Influence of Seed-Covering Layers on Caper Seed Germination
Caper is a perennial shrub that is widespread in the Mediterranean Basin. Although the fruits contain many seeds, they germinate slowly and with very low percentages, due to their nondeep physiological dormancy. The influence of the testa and endosperm, as well as the effect of applying gibberellic...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-01-01
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| Series: | Plants |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/12/3/439 |
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| author | María Laura Foschi Mariano Juan Bernardo Pascual Nuria Pascual-Seva |
| author_facet | María Laura Foschi Mariano Juan Bernardo Pascual Nuria Pascual-Seva |
| author_sort | María Laura Foschi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Caper is a perennial shrub that is widespread in the Mediterranean Basin. Although the fruits contain many seeds, they germinate slowly and with very low percentages, due to their nondeep physiological dormancy. The influence of the testa and endosperm, as well as the effect of applying gibberellic acid (GA<sub>3</sub>) solutions on seed germination to release its dormancy, are reported in this study. The mechanical resistance exerted by the testa and endosperm against radicle protrusion in mature caper seeds was measured. The best germination results were obtained with seeds devoid of testa wetted with water and with intact seeds wetted with a 500 mg L<sup>−1</sup> GA<sub>3</sub> solution, without statistical differences between them. The GA<sub>3</sub> addition triggers an increase in both the content of endogenous gibberellins (GA) and the GA/abscisic acid ratio, increasing germination. Its germination consists of two temporally separated events: testa cracking and endosperm piercing. Testa cracking begins in the hilum-micropillar area; it involves a signal from the embryo, which GA can replace, possibly by increasing the growth potential of the embryo. After testa cracking, the radicle emerges through a hole in the micropylar endosperm. The puncture force necessary to pierce the micropylar endosperm decreased drastically during the first day of imbibition, remaining practically constant until testa cracking, decreasing afterwards, regardless of the addition or not of gibberellins. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T09:30:23Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-600b0c123b8541f2b0767309c25da659 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2223-7747 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T09:30:23Z |
| publishDate | 2023-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Plants |
| spelling | doaj.art-600b0c123b8541f2b0767309c25da6592023-11-16T17:42:23ZengMDPI AGPlants2223-77472023-01-0112343910.3390/plants12030439Influence of Seed-Covering Layers on Caper Seed GerminationMaría Laura Foschi0Mariano Juan1Bernardo Pascual2Nuria Pascual-Seva3Departamento de Producción Vegetal, Universitat Politècnica de València, 46022 Valencia, SpainDepartamento de Producción Vegetal, Universitat Politècnica de València, 46022 Valencia, SpainDepartamento de Producción Vegetal, Universitat Politècnica de València, 46022 Valencia, SpainDepartamento de Producción Vegetal, Universitat Politècnica de València, 46022 Valencia, SpainCaper is a perennial shrub that is widespread in the Mediterranean Basin. Although the fruits contain many seeds, they germinate slowly and with very low percentages, due to their nondeep physiological dormancy. The influence of the testa and endosperm, as well as the effect of applying gibberellic acid (GA<sub>3</sub>) solutions on seed germination to release its dormancy, are reported in this study. The mechanical resistance exerted by the testa and endosperm against radicle protrusion in mature caper seeds was measured. The best germination results were obtained with seeds devoid of testa wetted with water and with intact seeds wetted with a 500 mg L<sup>−1</sup> GA<sub>3</sub> solution, without statistical differences between them. The GA<sub>3</sub> addition triggers an increase in both the content of endogenous gibberellins (GA) and the GA/abscisic acid ratio, increasing germination. Its germination consists of two temporally separated events: testa cracking and endosperm piercing. Testa cracking begins in the hilum-micropillar area; it involves a signal from the embryo, which GA can replace, possibly by increasing the growth potential of the embryo. After testa cracking, the radicle emerges through a hole in the micropylar endosperm. The puncture force necessary to pierce the micropylar endosperm decreased drastically during the first day of imbibition, remaining practically constant until testa cracking, decreasing afterwards, regardless of the addition or not of gibberellins.https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/12/3/439abscisic acidgibberellinsmicropylar endospermpuncture forceseed dormancy |
| spellingShingle | María Laura Foschi Mariano Juan Bernardo Pascual Nuria Pascual-Seva Influence of Seed-Covering Layers on Caper Seed Germination Plants abscisic acid gibberellins micropylar endosperm puncture force seed dormancy |
| title | Influence of Seed-Covering Layers on Caper Seed Germination |
| title_full | Influence of Seed-Covering Layers on Caper Seed Germination |
| title_fullStr | Influence of Seed-Covering Layers on Caper Seed Germination |
| title_full_unstemmed | Influence of Seed-Covering Layers on Caper Seed Germination |
| title_short | Influence of Seed-Covering Layers on Caper Seed Germination |
| title_sort | influence of seed covering layers on caper seed germination |
| topic | abscisic acid gibberellins micropylar endosperm puncture force seed dormancy |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/12/3/439 |
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