Increased Storability of Haloxylon ammodendron Seeds in Ultra-drying Storage

梭梭 (HaloxylonammodendronBge .)的种子为短命种子 ,在自然状态下 ,种子的含水量为 8.5 % ,寿命约为 10个月。将梭梭种子含水量降至 2 .5 %和 1.4% ,其耐贮藏力增强。经过 5 0℃下 5d和 10d的人工加速老化后 ,超干种子表现出较强的抗老化能力。与对照相比 ,超干种子具有较高的萌发率、活力指数及较长的根 。

Comparison of Methods for Ultra-drying of Chinese Chive Seeds

[Objective] This study aimed to identify the ultra-drying method most suitable for the storage of Chinese chive seeds through comparing different ultra-drying meth- ods. [Method] Through setting treatments including freezing, silica gel drying and heating drying at 50℃ as well as two controls, the effects of different drying methods for storing ultra-dried Chinese chive seeds were compared. [Result] There were no significant differences in the germination rate and seedling length between Chinese chive seeds treated with heating drying at 50℃ and those treated with either freezing or get drying at the initial stage of the storage. Storing of Chinese chive seeds previously treated with either heating drying at 50℃, or freezing or gel drying for 0-98 months at 20℃ hadn＇t caused any adverse effect on the germination rate of seeds. And the effect of different storage conditions on seedling length displayed earlier than that on the germination rate. There was no significant difference on seedling length between seeds treated with heating drying at 50℃ and those treated with freezing drying after stored for as long as 98 months, revealing similar efficacy on storing seeds. [Conclusion] Freezing drying requires huge investment and cost for perennial running, and silica gel drying is slow in drying and time-consuming. By contrast, heating drying at 50℃ is an economic and simple method, which can enable the Chinese chive seeds to sustain a longevity of eight years or more.

Effects of Ultra-drying Treatment on Large Amounts of Four Kinds of Crop Seeds

This study was to understand the physiological changes of four kinds of crop seeds including baby corn, cowpea, radish and rape- seed, under the treatment of ultra-drying. Large amounts of seeds as experimental materials （ 10 kg for each material） were respectively dried to the suitable water content consistent with the ultra-dried seed criterion via heating at 50 ~C; then the physiological indices of these ultra-dried seeds such as water content, seed germination, dehydrogenase activity and SOD activity were measured. The results showed that except cowpea seeds, whose ultra-drying treatment should be controlled between two and four days, other three kinds of seeds were tolerant to high tem- perature and low water content. The ultra-dried seeds assumed similar or even higher activities than CKs, but showed no damage symptom. Our result proves that ultra-drying treatment via heating at 50 ℃ is safe and efficient to experimental seeds.

Effect of Moisture Content on Melilotus suaveolens Seed Quality During Ultra-drying Storage

In order to enhance the seed storability and supply high-quality seeds for vegetation restoration in the arid and semi-arid regions in Northwest China,the effects of ultra-drying and accelerated aging on the physiological characterstics of Melilotus suaveolens seeds were studied.Melilotus suaveolens seeds were dried in a desiccator containing silica gel to 80,53,42,33,23 and 16 g·kg-1 of moisture contents（MC）,respectively.The parameters of the seed quality including germination energy（GE）,germination percentage（GP）,relative conductivity（RC）,dehydrogenase activity（DA） and α-amylase activity（AA） were determined after ultra-drying and accelerated aging.The results showed that ultra-dried seeds with 42 g·kg-1 of MC showed the minimum changes of GE and GP before and after seed aging.Moreover,ultra-dry seeds with 42 g·kg-1 of MC showed higher DA and AA,and lower RC than non-ultra-drying seeds.Therefore,ultra-drying to 42 g·kg-1 of MC was helpful for M.suaveolens seed storage.

Effects of Ultra-drying on Vigor and Physiological characteristics of Hippophae rhamnoides Seeds

Studies of ultra-drying and accelerated aging on Hippophae rhamnoides seeds from the arid and semiarid areas of northwest China were conducted. The results showed that H. rhamnoides seeds had higher desiccation endurance. When seeds were desiccated to 26 g/kg, their germination percentage, vigor indices and enzyme activity could be retained. After 30-day accelerated aging, ultra-dried seeds had better anti-aging ability and storability compared to natural dried seeds, and the best choice for the MC of seed was 34 g/kg. Accordingly, ultra-drying treatment could improve the storability.

Effect of Ultra-drying on Vigor and Physiological Characteristics of Ziziphus jujuba var spinosa Seeds

Using ultradry method and accelerated aging, storage behavior of Ziziphus jujuba var spinosa seeds with MC of 15-80 g/kg was studied. The results showed that seeds with MC of 24-80 g/kg could maintain the stabilization in germination percentage, vigor, relative conductivity, and enzyme activities; and during the ageing the seed storability increased with the moisture content decreased to 24 g/kg. Thus, it was feasible for the seeds to be stored under the ultra-dried condition.

