Development of desiccation tolerance and longevity in seeds from detached capsules of foxglove (Digitalis purpurea L)

TY - JOUR

T1 - Development of desiccation tolerance and longevity in seeds from detached capsules of foxglove (Digitalis purpurea L)

AU - Hay, F. R.

AU - Probert, R. J.

AU - Coomber, S. A.

PY - 1997/4

Y1 - 1997/4

N2 - Developing capsules of foxglove (Digitalis purpurea L.) were detached at 4-d intervals between 12 and 28 d after flowering (DAF) and attached to canes within a natural foxglove stand such that they were experiencing field conditions identical to those experienced by normally developing, on-plant capsules. Seeds were subsequently harvested at 4-d intervals until 40 total d after flowering (tDAF). Capsule detachment resulted in the cessation of dry matter accumulation; the mean dry weight of seeds from 12, 16, 20, 24, and 28 DAF-detached capsules was 21, 32, 51, 60, and 79% respectively, of the mean dry weight of seeds during the post-abscission phase of normal, on plant development. Nonetheless, seeds from detached capsules acquired the ability to germinate at harvest and tolerance to drying under seed conservation conditions (15% relative humidity and 15 °C). The capability to withstand storage also arose following capsule detachment. Seed longevity increased the longer the period of detachment but, in the earlier-detached capsules (12, 16, and 20 DAF) longevity subsequently declined. Only seeds from later detached capsules (24 and 28 DAF) acquired longevities which were comparable with seeds from on-plant capsules, however, no seeds from detached capsules were as long lived as seeds from on-plant capsules harvested at 40 DAF.

AB - Developing capsules of foxglove (Digitalis purpurea L.) were detached at 4-d intervals between 12 and 28 d after flowering (DAF) and attached to canes within a natural foxglove stand such that they were experiencing field conditions identical to those experienced by normally developing, on-plant capsules. Seeds were subsequently harvested at 4-d intervals until 40 total d after flowering (tDAF). Capsule detachment resulted in the cessation of dry matter accumulation; the mean dry weight of seeds from 12, 16, 20, 24, and 28 DAF-detached capsules was 21, 32, 51, 60, and 79% respectively, of the mean dry weight of seeds during the post-abscission phase of normal, on plant development. Nonetheless, seeds from detached capsules acquired the ability to germinate at harvest and tolerance to drying under seed conservation conditions (15% relative humidity and 15 °C). The capability to withstand storage also arose following capsule detachment. Seed longevity increased the longer the period of detachment but, in the earlier-detached capsules (12, 16, and 20 DAF) longevity subsequently declined. Only seeds from later detached capsules (24 and 28 DAF) acquired longevities which were comparable with seeds from on-plant capsules, however, no seeds from detached capsules were as long lived as seeds from on-plant capsules harvested at 40 DAF.

KW - capsule detachment

KW - desiccation tolerance

KW - Digitalis purpurea L.

KW - foxglove

KW - longevity

KW - seed development

U2 - 10.1006/anbo.1996.0365

DO - 10.1006/anbo.1996.0365

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:0030617013

SN - 0305-7364

VL - 79

SP - 419

EP - 427

JO - ANNALS OF BOTANY

JF - ANNALS OF BOTANY

IS - 4

ER -