Production, Composition, and Ecological Function of Sweet-Basil-Seed Mucilage during Hydration
The sweet-basil (<i>Ocimum basilicum</i> L.) fruit/pericarp produces mucilage that engulfs the fruit and seed within minutes of hydration. Seed mucilage is produced by plant species that have adapted to arid, sandy soils. This study was conducted to determine how basil-seed mucilage impr...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-04-01
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| Series: | Horticulturae |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2311-7524/8/4/327 |
| _version_ | 1797434550376202240 |
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| author | Dongfang Zhou Jacob N. Barney Gregory E. Welbaum |
| author_facet | Dongfang Zhou Jacob N. Barney Gregory E. Welbaum |
| author_sort | Dongfang Zhou |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The sweet-basil (<i>Ocimum basilicum</i> L.) fruit/pericarp produces mucilage that engulfs the fruit and seed within minutes of hydration. Seed mucilage is produced by plant species that have adapted to arid, sandy soils. This study was conducted to determine how basil-seed mucilage improves ecological fitness. A second objective was to find ways to remove mucilage, which may interfere with commercial planting. Basil fruit/seeds were examined using light and environmental scanning electron microscopy. Columnar structures of basil mucilage rapidly unfolded from the pericarp upon initial hydration. Dilute hydrochloric acid removed the mucilage, which decreased the water content four-fold but did not inhibit seed germination in a laboratory test. Nondestructive Fourier-transform mid-infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy confirmed that the mucilage was primarily composed of hemicellulose that anchored the basil seed to resist movement. The fully hydrated seeds approached zero water potential, so the mucilage did not interfere with hydration. The seeds that were planted in growing media with mucilage had from 12 to 28% higher seedling emergence and survival percentages after 10 days than seeds without mucilage. Basil-fruit/seed mucilage provides a reservoir of loosely bound water at high water potential for seed germination and early seedling development, thus improving survivability under low moisture. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T10:34:57Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-3dec2a40e6de41c1a1363b39ec643aec |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2311-7524 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T10:34:57Z |
| publishDate | 2022-04-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Horticulturae |
| spelling | doaj.art-3dec2a40e6de41c1a1363b39ec643aec2023-12-01T21:00:38ZengMDPI AGHorticulturae2311-75242022-04-018432710.3390/horticulturae8040327Production, Composition, and Ecological Function of Sweet-Basil-Seed Mucilage during HydrationDongfang Zhou0Jacob N. Barney1Gregory E. Welbaum2School of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Virginia Tech, Room 301C Saunders Hall, West Campus Drive, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USASchool of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Virginia Tech, Room 301C Saunders Hall, West Campus Drive, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USASchool of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Virginia Tech, Room 301C Saunders Hall, West Campus Drive, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USAThe sweet-basil (<i>Ocimum basilicum</i> L.) fruit/pericarp produces mucilage that engulfs the fruit and seed within minutes of hydration. Seed mucilage is produced by plant species that have adapted to arid, sandy soils. This study was conducted to determine how basil-seed mucilage improves ecological fitness. A second objective was to find ways to remove mucilage, which may interfere with commercial planting. Basil fruit/seeds were examined using light and environmental scanning electron microscopy. Columnar structures of basil mucilage rapidly unfolded from the pericarp upon initial hydration. Dilute hydrochloric acid removed the mucilage, which decreased the water content four-fold but did not inhibit seed germination in a laboratory test. Nondestructive Fourier-transform mid-infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy confirmed that the mucilage was primarily composed of hemicellulose that anchored the basil seed to resist movement. The fully hydrated seeds approached zero water potential, so the mucilage did not interfere with hydration. The seeds that were planted in growing media with mucilage had from 12 to 28% higher seedling emergence and survival percentages after 10 days than seeds without mucilage. Basil-fruit/seed mucilage provides a reservoir of loosely bound water at high water potential for seed germination and early seedling development, thus improving survivability under low moisture.https://www.mdpi.com/2311-7524/8/4/327seed biologyseed ecologystand establishmentmucilage removalgerminationmyxodiaspory |
| spellingShingle | Dongfang Zhou Jacob N. Barney Gregory E. Welbaum Production, Composition, and Ecological Function of Sweet-Basil-Seed Mucilage during Hydration Horticulturae seed biology seed ecology stand establishment mucilage removal germination myxodiaspory |
| title | Production, Composition, and Ecological Function of Sweet-Basil-Seed Mucilage during Hydration |
| title_full | Production, Composition, and Ecological Function of Sweet-Basil-Seed Mucilage during Hydration |
| title_fullStr | Production, Composition, and Ecological Function of Sweet-Basil-Seed Mucilage during Hydration |
| title_full_unstemmed | Production, Composition, and Ecological Function of Sweet-Basil-Seed Mucilage during Hydration |
| title_short | Production, Composition, and Ecological Function of Sweet-Basil-Seed Mucilage during Hydration |
| title_sort | production composition and ecological function of sweet basil seed mucilage during hydration |
| topic | seed biology seed ecology stand establishment mucilage removal germination myxodiaspory |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2311-7524/8/4/327 |
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