Study of Ultra-drying on Vigor and Physiological Characteristics of Lespedeza bicolor Seeds

Ultra-drying (in a desiccator with silica gel) and accelerated aging (50 oC, 30 d) of Lespedeza bicolor seeds from the arid and semiarid areas of northwest China were studied. The results showed that in the moisture content of seed ( 43?70 g/kg), germination percentage and vigor indices had no significant differences; ultra-dried seeds had a stronger anti-aging ability than those with natural drying, and the best MC for the storage was 43 g/kg. Therefore, it was feasible to store L. bicolor seeds with ultra-dried moisture content.

Physiological Responses of Limonium aureum Seeds to Ultra-drying

The seeds of Limonium aureum （L.） Hill. were dried from 8.92% to 2.88% moisture content in a desiccating container with silica gel. After ultra-drying the seeds were accelerated aged （50 ℃, 1 month）, and some physiological indices, including the electrical conductivity, dehydrogenase activity, superoxide dismutase （SOD）, peroxidase （POD）, glutathione reductase （GR）, ascorbate peroxidase （APX）, catalase （CAT）, volatile aldehydes and malondialdehyde （MDA） were tested. The results indicated that dehydrogenase, POD, SOD, GR, APX and CAT activities of the ultra-dry seeds were higher than the control seeds, while volatile aldehydes and malondialdehyde were lower than the control group. The results suggest that ultra-drying is beneficial for maintaining the vigor of L. aureum seeds at a high level. Thus, L. aureum seeds could be stored under ultra-dry conditions.

Effects of Ultra-drying on Viability and Physiological Characteristics of Platycladus orientalis Seed from Arid and Semiarid Areas of Northwest China

In order to supply quality seed for vegetation restoration in arid and semiarid areas of Northwest China, the effects of Platycladus orientalis seed storage under ultra-drying and accelerated aging were studied. The seeds were dried from 6.8% to 5.1%, 4.4%, 3.7% and 2.2% MC, respectively, in a desiccator with the silica gel. The germination energy, germination percentage, germination index and vigor index of the seed were investigated. After ultra-drying, groups of seeds were carried on the accelerated aging tests in an oven at 50 oC for 10, 20 and 30 d , respectively, and the physiological indexes, including relative conductivity, dehydrogenase activity and α-amylase activity were tested. The results show that the ultra-dried seeds with 3.7% MC have the highest germination energy, germination percentage, germination index and vigor index. After aging, the dehydrogenase activity and α-amylase activity of the group of seeds of 3.7% MC were higher than those of 6.8%, while the relative conductivity of the group of 3.7% is lower than that of 6.8%. It is feasible to ultra- dry the seeds with 3.7% MC.

Studies on Ultra-dry Storage and Genetic Stability of Vegetable Seeds

[Objective] To study the long-term ultra-dry storage method and genetic stability of vegetable seeds.[Method] Seeds of Lycopersicum esculentum,Raphanus satuvus and Apium graveolen.were chosen as material.The changes of seed vigor,viability and genetic stability after ultra-storage were discussed by studying the seed potentiality,shoot length,germination percentage and the chromosome aberration rate of root tip cells.[Results] Maintaining the low moisture content,different vegetable species had different storage effects of the long-term storage seeds under normal temperature.The Lycopersicum esculentum and Raphanus satuvus seeds were more suitable to ultra-dry storage at normal temperature,and could keep good genetic stability,while the seeds of Apium graveolen had bad performance.[Conclusion] This study established the foundation of studying ultra-dry storage of vegetable seeds.

Progress of the Research on the Conservation of Crop Germplasm Resources in China

In the last 20 years, China has made considerable achievements in the conservation of crop germplasm resources. A network for crop germplasm conservation has been established by the end of 2002, which includes a national long-term seed genebank and its duplicated genebank, 8 national medium-term seed genebanks, 30 national field genebanks. 2 national in vitro genebanks, and 3 in situ conservation sites including 1 for wild soybean and 2 for wild rice. More than 334 000 crop germplasm accessions are currently stored in the national long-term genebank, covering 35 families, 192 genera and 712 species, which rank in the first place in the world. More than 43 000 accessions of vegetatively propagated crops and perennial crops covering more than 900 species are conserved in the national field genebanks. In addition, 2 300 accessions are stored in the national in vitro genebanks. This paper reviewed the latest advances of techniques for safety preservation of stored germplasm in seed genebank, ultra-dried seed storage and in vitro preservation in China and discussed current highlights in germplasm conservation.