;Roqueiro et al, 2010). In the dehydrated state, molecular defenses against FRs and ROS would be insufficient and/or scarcely efficient, and enzymatic defenses inactive (Nandi et al, 1997;Bailly, 2004).…”