Transgenerational Effects of Maternal Water Condition on the Growth, C:N Stoichiometry and Seed Characteristics of the Desert Annual Atriplex aucheri

Water conditions directly affect plant growth and thus modify reproduction allocation. However, little is known about the transgenerational effects of water conditions on xerophytes. The desert annual Atriplex aucheri produces three types of seeds (A: dormant, ebracteate black seeds; B: dormant, bracteolate black seeds; C: non-dormant, bracteolate brown seeds) on a single plant. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of low/high water treatment (thereafter progeny water treatment) on aboveground biomass, C:N stoichiometry, and offspring seed characteristics of A. aucheri grown from brown seeds whose mother plants were under low/high water treatment (thereafter maternal water treatment). Progeny water only affected shoot dry weight and seed allocation of type A. Under low progeny water treatment, plants from parents with low maternal water treatment had the lowest biomass. Maternal water did not significantly influence the C and N content, however high maternal water increased the C:N ratio. Maternal water treatment did not significantly affect seed number. However, plants under low maternal and progeny water treatments had the lowest weight for type B seeds. When progeny plants were under low water treatment, seed allocation of type A, type B, and total seed allocation of plants under high maternal water were significantly lower than those of plants under low maternal water. These results indicate that water conditions during the maternal generation can dramatically contribute to progeny seed variation, but the transgenerational effects depend on the water conditions of progeny plants.

Relationship of the lateral embryo (in grasses) to other monocot embryos: a status up-grade

Martin placed the lateral embryo, which occurs only in grasses, adjacent to the broad embryo at the base of his family tree of seed phylogeny. Since Poales and Poaceae are derived monocots, we questioned the evolutionary relationship between the lateral embryo and other kinds of monocot embryos. Information was compiled on embryo and seed characteristics for the various families of monocots, kind of embryogenesis for families in Poales and germination morphology of families with lateral (only Poaceae) and broad embryos. The kinds of monocot embryos are broad, capitate, lateral, linear fully developed, linear underdeveloped and undifferentiated, but only broad and lateral embryos are restricted to Poales. Asterad embryogenesis occurs in Poaceae with a lateral embryo and in Eriocaulaceae, Rapataceae and Xyridaceae with a broad embryo. In developing grass seeds, the growing scutellum (cotyledon) pushes the coleoptile, mesocotyl and coleorhiza to the side. In the organless broad embryo, the cotyledonary sector is larger than the epicotyledonary sector. During germination of grass seeds, the coleorhiza and then the coleoptile emerge, while in a seed with a broad embryo the elongating cotyledon pushes the epicotyledonary sector outside the seed, after which a root–shoot axis is differentiated at a right angle to the cotyledon inside the seed. Broad and lateral embryos are closely related; however, the lateral embryo is more advanced in seed/embryo traits and germination morphology than the other kinds of monocot embryos, suggesting that its position on the family tree of seed phylogeny should be higher than of the other monocot embryos.

Evaluation of Traits Associated With Seed Characteristics in Arkansas Restorer Lines

Rice Grain dimension and weight are two critical factors for marketing and increasing yield capacity. Seed shape is measured by its length, width, thickness, and ratio of length-width. In this study, an experiment was conducted in a controlled condition from fall 2017 to 2020 to identify QTL and candidate genes associated with seed dimension and weight using a bi-parental population resulting from two University of Arkansas developed genotypes: a restorer line 367R and an advanced breeding line RU1501139, in Stuttgart, Arkansas. Five seed dimension traits, including seed length, seed width, seed thickness, seed length-width ratio, and 100-seeds weight, were obtained for QTL detection. The study detected a total of 17 QTL. Four QTL associated with seed length were identified, in which two were positioned on chr. 3, one on chr. 7, and one on chr. 11. Two QTL related to seed length-width ratio were detected on chr. 3 and 7. Whereas a total of three QTL were identified for seed thickness, one each on chr. 5, 6, and 8. Eight QTL associated with seed weight were found, of which four QTL were detected on chr. 12, two each on chr. 1 and 10, and one on chr. 3. Of 17 QTL, four QTL originated from RU1501139, while the origin of the other 13 QTL was 367R. Since multiple genes could control the yield and seed physical characteristics, the detected QTL can play a role in introducing superior parental lines for developing conventional and hybrid rice production.

Seed and seedling morphology of Bauhinia scandens L.

Bauhinia scandens has potential importance as an ornamental and medicinal plant. Researchers have isolated and identified 1-O-alkylglycerol in the leaves of the B. scandens plant, and established antitumor properties using the Brine Shrimp toxicity test, an internationally accepted bioassay. Although this species has high potential, little is known about the viability of seedling production and the morphology of these plants, particularly in terms of seed characteristics and initial stages of germination. The objective of this study was to characterize the seed morphology, germination, and seedlings of B. scandens. Seed water content, weight, and coloration were evaluated. This study also included a description of seed biometrics, external and internal structures, germination, and seedling morphology. Internal seed morphology was evaluated by the anatomical sectioning and X-ray methods. The morphology data obtained were subjected to descriptive statistical analysis and germination data were determined using Cramér’s V. B. scandens seeds have a coloration ranging from very dark grayish-red to dark reddish-brown, flat oblong shapes, and rounded bases and apexes with full or slightly undulating margins. Healthy seedlings are produced mainly by seeds with well-formed internal structures. The reddish petiole of the seedling leaves is a taxonomic character for B. scandens identification. The non-domestication and genetic variability of this species reflect on the seed and seedling color and size variation.

