ABSTRACT. The reduced longevity of coffee seeds has been attributed to their sensitivity to desiccation. Studies related to gene expression and enzyme activity in coffee seeds under drying are important for understanding the effects of drying on their physiological quality. The aim of this study was to investigate the molecular aspects of seeds under different drying methods and associate them with physiological quality. Coffee seeds with different water contents were dried both slowly and rapidly. Enzymatic activity was analysed, as well as the expression of genes that encode the enzymes superoxide dismutase, catalase, peroxiredoxins, isocitrate lyase, and endo-ß-mannanase. There was a significant effect of drying speed and final water content on enzyme activity and on the expression of the different genes analysed. In seeds under rapid drying, there was greater expression of the genes that encode the enzymes catalase and endo-ß-mannanase. Greater expression of the 1 CYS PRX and SOD genes and greater activity of the ICL isoenzymes were found in seeds with superior physiological quality, but greater activity of the endo-β-mannanase and CAT enzymes occurred in seeds with lower physiological quality.

ABSTRACT. Water and salt stress conditions affect germination and seedling emergence. It is known that physiological priming can not only trigger different mechanisms to increase the speed and uniformity of germination, but also influence the antioxidant defence system of the seeds, especially in adverse conditions. In this context, the objective of this work was to evaluate the physiological seed quality and the activity of antioxidant enzymes in seeds of Petroselinum crispum induced to tolerate saline stress through osmo-priming. Seeds were placed in polyethylene glycol solutions with three osmotic potentials (-0.5, -1.0 or -1.5 MPa) for 2, 4 or 6 days. Subsequently, they were placed on substrates moistened with sodium chloride solution (NaCl), in concentrations that generated osmotic potentials of -0.2, -0.4, -0.6, -0.8 or -1.0 MPa, to germinate. The germination percentage, germination speed index, seedling length, fresh weight, dry weight and activity of the antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), and catalase (CAT) were evaluated. Germination and germination speed index decreased linearly with the increase in NaCl concentrations, indicating the species sensitivity. As for length, fresh weight and dry weight of seedlings, this effect was more expressive from the potential of -0.4 MPa. The vigour and activity of SOD, POD, and CAT enzymes were reduced in unprimed seeds, emphasising the effectiveness of the technique. The induction of tolerance to saline stress can be related to the activity of the antioxidant system observed in seeds.

RESUMO Espécies que produzem sementes com tegumento rígido representam um sério problema, pois esta estrutura restringe a entrada de água, o que dificulta a germinação. O heteromorfismo do tegumento em Bowdichia virgilioides faz com que a embebição de água varie substancialmente e, portanto, o objetivo deste trabalho foi estudar a relação da cor do tegumento com a permeabilidade e viabilidade em Bowdichia virgilioides. As sementes foram separadas em cinco cores diferentes (amarelado/alaranjado, alaranjado, alaranjado/ avermelhado, avermelhado e vermelho ferrugíneo) e os seguintes parâmetros foram analisados: absorção de água, germinação, mortalidade, viabilidade, sincronia e potencial máximo de germinação. A cor foi um fator determinante para a maioria dos parâmetros avaliados. As sementes com camadas amareladas, alaranjadas e alaranjados/avermelhado tendem a ser pouco permeáveis à água, enquanto as sementes com camadas avermelhadas ou vermelho ferrugíneo são altamente permeáveis. Os resultados indicaram que sementes com coloração avermelhada apresentaram maior potencial fisiológico indicando provável relação com o ponto de maturação da espécie. Porém, nas sementes da espécie estudada, independentemente da coloração, a germinação foi tardia, com baixa sincronia e baixa contagem diária de germinação, características típicas de dormência.

ABSTRACT Species that produce seeds with a rigid integument represent a serious problem because their impermeable coat restricts the entry of water, which makes germination difficult. The heteromorphism of the integument in Bowdichia virgilioides causes water imbibition to vary substantially and, therefore, the objective of this work was to study the relation of seed coat color with permeability and viability in Bowdichia virgilioides. Seeds were separated into five different colors (yellowish-orange, orange, orange/reddish, reddish, and rusty red) and the following parameters were analyzed: water absorption, germination, mortality, viability, synchrony, and maximum potential of germination. The color was a determining factor for most of the evaluated parameters. The seeds with yellowish or orange/reddish coats tend to be little permeable to water while seeds with reddish or rusty red coats are highly permeable. The results indicated that seeds with reddish color had greater physiological potential indicating a probable relationship with the maturation point of the species. However, in the seeds of the species studied, irrespective of coloring, germination was late with low synchrony and low daily seed germination count, typical characteristics of dormancy.

