Hostname: page-component-cc8bf7c57-xrnlw Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-09T16:38:20.447Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Seed development in Camellia sinensis (L.) O. Kuntze

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  22 February 2007

Amita Bhattacharya*
Affiliation:
Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology, Post Box No. 6, Palampur-176061, H. P., India
P.K. Nagar
Affiliation:
Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology, Post Box No. 6, Palampur-176061, H. P., India
P.S. Ahuja
Affiliation:
Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology, Post Box No. 6, Palampur-176061, H. P., India
*
*Correspondence Fax: 910189430433 Email: director@ihbt.csir.res.in IHBT Publication Number 9931

Abstract

Seed development of tea was studied to identify the maturity index and the optimal time of seed collection. After harvest, the moisture content (28–30%fresh weight basis) of mature seeds, which germinated 100%, declined progressively (19% moisture content) after shedding, with a decrease in seed germination and viability. However, this viability loss could be prevented to some extent by storing seeds within intact fruits. The maximum rate of seed dry matter accumulation coincided with the accumulation of starch in the embryos and seeds at stage 8, the embryo maturation phase. Although the embryo abscisic acid (ABA) content was highest at stage 8, free ABA declined in the tea embryos throughout the remainder of the seed maturation cycle.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2002

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Adams, C.A., Rinnie, R.W. and Fjerstad, M.C. (1980) Starch deposition and carbohydrase activities in developing and germinating soyabean seeds. Annals of Botany 45, 577582.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Barua, D.N. (1989). Science and practice in tea culture. Tea Research Association, Tocklai Experimental Station, Jorhat, Assam.Google Scholar
Berjak, P., Vertucci, C.W. and Pammenter, N.W. (1993). Effects of developmental status and dehydration rate on characteristics of water and desiccation sensitivity in recalcitrant seeds of Camellia sinensis. Seed Science Research 3, 155166.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bezbaruah, H.P. (1975) Development of flower, pollination and seed set in tea in north east India. Two and a Bud 22, 2530.Google Scholar
Bianchi, G., Gamba, A., Murelli, C., Salamini, F. and Bartels, D. (1992) Low molecular weight solutes in desiccated and ABA-treated calli and leaves of Craterostigma plantagineum. Phytochemistry 31, 19171922.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bonetta, D. and McCourt, P. (1998) Genetic analysis of ABA signal transduction pathways. Trends in Plant Science 3, 231235.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Buitink, J., Claessens, M.M.A.E., Hemminga, M.A. and Hoekstra, F.A. (1998) Influence of water content and temperature on molecular mobility and intracellular glasses in seeds and pollen. Plant Physiology 118, 531541.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Bruni, F. and Leopold, A.C. (1992) Cytoplasmic glass formation in maize embryos. Seed Science Research 2, 251253.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ciha, A.J., Brenner, M.L. and Brun, W.A. (1977) Rapid separation and quantification of abscisic acid from plant tissues using high performance liquid chromatography. Plant Physiology 59, 821826.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Farrant, J.M., Pammenter, N.W. and Berjak, P. (1992) Development of the recalcitrant (homoiohydrous) seeds of Avicennia marina: Anatomical, ultra-structural and biochemical events associated with development from histo-differentiation to maturation. Annals of Botany 70, 7586.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Finch-Savage, W.E., Clay, H.A., Blake, P.S. and Browning, G. (1992) Seed development in the recalcitrant species Quercus robur L. Water status and endogenous abscisic acid levels. Journal of Experimental Botany 43, 671679.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gillaspy, G., Ben-David, H. and Gruissem, W. (1993) Fruits – A developmental perspective. Plant Cell 5, 14391451.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Harris, M.J. and Dugger, W.M. (1986) Levels of free and conjugated abscisic acid in developing floral organs of the navel orange (Citrus sinensis [L.] Osbeck cv. Washington). Plant Physiology 82, 11641166.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Hobsons, G. and Davis, J. (1970). The tomato. pp. 437482in Hulme, A.C. (Ed.) The biochemistry of fruits and their products. Volume 2. London, Academic Press.Google Scholar
Hoekstra, F.A., Wolkers, W.F., Buitink, J., Golovina, E.A., Crowe, J.H. and Crowe, L.M. (1997) Membrane stabilization in the dry state. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology 117, 335A341A.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
ISTA (International Seed Testing Association)(1985) Determination of moisture content. Seed Science and Technology 13, 338341.Google Scholar
Jankun, J., Selman, S.H., Swiercz, R. and Skrzypczak-Jankun, E. (1997). Why drinking green tea could prevent cancer. Nature 387, 561.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Kermode, A.R. (1990) Regulatory mechanisms involved in the transition from seed development to germination. Critical Reviews in Plant Science 9, 155195.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lopes, M.A. and Larkins, B.A. (1993) Endosperm origin, development and function. Plant Cell 5, 13831389.Google Scholar
Marinos, N.G. (1970) Embryogenesis of the pea (Pisum sativum L.). I. The cytological environment of the developing embryo. Protoplasma 70, 261279.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Marion-Poll, A. (1997) ABA and seed development. Trends in Plant Science 2, 447448.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
McCready, R.M., Guggolz, J., Silviera, V. and Owens, H.S. (1950) Determination of starch and amylose in vegetables. Application to peas. Analytical Chemistry 22, 11561158.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Merlot, S. and Giraudat, J. (1997) Genetic analysis of abscisic acid signal transduction. Plant Physiology 114, 751757.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Milborrow, B.V. (1983). Pathways to and from abscisic acid. pp. 79112in Addicott, F.T. (Ed.) Abscisic acid. New York, Praeger.Google Scholar
Nagar, P.K. (1996) Changes in endogenous abscisic acid and phenols during winter dormancy in tea (Camellia sinensis (L.) O. Kuntze). Acta Physiologiae Plantarum 18, 3338.Google Scholar
Rock, C.D. and Quatrano, R.S. (1995). The role of hormones during seed development. pp. 671697in Davies, P.J. (Ed.) Plant hormones: Physiology, biochemistry and molecular biology (2nd edition). Dordrecht, Kluwer Academic.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Tetteroo, F.A.A., Peters, A.H.L.J., Hoekstra, F.A., van der Plas, L.H.W. and Hagendoorn, M.J.M. (1995) ABA reduces respiration and sugar metabolism in developing carrot (Daucus carota L.) embryoids. Journal of Plant Physiology 145, 477482.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Varga, A. and Bruinsma, J. (1986). Tomato. pp. 461480in Monselise, S.P. (Ed.) Handbook of fruit set and development. Boca Raton FL, CRC Press.Google Scholar
Vertucci, C.W. and Farrant, J. (1995). Acquisition and loss of desiccation tolerance. pp. 237271in Kigel, J.;, Galili, G. (Eds) Seed development and germination. New York, Marcel Dekker.Google Scholar
Xu, N., Coulter, K.M. and Bewley, J.D. (1990) Abscisic acid and osmoticum prevent germination of developing alfalfa embryos, but only osmoticum maintains the synthesis of developmental proteins. Planta 182, 382390.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed