Genetic study on seed coat characteristics in multiploid watermelon

[ Objective] This study is to provide basis for the genetic improvement of triploid watermelon cultivars from seed coat characteristiscs by analyzing its genetic properties. [ Method ] Genetic effects of seed coat characteristics and their related characteristics in tdploid watermelon were analyzed by additive dominant genetic model based on 36 F1 hybrids which were crossed by six female parents of four ecotypes and six male parents of same ecotype according to North Carolina II crossing design. [ Result] The seed coat number characteristics was controlled by additive effects, dominant effects and error variance of genetic together. The additive effects of the length and width of abortive seed coat were significant, and the error variance was significant or highly significant. It was observed that there was a significant negative correlation of additive effects between the seed coat number and fringe soluble sugar. Also there was a significant negative correlation of dominant effects between lycopenes, dry matter and the seed coat number. However, there was a highly significant positive correlation in additive effects between the length and width of abortive seed coat. [ Conclusion ] The results provide guidance for genetic breeding of triploid watermelon cultivars.

Antioxidant Activities and Characterization of Polyphenols from Selected Northern Thai Rice Husks: Relation with Seed Attributes

Rice production generates a significant amount of agricultural waste. This study aimed to give results related to the existence of antioxidant phenols in agricultural waste of selected Northern Thai rice varieties. The antioxidant activities, contents of total flavonoids and phenolic compounds in the ethanolic rice husk extract were evaluated. The highest antioxidant activities were found in the variety PES1CMU, with 2,2’-azinobis-3-ethyl-benzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl as 679.66 and 4.16 mmol/(L·g) trolox equivalent, respectively, ferric reducing antioxidant power as 0.87 mmol/(L·g) Fe2+, total phenolic content as 29.90 mmol/(L·g) gallic acid and total flavonoid content as 12.16 mg/g catechin equivalent. Polyphenol compounds were identified mainly by standard polyphenols using the liquid chromatography mass spectrometry, with the highest contents of phytic acid, o-coumaric acid, naringin and kaempferol. The non-glutenous and wetland ecotypes of rice husk samples were the richest in antioxidant activities and polyphenol contents characterized by using principal component analysis. The glutenous rice husk contained higher antioxidant activities than the rest. Interestingly, quercetin is a significant phenolic compound that positively correlated with the overall antioxidant activities of rice husk. This finding will be relevant for future application of rice husk antioxidant components in the production of functional ingredients as well as for the food and pharmaceutical industries.

Characteristics and Warning Indexes of Rice Seeds Viability Loss During Storage at 45℃ Constant Temperature

Seed aging characteristics of rice was investigated in this study. Seeds of 34 japonica rice (O-ryza sativa subsp. japonica) varieties were held at 451 constant temperature. Changes in seed viability and seed vigor during aging process were measured to study seed viability-losing characteristic and to determine warning index for seed viability loss. As a result, seed viability survival curves were obtained across different rice accessions at 45℃ constant temperature. The curves appeared to be contra-sigmoid survival curves. The loss of seed viability in the aging process consisted of two phases. The first phase took a long duration, in which the viability of vigorous seeds declined slowly. In the second phase, seed viability declined rapidly. It was obvious that seed viability declined inconsistently during storage. It also showed that seed germination was prolonged and the seedling was significantly weakened before the coming of the rapid declining phase of seed viability. These two parameters could be used to indicate seed quality during storage. The rate of compatibility of tests (RCT), coefficient of variation (CV), vigor of seedling, the day the seeds start to germinate could be used as warning indexes to indicate overall quality of a mass of accessions. These warning indexes could also be used in monitoring the viability of seeds stored in the seed genebank.

Low Doses of Ionized Radiation and Hypomagnetic Field Alter Redox Properties of Water and Physiological Characteristics of Seeds of the Highest Plants

The influence of a 40-fold attenuated geomagnetic field and its combined action with low doses of α- and γ-irradiation on the physiological characteristics of seeds of the highest plants and redox properties of water was investigated. It established the reduction of seed germination both under direct and indirect effects due to water action of attenuated geomagnetic field. A negative effect of hypomagnetic field on grown characteristics of seeds under indirect effect via water was decreased by the low doses of γ-irradiation, and was increased by low doses of α-irradiation, i.e. ionized radiation was the dominant factor in their combined action. It was revealed the increasing of the value of the oxidation-reduction potential of water under the influence of low-intensive α-ir-radiation (239Pu), γ-irradiation (137Cs) and also that the magnetic induction attenuated pointing to a natural decline. The increasing of the oxidation-reduction potential value testifies about “the regular decreasing of internal energy of water molecules” and the increasing of its oxidative properties, which, in our opinion, is caused the inhibition of the germination of seeds. It is supposed that namely water is the main component in the effects of studying factors on bio-objects, which acts due to the alterations of the properties and structural content of water.