RESUMO Objetivou-se com esse trabalho avaliar a integridade do DNA e identificar mudanças ultra-estruturais em raiz primária de sementes de Peltophorum dubium submetidas a secagem. Para tanto, sementes foram posta a germinar e ao atingirem 1 mm de comprimento da raiz primária, foram desidratadas, até atingirem diferentes graus de umidade, sendo em seguida reidratadas e avaliadas quanto à sobrevivência. Após esse procedimento foram selecionados diferentes pontos de interesse (controle, 20% e 10% de umidade) para avaliação da integridade do DNA e da ultraestrutura celular no intuito de detectar possíveis mudanças celulares nas raízes primárias após desidratação. Quando secas até 32% de umidade não houve influência na retomada do crescimento das sementes germinadas, mas ao serem desidratadas a 20% de umidade, a sobrevivência foi reduzida a 67% e a secagem a 8% de umidade concorreu para nulidade na sobrevivência. Pela avaliação de mudanças ultraestruturais em células da raiz observou-se que secagem a aproximadamente 20% de umidade marcou o início dos danos por dessecação, tanto fisiológica quanto ultraestruturalmente. Secagem a níveis próximos a 10% de umidade concorreu não somente para total desconfiguração e ruptura das membranas como também promoveu colapso intracelular. Foi observada perda da integridade do DNA genômico no decorrer da secagem.

ABSTRACT The aim of this study was to evaluate DNA integrity and to identify ultrastructural changes in the primary root of Peltophorum dubium seeds subjected to drying, since these changes may reflect the germination capacity. Seeds were germinated and were dehydrated when reached 1 mm in length of the primary root, until reaching different moisture contents, being then rehydrated and evaluated in relation to survival. After this procedure, different points of interest (control, 20% and 10% moisture content) were selected to evaluate DNA and cell ultrastructure integrity in order to detect possible cellular changes in primary roots after dehydration. When dried down to 32% moisture, there was no influence on the growth resumption of the germinated seeds, but when they were dehydrated to 20% moisture, the survival was reduced to 67%, reaching nullity in the survival with drying to 8% moisture. By the evaluation of ultrastructural changes in root cells, it was observed that drying to approximately 20% moisture content marked the onset of damages by desiccation, both physiologically and ultrastructurally. Drying to levels close to 10% moisture content was not only responsible for total disorganization and rupture of membranes, but also promoted intracellular collapse. Loss of genomic DNA integrity was observed during drying.

O presente trabalho teve por objetivo a avaliação da perda da tolerância à dessecação (TD) em sementes de Peltophorum dubium durante e após a germinação. As sementes foram colocadas para germinar e, ao atingirem 1, 3 e 5 mm de raiz primária (68% de umidade), foram desidratadas em sílica gel, até atingirem o grau de umidade inicial (8%), sendo em seguida reidratadas e avaliadas quanto à sobrevivência (retomada do crescimento e formação de plântulas normais). Procedimento semelhante foi adotado para os ensaios realizados durante a embebição, onde foram amostradas 100 sementes divididas em quatro repetições de 25 para cada um dos seguintes tempos de embebição: 12, 24, 48, 60 e 72 horas. Em seguida, foram selecionados diferentes pontos de interesse (12, 48 e 60 horas de embebição e raízes primárias com 1 mm de comprimento) para determinação da quantidade de DNA nuclear, afim de analisar possível correlação entre início do ciclo celular e perda da TD. Com relação ao comportamento de sementes germinadas submetidas à secagem e reidratação, para os três comprimentos de raízes primárias amostradas, não houve sobrevivência. Foi observada queda progressiva na sobrevivência de sementes de Peltophorum dubium relacionada ao tempo de embebição, e posterior secagem e reidratação, sugerindo que a perda da TD desta espécie acontece nos estágios iniciais da germinação, antes da protrusão da radícula. Sementes embebidas por 12 h, 24 h, 48 h, 60 h, 72 h e aquelas germinadas, com 1 mm de comprimento radicular, apresentaram índices iguais a 98%, 93%, 83%, 35%, 17% e 0% de sobrevivência respectivamente. Os estudos relacionados ao conteúdo de DNA nuclear não demonstram correlação entre retomada do ciclo celular e perda da TD.

The objective of this study was to investigate the loss of desiccation tolerance (DT) in seeds of Peltophorum dubium (Sprengel) Taubert, during and after germination. P. dubium seeds were sown, removed after germination when the primary root lengths reached 1, 3 and 5 mm (68% water content), dehydrated in silica gel until they had reached their initial moisture content (8%), rehydrated and evaluated for survival (resumption of growth and development of normal seedlings). This procedure was also followed in the assays during imbibition, where 4 replications of 25 seeds were subjected to 12, 24, 48, 60 and 72 hours of imbibition. Subsequently, different points were selected (12, 48 and 60 hours of imbibition and radicles 1 mm long) to evaluate the nuclear DNA content in order to relate the beginning of the cell cycle with the loss of DT. For the three radicle lengths sampled, there was no survival of seeds which had been dried and rehydrated. There was a progressive decrease in the survival of P.dubium seeds related to the imbibition period and subsequent drying and rehydration, suggesting that the loss of DT occurs early in germination before radicle protrusion. Seeds imbibed for 12, 24, 48, 60, 72 hours and germinated seeds with 1 mm long radicles showed 98%, 93%, 83%, 35%, 17% and 0% survival, respectively. The assays with the nuclear DNA content do not show any relationship between the resumption of the cell cycle and the loss of DT.