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Abstract
Storage of recalcitrant seeds remains an unsolved problem. The study of gaseous atmospheres could provide insights in understanding the metabolism of recalcitrant seeds and their potential in being used as means for storage. This study investigated the metabolism of the recalcitrant Quercus alba seeds when subjected under nitrous oxide (N2O) and air atmospheres. Seeds were placed in sealed atmospheric flasks of 98/2% N2O/O2. Three experiments were conducted to determine N2O uptake in relation to oxygen (O2) and carbon dioxide (CO2) levels. For the first experiment, “non-renewed” closed atmospheric systems with 98/2% N2O/O2 and air were used. Two more experiments were also conducted for the 98/2% N2O/O2 atmosphere to determine how rate of gas renewal (two and seven days) affects the N2O, O2, and CO2 gases quantitatively. Cumulative results on non-renewed flasks with 98/2% N2O/O2 showed that as time progressed, N2O uptake increased with variation in the magnitude of N2O utilization throughout the 37 experimental days, while seeds ceased O2 utilization by the 11th day. However, CO2 levels did not decrease, suggesting a shift toward fermentation processes. Finally, the two experiments for the 98/2% N2O/O2 indicated that the O2 levels did not deplete under a two-day gas renewal, suggesting a frequent gas renewal under low O2 storage conditions.
Funding
This paper was supported by funding that was provided by the Forestry Department and the Seed Science Department of the Iowa State University (ISU) and technical assistance through the lab utilities of the USDA-ARS, National Laboratory for Agriculture and the Environment of ISU.