Development, Management and Utilization of a Kiwifruit ( spp.) In Vitro Collection: A New Zealand Perspective.

The New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research Limited (PFR) supports a large kiwifruit breeding program that includes more than twenty species. Almost all the kiwifruit accessions are held as field collections across a range of locations, though not all plants are at multiple locations. An in vitro collection of kiwifruit in New Zealand was established upon the arrival of pv.

Seed Storage Physiology of and , Two Threatened Myrtaceae Genera Endemic to New Zealand.

There is no published information on the seed germination or seed storage physiology of , , and This lack of information is hampering conservation efforts of these critically endangered species. This study investigated the seed morphology, seed germination requirements, and long-term seed storage methods for all three species. The impact of desiccation, desiccation and freezing, as well as desiccation plus storage at 5 °C, -18 °C, and -196 °C on seed viability (germination) and seedling vigour was assessed.

Seed Longevity-The Evolution of Knowledge and a Conceptual Framework.

The lifespan or longevity of a seed is the time period over which it can remain viable. Seed longevity is a complex trait and varies greatly between species and even seed lots of the same species. Our scientific understanding of seed longevity has advanced from anecdotal 'Thumb Rules,' to empirically based models, biophysical explanations for why those models sometimes work or fail, and to the profound realisation that seeds are the model of the underexplored realm of biology when water is so limited that the cytoplasm solidifies.

Eradication of , , and From Infected -Grown Potato Shoots Using Therapies.

Certain viruses dramatically affect yield and quality of potatoes and have proved difficult to eradicate with current approaches. Here, we describe a reliable and efficient virus eradication method that is high throughput and more efficacious at producing virus-free potato plants than current reported methods. Thermotherapy, chemotherapy, and cryotherapy treatments were tested alone and in combination for ability to eradicate single and mixed (PVS), (PVA), and (PVM) infections from three potato cultivars.

Impacts of Rapid Desiccation on Oxidative Status, Ultrastructure and Physiological Functions of (Myrtaceae) Zygotic Embryos in Preparation for Cryopreservation.

Syzygium maire is a highly threatened Myrtaceae tree species endemic to New Zealand. Due to its recalcitrant seed storage behaviour, cryopreservation is the only viable long-term ex situ conservation option for this species. This study investigated viability, oxidative stress, thermal properties, and ultrastructure of zygotic embryo axes (EAs) desiccated to various moisture contents (MC).

Volatile signature indicates viability of dormant orthodox seeds.

All seeds eventually die even under optimal storage conditions. The moment of viability loss is difficult to predict and detect. In order to differentiate between dead and viable dormant orthodox seeds, GC-MS analysis was used to non-invasively evaluate the volatile signature of seeds of Pyrus communis L.

Resistance of New Zealand Provenance , and to .

Resistance to the pandemic strain of was identified in New Zealand provenance , , and plants. Only 1 -resistant plant was found (of the 570 tested) and no resistant plants of either or were found. Three types of resistance were identified in .

Comparative Seed Morphology of Tropical and Temperate Orchid Species with Different Growth Habits.

Seed morphology underpins many critical biological and ecological processes, such as seed dormancy and germination, dispersal, and persistence. It is also a valuable taxonomic trait that can provide information about plant evolution and adaptations to different ecological niches. This study characterised and compared various seed morphological traits, i.

Lipid Thermal Fingerprints of Long-term Stored Seeds of Brassicaceae.

Thermal fingerprints for seeds of 20 crop wild relatives of Brassicaceae stored for 8 to 44 years at the Plant Germplasm Bank-Universidad Politécnica de Madrid and the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew's Millennium Seed Bank-were generated using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and analyzed in relation to storage stability. Relatively poor storing oily seeds at -20 °C tended to have lipids with crystallization and melting transitions spread over a wide temperature range (c. 40 °C) that spanned the storage temperature, plus a melting end temperature of around 15 °C.

Plant species with extremely small populations (PSESP) in China: A seed and spore biology perspective.

Approximately one fifth of the world's plants are at risk of extinction. Of these, a significant number exist as populations of few individuals, with limited distribution ranges and under enormous pressure due to habitat destruction. In China, these most-at-risk species are described as 'plant species with extremely small populations' (PSESP).

Biophysical characteristics of successful oilseed embryo cryoprotection and cryopreservation using vacuum infiltration vitrification: an innovation in plant cell preservation.

Heterogeneity in morphology, physiology and cellular chemistry of plant tissues can compromise successful cryoprotection and cryopreservation. Cryoprotection is a function of exposure time × temperature × permeability for the chosen protectant and diffusion pathway length, as determined by specimen geometry, to provide sufficient dehydration whilst avoiding excessive chemical toxicity. We have developed an innovative method of vacuum infiltration vitrification (VIV) at 381 mm (15 in) Hg (50 kPa) that ensures the rapid (5 min), uniform permeation of Plant Vitrification Solution 2 (PVS2) cryoprotectant into plant embryos and their successful cryopreservation, as judged by regrowth in vitro.

Post desiccation germination of mature seeds of tea (Camellia sinensis L.) can be enhanced by pro-oxidant treatment, but partial desiccation tolerance does not ensure survival at -20°C.

The maximal potential desiccation tolerance (MPDT) of tea (Camellia sinensis) seeds has been a matter of debate for decades. Here we assessed the ability of tea seeds from three sites in China to germinate after desiccation. Desiccation tolerance was greatest in Kunming, followed by Puer and Lincang, with Kunming seeds tolerating drying to 8% moisture content (MC), or ∼0.

Applications of differential scanning calorimetry in developing cryopreservation strategies for Parkia speciosa, a tropical tree producing recalcitrant seeds.

Shoot-tips of Parkia speciosa, a recalcitrant seed producing tropical leguminous tree withstood cryopreservation using encapsulation-vitrification in combination with trehalose preculture. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) revealed that trehalose moderated the thermal characteristics of the shoot-tips. A 30 min PVS2 treatment had the lowest glass transition temperature (Tg) (-50.

Optimisation of the azinobis-3-ethyl-benzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid radical scavenging assay for physiological studies of total antioxidant activity in woody plant germplasm.

A robust spectroscopic method for determining total antioxidant activity in aqueous extractions has been applied to tissues from diverse woody plant species, including seeds of Coffea arabica and in vitro shoots from Ribes nigrum, Picea sitchensis and Shorea leprosula. The assay involves scavenging of an ABTS [2,2'-azinobis-(3-ethyl-benzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid)] radical generated by the reaction of potassium persulphate with ABTS to produce an ABTS*(+) chromophore (lambda=734 nm). Antioxidants reduce ABTS*(+) back to ABTS with a concomitant decrease in absorbance.