Hydration of Cuphea seeds containing crystallised triacylglycerols

Seeds that exhibit intermediate storage behaviour seem to die under conventional -18°C storage conditions. Cuphea wrightii A. Gray, C. laminuligera Koehne, C. carthagenensis (Jacq.) J.F. Macbr. and C. aequipetala Cav are considered sensitive to low temperature storage. The seeds of these species have triacylglycerols (TAG) that are crystalline at -18°C and melt when the seeds are warmed to >35°C. In contrast, seeds of tolerant species, C. lanceolata W.T. Aiton and C. hookeriana Walp., have TAG that crystallise at temperatures below -18°C and are fluid at 22°C. Cuphea seeds imbided while TAG are crystalline fail to germinate and exhibit visual damage. However, germination proceeded normally when dry seeds were warmed adequately to melt any crystalline TAG before imbibition. Reduced germination and cellular disruption including loss of lipid body compartmentation and fragmented protein bodies develop in seeds with crystalline TAG equilibrated to >0.1 g H₂O g^-1 DW. This damage cannot be reversed, even when seeds are dried before the damage can be visually detected. Results from this work reveal that the seeds of some species with intermediate type physiologies can be successfully placed into conventional -18 and -80°C storage facilities.