Seed Development and Dormancy

Hiro Nonogaki, Associate Professor

Integrative Seed Biology
Oregon State University
 Flower

anther
stigma
filament
style
petal

sepal
ovule

Esau, 1977; Anatomy of Seed Plants

 Flower

anther
stigma
filament
style
petal

sepal

Esau, 1977; Anatomy of Seed Plants

Wild Carrot Flower
Developmental Stages

1 DAP
3 DAP
4 DAP
6 DAP
7 DAP
8 DAP

9 DAP
16 DAP
10 DAP
11 DAP

12 DAP
13 DAP
14 DAP

15 DAP

17 DAP

19 DAP

18 DAP
20 DAP

21 DAP
 Composite Flowers

21-12

22-12

Raven et al., 1999; Biology of Plants

 Composite-Type Seeds

pericarp

testa
endosperm

embryo

“Achene”
Tomato Anther
 Tomato Pollen Germination

A B D

C
E
 Fertilization

stigma
Pollen tube

ovule
Fertilization
 Double Fertilization

Antipodal cells

Central nuclei
Sperm nuclei
Endosperm
Egg cell
Embryo
Synergid cell
 Embryo and Endosperm

Endosperm

Embryo

Carrot seed
 Fennel Seed

endosperm

Pericarp
Intact seed
removed embryo
 Embryogenesis

Early - Histodifferentiation

Mid - Enlargement of the cells

Late - Maturation and drying

These are overlapping phases !

Seed formation
 Developmental Stages

Early
Mid
Late
19.36

pre- globular transition heart torpedo mature

globular

Buchanan et al, 2000, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of Plants

Arabidopsis Embryogenesis

Coppersmith JL, Hewitt JR, Nonogaki H, unpublished results

 Globular Stage

The fate of cells are already determined !

Protoderm epidermal layer

Procambium vascular tissue

Ground meristem parenchyma

Hypophysis root
Buchanan et al, 2000, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of Plants
 Morphological Maturation

S1 S2 S3 S4 S5 S6 S7

S1
S2
S3
S4
S5
S6
S7

Kristof JR, Nonogaki H, unpublished results

 Physiological Maturation

T W B1 B2 B3 B4 B5 B6 B7

T
W

Germination Potential (%)

B1 100
B2
B3
B4
B5
B6
B7
50

B1 B2 B3 B4 B5 B6 B7

axis cot

B1 B2 B3 B4 B5 B6 B7

Kristof JR, Nonogaki H, unpublished results

 Seed Abortion

Drought and High Temperature

•Bee activity

Concentrated nectar – unattractive to bees

•Unsuccessful fertilization
Flower death

•Seed abortion

Physiological and genetic problem

Overhead misting could help lowering temperature

http://www.ag.ohio-state.edu/~seedsci/vsp02.html
 Carrot Pollen Germination

Two to three bulges

in ungerminated pollen

Pollen tube
One of the bulges germinates
 Seed Abortion

Chaudhury et al., 1997; Proceedings of National Academy of Sciences USA 94: 4223-4228
Onion Seeds

Raven et al., 1999; Biology of Plants, Esau 1977; Anatomy of Seed Plants
 Seed Abortion

50% Abortion

100% Normal

Ohad et al., 1996; Proceedings of National Academy of Sciences, USA 93: 5319-5324
 Normal Testa Development

Testa development could be separated from embryogenesis

Chaudhury et al., 1997; Proceedings of National

Academy of Sciences USA 94: 4223-4228

Lepiniec et al., 2006; Annu. Rev. Plant Biol. 57: 405-430

 Viviparous Seeds

Vivipary

9.4

Developing wheat seeds

Bewley and Black, 1994; Seeds

 Abscisic acid (ABA)

Germination inhibitor

Water 3 µM ABA
 Testa

Arabidopsis seed

Western et al., 2000, Plant Physiol 122: 345-355

 Testa Pigmentation Mutants

Lepiniec et al., 2006; Annu. Rev. Plant Biol. 57: 405-430

 Proanthocyanidin Synthesis

Wild type

Mutant

Reduction in proanthocyanidin deposition in vacuole

testa
Endothelium layer
endosperm
(Phenolic compounds)
embryo

Debeaujon et al., 2001; Plant Cell 13: 853-872

Reduced Dormancy

tt12 x WT
tt12

WT x tt12
WT

Maternally inherited

Debeaujon et al., 2001; Plant Cell 13: 853-872

 Coat-imposed Dormancy

A B C D

Outer Undeveloped Embryo

Combined
cover embryo physiology
 Immature Embryo

A B C D

Outer Undeveloped Embryo

Combined
cover embryo physiology
 Embryo Dormancy

A B C D

Outer Undeveloped Embryo

Combined
cover embryo physiology
Induction of Dormancy

5.13

Medicago lupulina

Bewley and Black, 1994; Seeds

 Photoreversibility

“Photoreversibility”

Irradiation Germination (%)

Dark 4
R 98
FR 3
R, FR 2
R, FR, R 97
R, FR, R, FR 0
R, FR, R, FR, R 95

Bewley and Black, 1994; Seeds