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Physiological and morphological characteristics during development of pedunculate oak (Quercus robur L.) zygotic embryos

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Abstract

The developmental stages of oak zygotic embryos (ZEs) are characterized here according to morphological and physiological features. Seeds were harvested from June to September in 1-week intervals. Excised embryos were classified into four stages of development by using growth parameters. For physiological characterization, endogenous levels of abscisic acid (ABA), indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), l-proline, starch content and water status were determined. The expression of the oak legumin storage protein gene was tested in immature cotyledonary ZEs before and after ABA treatment. The ABA levels of the embryos showed a significant peak during the intermediate stage of maturation (stage III) and then decreased again at the end of the late maturation phase (stage IV). Concomitant with ABA, the moisture content declined with the maximum embryo size. High IAA levels were found at the beginning of embryo enlargement as exponential growth occurred (stage II) but decreased during further development. Starch accumulated gradually in the course of maturation, whereas significant values were found in stage IV ZEs near shedding. Proline, on fresh weight basis, was high during stages I and II. Osmotic potential increased when, by rapid dry matter accumulation, stage II ZEs reached their maximum size during early intermediate development. Expression of precocious germination was higher on hormone-free medium, in particular, among stage II and stage III ZEs. Variations in phytohormone levels in combination with changes in tissue water status seem to be important factors for oak ZE development.

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Acknowledgements

We are very grateful to Dr M.G. Ostrolucka (IPGB, Nitra) for her help with the photographic work.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. ARC Seibersdorf Research GmbH, Division of Biogenetics & Natural Resources, 2444, Seibersdorf, Austria

    Christine Prewein, Michaela Endemann, Vanda Sunderlikova & Eva Wilhelm

  2. Department of Botany and Plant Physiology, Mendel University of Agriculture and Forestry, Zemedelska 1, 61300, Brno, Czech Republic

    Vilem Reinöhl

  3. Institute of Plant Genetics and Biotechnology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Nitra, Slovakia

    Jan Salaj

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  1. Christine Prewein
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  2. Michaela Endemann
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  3. Vilem Reinöhl
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  4. Jan Salaj
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  5. Vanda Sunderlikova
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  6. Eva Wilhelm
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Correspondence to Eva Wilhelm.

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Prewein, C., Endemann, M., Reinöhl, V. et al. Physiological and morphological characteristics during development of pedunculate oak (Quercus robur L.) zygotic embryos. Trees 20, 53–60 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00468-005-0012-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00468-005-0012-8

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