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Advances in Seed Longevity
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Advances in Seed Longevity

A special issue of Plants (ISSN 2223-7747). This special issue belongs to the section "Plant Physiology and Metabolism".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (1 September 2023) | Viewed by 31252

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Sara Mira Pérez

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Guest Editor
Biotechnology-Plant Biology Department, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (UPM), Madrid, Spain
Interests: seed science; plant physiology; seed germination; plant biodiversity
Prof. Dr. José Gadea Vacas

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Guest Editor
Institute for Molecular and Cellular Biology of Plants, Polythecnic University of Valencia-CSIC, Ciudad Politécnica de la Innovación (CPI), Ed. 8E, C/Ingeniero Fausto Elio s/n, 46022 Valencia, Spain
Interests: seed science; seed germination; gene regulation; genomics; seed coat

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Seed longevity is essential for the conservation of plant biodiversity and agriculture. It is a multifactorial trait that depends on genetic background as well as the environment for healthy seed development and seed storage. A decrease in seed quality and viability is often associated with the oxidation of cellular macromolecules such as nucleic acids, proteins, and lipids. In recent years, molecular and genomic approaches have contributed towards the identification of new determinants that minimize this damage. Model plant systems present excellent opportunities for functional studies on particular genes, and global approaches can be applied to every species. This contributes to the characterization of a common mechanism of seed longevity and advances our understanding of heterogeneity among plant species. This knowledge is crucial to understand seed persistence in soil banks, to improve processes for optimal storage and seed banking, and to extend seed life-span using agronomical or biotechnological approaches.

This Special Issue, Advances in Seed Longevity, presents a collection of papers providing new insights into this highly diverse topic, including innovative research in molecular genetics, genomics, (eco)physiology, biophysics, and biochemistry.

Prof. Dr. Sara Mira Pérez
Prof. Dr. José Gadea Vacas
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Plants is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • germination
  • germplasm conservation
  • oxidative stress
  • ROS
  • seed aging
  • seed development
  • seed quality
  • seed longevity
  • seed science
  • seed storage
  • seed viability

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

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21 pages, 3761 KiB  
Article
Genetic Variability in Seed Longevity and Germination Traits in a Tomato MAGIC Population in Contrasting Environments
by Elise Bizouerne, Joseph Ly Vu, Benoît Ly Vu, Isidore Diouf, Frédérique Bitton, Mathilde Causse, Jérôme Verdier, Julia Buitink and Olivier Leprince
Plants 2023, 12(20), 3632; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12203632 - 20 Oct 2023
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2395
Abstract
The stable production of high vigorous seeds is pivotal to crop yield. Also, a high longevity is essential to avoid progressive loss of seed vigour during storage. Both seed traits are strongly influenced by the environment during seed development. Here, we investigated the [...] Read more.
The stable production of high vigorous seeds is pivotal to crop yield. Also, a high longevity is essential to avoid progressive loss of seed vigour during storage. Both seed traits are strongly influenced by the environment during seed development. Here, we investigated the impact of heat stress (HS) during fruit ripening on tomato seed lifespan during storage at moderate relative humidity, speed (t50) and homogeneity of germination, using a MAGIC population that was produced under optimal and HS conditions. A plasticity index was used to assess the extent of the impact of HS for each trait. HS reduced the average longevity and germination homogeneity by 50% within the parents and MAGIC population. However, there was a high genetic variability in the seed response to heat stress. A total of 39 QTLs were identified, including six longevity QTLs for seeds from control (3) and HS (3) conditions, and six plasticity QTLs for longevity, with only one overlapping with a longevity QTL under HS. Four out of the six longevity QTL co-located with t50 QTL, revealing hotspots for seed quality traits. Twenty-one QTLs with intervals below 3 cM were analyzed using previous transcriptome and gene network data to propose candidate genes for seed vigour and longevity traits. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Seed Longevity)
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15 pages, 7379 KiB  
Article
Endosperm Persistence in Arabidopsis Results in Seed Coat Fractures and Loss of Seed Longevity
by Joan Renard, Gaetano Bissoli, María Dolores Planes, José Gadea, Miguel Ángel Naranjo, Ramón Serrano, Gwyneth Ingram and Eduardo Bueso
Plants 2023, 12(14), 2726; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12142726 - 22 Jul 2023
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2510
Abstract
Seeds are specialized plant organs that carry, nurture, and protect plant offspring. Developmental coordination between the three genetically distinct seed tissues (the embryo, endosperm, and seed coat) is crucial for seed viability. In this study, we explore the relationship between the TFs AtHB25 [...] Read more.
Seeds are specialized plant organs that carry, nurture, and protect plant offspring. Developmental coordination between the three genetically distinct seed tissues (the embryo, endosperm, and seed coat) is crucial for seed viability. In this study, we explore the relationship between the TFs AtHB25 and ICE1. Previous results identified ICE1 as a target gene of AtHB25. In seeds, a lack of ICE1 (ice1-2) suppresses the enhanced seed longevity and impermeability of the overexpressing mutant athb25-1D, but surprisingly, seed coat lipid polyester deposition is not affected, as shown by the double-mutant athb25-1D ice1-2 seeds. zou-4, another mutant lacking the transcriptional program for proper endosperm maturation and for which the endosperm persists, also presents a high sensitivity to seed aging. Analysis of gso1, gso2, and tws1-4 mutants revealed that a loss of embryo cuticle integrity does not underlie the seed-aging sensitivity of ice1-2 and zou-4. However, scanning electron microscopy revealed the presence of multiple fractures in the seed coats of the ice1 and zou mutants. Thus, this study highlights the importance of both seed coat composition and integrity in ensuring longevity and demonstrates that these parameters depend on multiple factors. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Seed Longevity)
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20 pages, 4230 KiB  
Article
The Effect of Magneto-Priming on the Physiological Quality of Soybean Seeds
by Rute Q. de Faria, Amanda R. P. dos Santos, Thiago B. Batista, Yvan Gariepy, Edvaldo A. A. da Silva, Maria M. P. Sartori and Vijaya Raghavan
Plants 2023, 12(7), 1477; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12071477 - 28 Mar 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2299
Abstract
Microwaves have been applied to the drying of seeds of several species due to their maintenance of the quality of the seeds and reduction of time and costs. However, few is known about the effect of microwaves on the increase of the physiological [...] Read more.
Microwaves have been applied to the drying of seeds of several species due to their maintenance of the quality of the seeds and reduction of time and costs. However, few is known about the effect of microwaves on the increase of the physiological quality of soybean seeds and especially their effects on longevity. Therefore, the use of microwaves as magneto-priming in soybean seeds was the object of study in this work. For this purpose, two soybean cultivars were selected and submitted to the ultra-high frequency (UHF) microwave exposure of 2.45 GHz, in the wavelength of 11 cm, and power of 0.2 W/g, for 15 min. The results showed that this condition of exposure to the microwave brought benefits in both cultivars after treatment. Incremental improvements were observed in the germinability indexes, the seedling length, the water absorption by the seeds, the fresh mass, dry mass, and longevity. The genes related to seed germination and longevity showed superior expression (HSFA3, HSP21, HSP17.6b, EXP, ABI3) with magneto-priming treatment. The data found ensure the use of the technique as a viable option for pre-treatment as magneto-priming in soybean seeds in order to improve seed quality. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Seed Longevity)
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Review

