POMONA: a multiplatform software for modeling seed physiology.

Seed physiology is related to functional and metabolic traits of the seed-seedling transition. In this sense, modeling the kinetics, uniformity and capacity of a seed sample plays a central role in designing strategies for trade, food, and environmental security. Thus, POMONA is presented as an easy-to-use multiplatform software designed to bring several logistic and linearized models into a single package, allowing for convenient and fast assessment of seed germination and or longevity, even if the data has a non-Normal distribution.

The Effect of Magneto-Priming on the Physiological Quality of Soybean Seeds.

Microwaves have been applied to the drying of seeds of several species due to their maintenance of the quality of the seeds and reduction of time and costs. However, few is known about the effect of microwaves on the increase of the physiological quality of soybean seeds and especially their effects on longevity. Therefore, the use of microwaves as magneto-priming in soybean seeds was the object of study in this work.

Liming enhances longevity of wheat seeds produced in acid soils.

The environment where plants grow, such as acidic soils, interferes with the nutrient concentration and physiological quality of seeds. This hypothesis was tested using wheat seeds as a model crop, grown in a tropical soil with and without lime application for twelve years. Here we show that lime provides remarkable enhancements in soil chemistry and seed composition, without altering the seed's germination and vigor.

Transcripts Expressed during Germination Are Associated with Vigor in Soybean Seeds.

The rapid and uniform establishment of crop plants in the field underpins food security through uniform mechanical crop harvesting. In order to achieve this, seeds with greater vigor should be used. Vigor is a component of physiological quality related to seed resilience.

Acceleration in Germination Plays a Central Role on Seedling Vigor in Post-Germination.

An obvious relationship between germination and seedling development during post-germination has been considered, but not explained concerning vigor. Taking this into account, we used measurements of water dynamics in germinating seeds and seedling development to clarify that relationship. The biological model was soybean seeds, since it is the most relevant 'true seed' produced around world.

The seed-specific heat shock factor A9 regulates the depth of dormancy in Medicago truncatula seeds via ABA signalling.

During the later stages of seed maturation, two key adaptive traits are acquired that contribute to seed lifespan and dispersal, longevity and dormancy. The seed-specific heat shock transcription factor A9 is an important hub gene in the transcriptional network of late seed maturation. Here, we demonstrate that HSFA9 plays a role in thermotolerance rather than in ex situ seed conservation.

Molecular characterization of the acquisition of longevity during seed maturation in soybean.

Seed longevity, defined as the ability to remain alive during storage, is an important agronomic factor. Poor longevity negatively impacts seedling establishment and consequently crop yield. This is particularly problematic for soybean as seeds have a short lifespan.

Gene expression profiling of the green seed problem in Soybean.

Background: Due to the climate change of the past few decades, some agricultural areas in the world are now experiencing new climatic extremes. For soybean, high temperatures and drought stress can potentially lead to the "green seed problem", which is characterized by chlorophyll retention in mature seeds and is associated with lower oil and seed quality, thus negatively impacting the production of soybean seeds.

Results: Here we show that heat and drought stress result in a "mild" stay-green phenotype and impaired expression of the STAY-GREEN 1 and STAY-GREEN 2 (D1, D2), PHEOPHORBIDASE 2 (PPH2) and NON-YELLOW COLORING 1 (NYC1_1) genes in soybean seeds of a susceptible soybean cultivar.

Mechanism and control of Genipa americana seed germination.

Genipa americana (Rubiaceae) is important for restoration of riparian forest in the Brazilian Cerrado. The objective was to characterize the mechanism and control of germination of G. americana to support uniform seedling production.

Mechanism and control of Solanum lycocarpum seed germination.

Background And Aims: Solanaceae seed morphology and physiology have been widely studied but mainly in domesticated crops. The present study aimed to compare the seed morphology and the physiology of germination of Solanum lycocarpum, an important species native to the Brazilian Cerrado, with two species with endospermic seeds, tomato and coffee.

Methods: Morphological parameters of fruits and seeds were determined by microscopy.

Germination ecophysiology of Annona crassiflora seeds.

Background And Aims: Little is known about environmental factors that break morphophysiological dormancy in seeds of the Annonaceae and the mechanisms involved. The aim of this study was to characterize the morphological and physiological components of dormancy of Annona crassiflora, a tree species native to the Cerrado of Brazil, in an ecophysiological context.

Methods: Morphological and biochemical characteristics of both embryo and endosperm were monitored during dormancy break and germination at field conditions.