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Morphological stages and storage protein accumulation in developing alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) seeds

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 September 2008

N. Xu ,
K. M. Coulter ,
J. E. Krochko  and
J. D. Bewley
N. Xu
Affiliation:
Department of Botany, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada, N1G 2W1
K. M. Coulter
Affiliation:
Department of Botany, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada, N1G 2W1
J. E. Krochko
Affiliation:
Department of Botany, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada, N1G 2W1
J. D. Bewley*
Affiliation:
Department of Botany, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada, N1G 2W1
*
* Correspondence
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Abstract

Identification of discrete stages during embryogenesis is important for the consistent and repeatable selection of seeds having similar developmental characteristics. A timetable for staging developing seeds of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) has been developed. Morphological characteristics, fresh and dry weights, SDSpolyacrylamide gel electrophoretic protein patterns and total protein content were recorded at various times between fertilization and 36 d after pollination (maturity), stages I–IX. A full complement of storage proteins (2S, 7S, 11S) is synthesized in both developing cotyledons and radicles. Low-salt soluble (S1) and high-salt soluble (S2) storage proteins first appear during embryo elongation. The proportional amounts of some S1 storage proteins change during alfalfa seed development. Markers are thus provided as uniform reference points for staging from the time of anthesis to seed shedding.

Keywords

11S and 7S proteinscotyledonsembryogenesisseed developmentseed embryostorage proteins.
Type
Research Papers
Information
Seed Science Research , Volume 1 , Issue 2 , June 1991 , pp. 119 - 125
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1991

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