Deterioration of willow seeds during storage

Area of Science:

• Plant biology
• Seed physiology
• Molecular biology

Background:

• Willow (Salix spp.) seeds exhibit unique desiccation tolerance but short viability.
• Their chloroplasts retain chlorophyll and intact thylakoid membranes during maturation drying.
• Understanding storage-induced damage is crucial for conservation and propagation.

Purpose of the Study:

• Investigate molecular damage in stored willow seeds.
• Exclude photooxidation as a source of reactive oxygen species.
• Evaluate the role of programmed cell death in seed deterioration.

Main Methods:

• Assessed fatty acid profiles, protein degradation, nuclease activity, and DNA damage.
• Measured normal and total germination rates in seeds stored for 1, 10, and 16 years.
• Stored seeds under conditions excluding photooxidation.

Main Results:

• Decreased unsaturated fatty acids and protein solubility observed.
• Increased nuclease activity and DNA fragmentation detected.
• Programmed cell death indicators became more pronounced with longer storage (10 and 16 years).

Conclusions:

• Programmed cell death is a primary mechanism of willow seed deterioration during storage.
• Molecular damage progresses over time, affecting seed quality.
• Even with high germination, early stages of cell death are evident after 10 years of storage.