Scientific publications

Development of tolerance to desiccation and degradation of chlorophylls are important processes in the maturation of orthodox seeds. However, chlorophylls do not degrade completely and are present in residual quantities in mature seeds of many plant species. We studied the relationship between the content of residual chlorophylls and tolerance to desiccation in germinating cabbage seeds. It was shown that the seeds with higher content of chlorophylls were less tolerant of desiccation at the stage of germination before radical protrusion. The manifestations were delay in cell cycle activation in the seed radicle, lowering of viability and germination rate. One of the presumable reasons for the decrease in seed tolerance is that chlorophylls may damage the cells by intensifying oxidative stress.