How storage conditons affect ageing mechanisms of seeds
This thesis provides new insights into how four different storage conditions affect seed ageing mechanisms involving reactive oxygen species (ROS), highlighting how cytoplasmic viscosity and molecular mobility impact seed ageing in five crop species.
Moritz Stegner with certificate for the best Master's thesis, awarded by the German Botanical Society
Seed ageing is strongly influenced by reactive oxygen species (ROS) and storage conditions such as temperature and humidity. This thesis examined the seeds of five plant species (Allium cepa, Daucus carota, Lactuca sativa var. crispa, Cucumis sativus, and Raphanus sativus var. sativus) under controlled storage conditions: cold/dry (4°C / 37% RH), ambient/dry (22°C / 37% RH), and hot (45°C) under dry (40-20% RH) or humid (95% RH). Seed viability and vigor were evaluated with germination tests, while tocochromanols and lipid peroxidation markers were analyzed using HPLC and LC-MS/MS. Results showed that higher temperatures and humidity accelerated seed ageing, and that tocochromanols were depleted as a protective mechanism against oxidative damage during ageing. Notably, lipid peroxidation was most pronounced when cytoplasmic viscosity was low. These findings are valuable for improving our understanding of seed storage and longevity under varying environmental conditions.