Water absorption and storage tolerance of soybean seeds with contrasting seed coat characteristics

Abstract

Seed coat characteristics may be related to seed quality and longevity, attracting the interest of breeding programs. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between the water absorption parameters and storage tolerance of soybean seeds with contrasting seed coat characteristics. For this purpose, seeds of five soybean cultivars with different seed coat colors and lignin contents were used. Before storage, the seed coat lignin content, moisture content, water absorption rate in 11 hydration periods (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 24, 32, and 48 hours), hydration speed index, germination, viability, and seed vigor were determined. After six months of storage in a dry and cold chamber (at 11ºC and 54% relative humidity [RH]) and uncontrolled environment (at 25ºC and 71% RH), the seeds were evaluated for germination, viability, and vigor to quantify changes in their physiological quality during storage and relate them to the seeds water absorption parameters for the different cultivars. The seed coat lignin content is negatively correlated with the seeds water absorption parameters. Soybean cultivars have different storage tolerance levels. Seeds that absorb larger amounts of water have lower tolerance to deterioration related to temperature and relative humidity fluctuations that occur in storage under uncontrolled conditions, negatively affecting the physiological potential of seeds.

Transcriptional Profile of Soybean Seeds with Contrasting Seed Coat Color

“…Furthermore, with high lignin contents, they have lower seed coat permeabilities and absorb less water. Water absorption during storage is directly related to seed deterioration, especially in an uncontrolled environment [ 18 ]. Thus, cultivars with black seed coats were associated with better storability and seed longevity, both for their antioxidant potential and lignin content [ 21 , 75 , 76 ].…”

“…The first was used to collect the biological material for RNA-Seq analysis, and the second was used to collect the biological material for RT-qPCR analysis; both experiments were conducted in EMBRAPA-Soja, Londrina, in the years of 2019 and 2021, respectively. The soybean cultivars chosen in this experiment were previously characterized according to their lignin contents, phenolic compounds, and physiological qualities [ 17 , 18 ]. The three cultivars were selected according to their responses to lignin content: BRSMG 715A—black seed coat with high lignin content, BRS 413 RR—yellow seed coat with intermediate lignin content, and DM 6563 IPRO—yellow seed coat with the lowest lignin content; the seeds were provided by EMBRAPA-Soja.…”

“…Regarding seed quality, it has already been observed that genotypes with high levels of lignin in their seed coats present greater thickness and, consequently, greater tissue resistance to possible physical damage due to moisture, mechanical damage, and/or the presence of pathogens [ 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 ]. Lignin is also associated with more thickness in other tissues.…”

Insights into mechanisms of seed longevity in soybean: a review

“…The lignin content of soybean testa also correlates with seed permeability and resistance to mechanical damage (Debeaujon et al, 2007). Generally high seed permeability is associated with rapid deterioration while seed coat lignin content is negatively correlated with seed permeability (Abati et al, 2022). A decrease in seed coat deficiency in natto soybean varieties is associated with alleles governing higher lignin biosynthesis (Zhu et al, 2020).…”

Effect of dry heat and polishing treatment on the germination rate and performance of seeds from Cassia obtusifolia L. as a turf filling material

“…Seeds that absorb larger amounts of water are less tolerant to the deterioration of the culture environment caused by temperature and humidity fluctuations that occurred under uncontrolled conditions, which negatively affects the physiological activity of seed germination (Abati et al 2022). The resultant increased oxygen consumption from the higher water absorption, with a rise by 210% compared to untreated SC, can be inferred that the germination courses of the SC after the combined treatment require more oxygen, which would delay or prohibit germination (Dahal et al 1996;Veselova and Veselovsky 2006;Liu et al 2016).…”