Taxonomic resurrection of Muscari wallii (Asparagaceae, Scilloideae)

In this study, the taxonomic status of Muscari wallii, considered as a synonym of Muscari tenuiflorum in previous studies, is re-evaluated based on morphological and chorological studies. Muscari wallii is morphologically similar to M. tenuiflorum and M. babachii. However, it is discussed that M. wallii differs mainly by its seed characteristics, posture of pedicels of sterile flowers at maturity and bulb shape from both taxa. It is also distinguished from M. tenuiflorum by the colour of shoulders of fertile flowers and colour of young intermediate flowers, and from M. babachii by the fruit shape, colour of sterile and young intermediate flowers, shape and length of fertile flowers and scabrid leaf margin. A comprehensive description, diagnostic characters, original photographs, geographical distribution, identification key, observations, and taxonomic comments on the resurrected species are presented.

Keberhasilan dan kompatibilitas penyerbukan sendiri dan silang pada hibridisasi interspesifik ciplukan (Physalis spp)

Tanaman ciplukan digunakan untuk menghasilkan buah segar, bahan baku nutraceutical, dan biofarmasi. Kapasitas genetik ciplukan dapat ditingkatkan dengan hibridisasi interspesifik. Ketidakcocokan adalah masalah yang muncul pada persilangan antarspesies. Tujuan penelitian adalah untuk mempelajari keberhasilan dan kompatibilitas penyerbukan sendiri dan penyerbukan silang hibridisasi interspesifik ciplukan. Penelitian dilaksanakan di Seed and Nursery Industry, Agro Techno Park, Universitas Brawijaya pada bulan Januari sampai Juni 2020. Penelitian menggunakan bahan 5 spesies ciplukan, yaitu Physalis P. angulata, P. peruviana, P. pruinosa, P. pubescens, dan P. ixocarpa. Pola perkawinan dialel digunakan serta pengamatan terhadap hasil penyerbukan diamati. Hasil penyerbukan silang interspesifik memiliki derajat kompatibilitas yang berbeda. Kompatibilitas penyerbukan sendiri pada setiap spesies tinggi. Penyerbukan silang interspesifik P. pubescens (PPB-68154-04) x P. angulata (PAN-69281) kompatibel. Inkompatibilitas parsial terdapat pada penyerbukan silang interspesifik P. angulata (PAN-69281) x P. ixocarpa (PIX-4418-2), P. pubescens (PPB-68154-04) x P. ixocarpa (PIX-4418-2) , P. pruinosa (PPN+3101) x P. angulata (PAN-69281), dan P. pruinosa (PPN+3101) x P. ixocarpa (PIX-4418-2). Inkompatibilitas lengkap terjadi pada penyerbukan silang P. angulata (PAN-69281) x P. pubescens (PPB-68154-04), P. angulata (PAN-69281) x P. pruinosa (PPN+3101), P. pubescens (PPB-68154-04) x P. pruinosa (PPN+3101), P. pruinosa (PPN+3101) x P. pubescens (PPB-68154-04), P. pruinosa (PPN+3101) x P. ixocarpa (PIX-4418-2), P. peruviana (PPV-45311-03) dan P. ixocarpa (PIX-4418-2). Penyerbukan sendiri dan penyerbukan silang yang kompatibel menghasilkan perbedaan pada karakteristik buah dan benih. P. pruinosa (PPN+3101), P. angulata (PAN-69281), dan P. pubescens (PPB-68154-04) menghasilkan jumlah benih yang berbeda pada penyerbukan silang interspesifik.AbstractCiplukan is used as a fresh fruit, nutraceutical raw materials, and biopharmaceuticals. Genetic capacity of ciplukan can be increased by interspecific hybridization. Incompatibility is an issue obtained during the interspecific hybridization. Research objective was to study success rate and compatibility of self-pollination and cross-pollination ciplukan interspecific hybridization. Research was conducted at Seed and Nursery Industry, Agro Techno Park, Universitas Brawijaya from January to June 2020. Physalis P. angulata, P. peruviana, P. pruinosa, P. pubescens, and P. ixocarpa were species included in this study. A diallel mating design pattern was used as well as observations of pollination. Interspecific cross pollination was found to have differing degrees of compatibility. Compatibility of self-pollination in each species is high. Interspecific cross-pollination of P. pubescens (PPB-68154-04) x P. angulata (PAN-69281) is compatible. Partial incompatibilities exist in interspecific cross-pollination of P. angulata (PAN-69281) x P. ixocarpa (PIX-4418-2), P. pubescens (PPB-68154-04) x P. ixocarpa (PIX-4418-2), P. pruinosa (PPN+3101) x P. angulata (PAN-69281), and P. pruinosa (PPN+3101) x P. ixocarpa (PIX-4418-2). Complete incompatibility occurred in cross-pollination of P. angulata (PAN-69281) x P. pubescens (PPB-68154-04), P. angulata (PAN-69281) x P. pruinosa (PPN+3101), P. pubescens (PPB-68154-04) x P. pruinosa (PPN+3101), P. pruinosa (PPN+3101) x P. pubescens (PPB-68154-04), P. pruinosa (PPN+3101) x P. ixocarpa (PIX-4418-2), P. peruviana (PPV-45311-03) and P. ixocarpa (PIX-4418-2). Compatible self-pollination and cross-pollination resulted differences in fruit and seed characteristics. P. pruinosa (PPN+3101), P. angulata (PAN-69281), and P. pubescens (PPB-68154-04) developed different numbers of seeds following interspecific cross-pollination.