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Seed deterioration
 The process by which seeds lose seed vigor and
eventually lose viability and die.

SEED DETERIORATION

Seed deterioration
 The deleterious change with time (ageing), but it can
also be related to other changes in seeds:
 Desiccation damage.
 High or low temperature stress (denaturation
or freezing).

Understanding seed deterioration

Seed deterioration Seed deterioration

 Genetic factors: hybrid vs. inbred; oily seeds vs.  Seed deterioration is a diverse process, i.e. field 
starchy seeds; poor seed characteristics; etc. storage.
o Field: frost damage, deterioration before harvest by
weathering, insects, pathogens

https://www.pioneer.com/home/site/us/agronomy/crop-management/corn-insect-disease/aspergillus-ear-rot/
http://www.ag.ndsu.edu/archive/entomology/ndsucpr/Years/2008/july/30/RSSW-Injury-due-to-red-weev.jpg
http://www.seedmark.com.au/images/dmImage/SourceImage/weather%20damaged%20seeds.jpg

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Seed deterioration Seed deterioration

 Seed deterioration is a diverse process, i.e. field   Whole seed deterioration vs. individual areas of the
storage. seed.
o Improper storage conditions of high relative humidity  Seed intrinsic factors (changes in macromolecules,
and temperature. accumulation of toxic substances).

http://www.apsnet.org/publications/imageresources/Pages/peant074.aspx
http://www.weeklytimesnow.com.au/article/2011/03/18/306361_print_friendly_article.html
DeVries, M., and Goggi, A. S. 2006. http://www.plantmanagementnetwork.org/elements/view.aspx?ID=2878; 2879; & tetrazolium5csm

Seed deterioration Difficulty

 Environmental and biological effects
 Wide-range of methods used to study seed
deterioration may contribute to lack of
understanding.
 Bulk seed studies vs. individual seed event.

http://agcrops.osu.edu/specialists/corn/specialist-announcements/ear-abnormalities/troubleshooting-
abnormal-corn-ears-and-related-disorders

Seed deterioration seems to

initiate in meristematic
areas of the seed
Summary

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Changes associated with seed deterioration

Seed longevity: Survival and maintenance of high germination ability of dry seeds

MEMBRANE

Changes in:
DEGRADATION
ENERGY & SYNTHESIS
MECHANISMS IMPAIRED
RESPIRATION & BIOSYN.

 Chromosome aberrations and damage to DNA.

GERMINATION RATE >

DETERIORATION
STORABILITY >
 Changes in RNA and protein synthesis. RATE GROWTH &

 Changes in enzymes and reserve substances

DEVELOPMENT >
UNIFORMITY >

 Respiratory activity and ATP production PLANT RESISTANCE >

 Membrane changes YIELD >

 Cell destruction EMERGENCE (field) >

ABNORMAL SEEDLINGS <

LOSS OF GERMINABILITY

Lipid peroxidation Lipid peroxidation

 Lipid peroxidation is a free-radical chain process  Generation of free radicals enzymatically or by
leading to the deterioration of polyunsaturated fatty autoxidation
acids.  Singlet oxygen (O2)
 Most frequently cited cause of seed deterioration  Superoxide anion (O2-)
 Free radicals cause profound membrane damage  Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)
and loss of membrane integrity  Hydroxl radicals (OH-)

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Events during aging

Lipid peroxidation set stage for difficult
hydration
 Free radicals are suspected of attacking
Free radical
chromosomal DNA Glass
hot-spots
Drying nucleation
 Potential targets are purine and pyrimidine bases
 Modifications in the strand lead to increased Hydration
propensity to genetic mutations

Aging

Lipid peroxidation initiates

Bad membranes and
imbibitional injury
cause exudation
a chain of events that leads
to loss of membrane
integrity, changes protein
structure and chromosomal
Volatile and soluble
exudates trigger attack
DNA modifications
by soil fungi

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Protection against deterioration
 Use of antioxidants (i.e. tocopherol) to
protect from free radicals
 Reducing the amount of oxygen
around the seed may decrease
initiation of free radicals
 Naturally occurring antioxidants may
protect from free radicals
 Use of Halogen vapor to stabilize
unsaturated fatty acids
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• References:
Copeland L.O. and McDonald M.B. 2001. Seed science and
technology. 4th Ed. Kluwer Academic Press.
Bewley, J.D. and Black, M. 1994. Seeds: physiology of
development and germination. 2nd Ed. Plenum Press.
Loïc Rajjou and Isabelle Debeaujon. 2008. Seed longevity:
Survival and maintenance of high germination ability of dry
seeds. Comptes Rendus Biologies, Volume 331(10), Pages
796–805.