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Biochemical changes during seed development in Pinus taeda L.

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Abstract

Amino acids, polyamines, 3-indoleacetic acid (IAA), abscisic acid (ABA), buffer-soluble protein and starch contents and dry matter accumulation were analyzed in megagametophytes containing developing embryos during seed development in Pinus taeda. The highest total amino acids and polyamine contents occurred at the cotyledonary stage, followed by a significant decrease in the mature seed. Free polyamines exhibited higher levels than conjugated ones, with putrescine being the predominant type until the cotyledonary stage, and spermidine at the mature seed stage. IAA content increased continually from the globular stage reaching the maximum at the cotyledonary stage, followed by a decrease in the mature seed. The highest ABA level occurred at the globular stage, followed by a continuous reduction until stabilization at the pre-cotyledonary stage. Buffer-soluble protein and starch contents, and dry matter increased progressively during development, reaching their maximum values at the mature stage.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Botany, Plant Cell Biology Laboratory, IB-University of São Paulo, CP 11461, 05422-970 São, Paulo, Brasil

    Vanildo Silveira, Tiago S. Balbuena, Claudete Santa-Catarina, Eny I.S. Floh & Walter Handro

  2. Department of Plant Science, Plant Developmental Physiology and Genetic Laboratory, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, Brasil

    Miguel P. Guerra

Authors
  1. Vanildo Silveira
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  2. Tiago S. Balbuena
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  3. Claudete Santa-Catarina
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  4. Eny I.S. Floh
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  5. Miguel P. Guerra
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  6. Walter Handro
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Correspondence to Walter Handro.

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Silveira, V., Balbuena, T.S., Santa-Catarina, C. et al. Biochemical changes during seed development in Pinus taeda L.. Plant Growth Regulation 44, 147–156 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1023/B:GROW.0000049410.63154.ed

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