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22 pages, 3853 KiB  
Review
Seed Longevity—The Evolution of Knowledge and a Conceptual Framework
by Jayanthi Nadarajan, Christina Walters, Hugh W. Pritchard, Daniel Ballesteros and Louise Colville
Plants 2023, 12(3), 471; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12030471 - 19 Jan 2023
Cited by 42 | Viewed by 9603
Abstract
The lifespan or longevity of a seed is the time period over which it can remain viable. Seed longevity is a complex trait and varies greatly between species and even seed lots of the same species. Our scientific understanding of seed longevity has [...] Read more.
The lifespan or longevity of a seed is the time period over which it can remain viable. Seed longevity is a complex trait and varies greatly between species and even seed lots of the same species. Our scientific understanding of seed longevity has advanced from anecdotal ‘Thumb Rules,’ to empirically based models, biophysical explanations for why those models sometimes work or fail, and to the profound realisation that seeds are the model of the underexplored realm of biology when water is so limited that the cytoplasm solidifies. The environmental variables of moisture and temperature are essential factors that define survival or death, as well as the timescale to measure lifespan. There is an increasing understanding of how these factors induce cytoplasmic solidification and affect glassy properties. Cytoplasmic solidification slows down, but does not stop, the chemical reactions involved in ageing. Continued degradation of proteins, lipids and nucleic acids damage cell constituents and reduce the seed’s metabolic capacity, eventually impairing the ability to germinate. This review captures the evolution of knowledge on seed longevity over the past five decades in relation to seed ageing mechanisms, technology development, including tools to predict seed storage behaviour and non-invasive techniques for seed longevity assessment. It is concluded that seed storage biology is a complex science covering seed physiology, biophysics, biochemistry and multi-omic technologies, and simultaneous knowledge advancement in these areas is necessary to improve seed storage efficacy for crops and wild species biodiversity conservation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Seed Longevity)
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25 pages, 1144 KiB  
Review
Fungal Pathogens and Seed Storage in the Dry State
by Isaura Martín, Laura Gálvez, Luis Guasch and Daniel Palmero
Plants 2022, 11(22), 3167; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11223167 - 18 Nov 2022
Cited by 48 | Viewed by 12852
Abstract
Seeds can harbor a wide range of microorganisms, especially fungi, which can cause different sanitary problems. Seed quality and seed longevity may be drastically reduced by fungi that invade seeds before or after harvest. Seed movement can be a pathway for the spread [...] Read more.
Seeds can harbor a wide range of microorganisms, especially fungi, which can cause different sanitary problems. Seed quality and seed longevity may be drastically reduced by fungi that invade seeds before or after harvest. Seed movement can be a pathway for the spread of diseases into new areas. Some seed-associated fungi can also produce mycotoxins that may cause serious negative effects on humans, animals and the seeds themselves. Seed storage is the most efficient and widely used method for conserving plant genetic resources. The seed storage conditions used in gene banks, low temperature and low seed moisture content, increase seed longevity and are usually favorable for the survival of seed-borne mycoflora. Early detection and identification of seed fungi are essential activities to conserve high-quality seeds and to prevent pathogen dissemination. This article provides an overview of the characteristics and detection methods of seed-borne fungi, with a special focus on their potential effects on gene bank seed conservation. The review includes the following aspects: types of seed-borne fungi, paths of infection and transmission, seed health methods, fungi longevity, risk of pathogen dissemination, the effect of fungi on seed longevity and procedures to reduce the harmful effects of fungi in gene banks. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Seed Longevity)
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