Improving the assessment method of seed vigor in Cunninghamia lanceolata and Pinus massoniana based on oxygen sensing technology

Abstract

Oxygen sensing technology was employed to study the rapid methods for seed vigor assessment of Chinese fir (Cunninghamia lanceolata) and Masson pine (Pinus massoniana). Firstly, seeds of five lots were performed using accelerated aging (AA) into three vigor levels. Then, four oxygen sensing indices, including increased metabolism time (IMT), oxygen metabolism rate (OMR), critical oxygen pressure (COP), relative germination time (RGT) and the control indices such as laboratory germination indices, dehydrogenase activity (DA), and electrical conductivity (EC) were analyzed by the tests of 15 samples. The results of correlation analysis between these indices and field emergence performances based on two-year and two-spot data showed that RGT and OMR should be indicated as the optimal oxygen sensing indices to rapidly and automatically evaluate seed vigor of Chinese fir and Masson pine, respectively. On the basis, one-variable linear regression equations were built to forecast their field emergence performances by the two oxygen sensing indices.

Single-seed oxygen consumption measurements and population-based threshold models link respiration and germination rates under diverse conditions

“…1), and dormant seeds have lower and often declining rates of oxygen consumption (see the hormone section below). These characteristics of the individual seed and population respiratory patterns have been analysed previously using ASTEC values that focus on the shapes of the individual oxygen depletion time courses (Zhao and Zhong, 2012; Bradford et al ., 2013; Zhao et al ., 2013).…”

“…These highly precise data provide insight into the relationship between respiration and germination in seed populations. Previous approaches to the analysis of Q2 data, utilizing the software provided with the instrument, focused on: (1) fitting equations to the original oxygen depletion time courses; (2) deriving parameters from the shape and timing of features in those time courses; and (3) averaging those values across the seed population (Van Asbrouck and Taridno, 2009; Zhao and Zhong, 2012; Bradford et al ., 2013; Zhao et al ., 2013). Although the information provided by this analysis was useful to compare the vigour of seed lots, this approach had some limitations.…”

“…The robotic sensor head can measure samples on an hourly basis and the shapes of resulting oxygen depletion curves can be analysed for a number of parameters (termed ASTEC values) using the Q2 software. Correlations observed between these respiration-related parameters and seed germination characteristics indicate that Q2 tests could enable the use of oxygen consumption rates as indirect indicators of seed vigour and quality (Van Asbrouck and Taridno, 2009; Zhao and Zhong, 2012; Bradford et al ., 2013; Zhao et al ., 2013).…”

The combination of gas-phase fluorophore technology and automation to enable high-throughput analysis of plant respiration

“…By contrast, using fluorophore technology in a gas-phase medium is likely to lead to faster processing times and avoid technical issues, such as floating tissues and air-pockets. To date, automated gas-phase measurements of O 2 consumption using fluorophore techniques for plants have primarily focused on large-scale analysis of seed germination [ 56 , 57 ], with automated, high-throughput assessments of non-seed plant R yet to be attempted using gas-phase fluorophore approaches.…”

Physiological quality and seed respiration of primed Jatropha curcas seeds

“…Th erefore, seed respiration and oxygen consumption are good indicators of the activation of germinative metabolic processes, and seeds with low levels of respiration do not germinate rapidly or completely (Patanè et al 2006). Respiration and oxygen consumption are also useful for rapidly evaluating seed vigor in crops (Zhao & Zhong 2012).…”