Skip Navigation

This Article
Right arrow FREE Full Text (PDF) Freely available
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in ISI Web of Science
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to My Personal Archive
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow Search for citing articles in:
ISI Web of Science (14)
Right arrowRequest Permissions
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Wesley-Smith, J.
Right arrow Articles by Walters, C.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow Articles by Wesley-Smith, J.
Right arrow Articles by Walters, C.
Agricola
Right arrow Articles by Wesley-Smith, J.
Right arrow Articles by Walters, C.
Social Bookmarking
Add to CiteULike   Add to Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us  
What's this?

Annals of Botany 88: 653-664, 2001
© 2001 Annals of Botany Company

The Effects of Two Drying Rates on the Desiccation Tolerance of Embryonic Axes of Recalcitrant Jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus Lamk.) Seeds

James Wesley-Smith+, N. W. Pammenter, Patricia Berjak and Christina Walters

Electron Microscope Unit, University of Natal, Durban, 4041, South Africa Plant Cell Biology Research Group, University of Natal, Durban, 4041, South Africa USDA-ARS, National Seed Storage Laboratory, 1111 S. Mason Street, Fort Collins, CO, 80521-4500, USA

Received: 27 February 2001 ; Returned for revision: 30 April 2001 . Accepted: 9 July 2001

This study compared the survival, electrolyte leakage and ultrastructural characteristics of embryonic axes of recalcitrant jackfruit dried rapidly (<=90 min) or slowly (2–3 d). Axes dried slowly showed decreased viability at higher water content than those dried rapidly; this was mirrored by an increase in electrolyte leakage at approx. 0.8 and 0.4 g H2O g-1dry mass, respectively. Rapid drying conferred relatively greater tolerance to dehydration, as attested by the 100% survival attained at approx. 0.4 g g-1in contrast to the total mortality of axes dried slowly to this water content. Partially hydrated axes were processed for microscopy using freeze-substitution to prevent rehydration artefacts. Radicles of axes dehydrated to 0.7 g g-1were examined microscopically to assess their cellular morphology and appearance of membranes following rapid or slow drying. Measurements showed that drying rate affected the distribution of water within axes, which could be relevant to the extent of stress experienced by germinative cells. Membrane breakdown was not observed in cells dehydrated either rapidly or slowly to 0.7 g g-1. Endoplasmic reticulum profiles were prominent in dehydrated cells. Autophagy was observed in axes of both treatments. The area occupied by vacuoles increased significantly only following rehydration, and was similar in axes dried rapidly or slowly. Desiccation damage became evident on rehydration, and was reversible following rapid drying but was more severe in axes dried slowly. Prolonged exposure to partial hydration may contribute to the greater sensitivity of vacuoles to damage during rehydration. Copyright 2001 Annals of Botany Company

Artocarpus heterophyllus Lamk. (jackfruit), autophagy, cryopreservation, desiccation-damage, drying rates, electrolyte leakage, endoplasmic reticulum, freeze substitution, recalcitrance


Add to CiteULike CiteULike   Add to Connotea Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us Del.icio.us    What's this?


This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 ANN BOT (LOND)Home page
P. Berjak and N. W. Pammenter
From Avicennia to Zizania: Seed Recalcitrance in Perspective
Ann. Bot., January 1, 2008; 101(2): 213 - 228.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Disclaimer: Please note that abstracts for content published before 1996 were created through digital scanning and may therefore not exactly replicate the text of the original print issues. All efforts have been made to ensure accuracy, but the Publisher will not be held responsible for any remaining inaccuracies. If you require any further clarification, please contact our Customer Services Department.