The effects of priming on nuclear replication activity and germination of pepper (Capsicum annuum) and tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) seeds

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Abstract
Using flow cytometry, we determined relative DNA amounts expressed as C-values, of large numbers of nuclei isolated from embryo root tips in three seed lots of pepper (Capsicum annuum) and tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum). The nuclei in embryos of fully matured dry pepper and tomato seeds predominantly revealed 2C signals, which indicates that the cells of maturing seeds have arrested at G1 phase of the cell cycle. Priming of pepper and tomato seeds in −1.1, −1.3 or −1.5 MPa polyethylene glycol (PEG) for 14 days reduced the mean time to germination. In all seed lots an induction of 4C signals was found after priming, indicating that during priming the cells of the embryonic root tip had replicated their DNA and arrested at the G2 phase of the cell cycle. For both tomato and pepper, the frequency of 4C signals was highest at the lowest PEG concentration (osmotic potential of −1.1 MPa). A significant inverse correlation was found between the frequency of root tip cells expressing 4C DNA signals and the mean time to germination for each individual pepper and tomato seed lot. However, the effect of a specific osmotic treatment differed between seed lots of the same cultivar, with regard to both the decrease in the mean time to germination and to the percentage of 4C cells, suggesting specific differences among seed lots in the response to priming. The present results indicate that flow cytometry can be used to follow the progress in nuclear replication activities during priming. The advancement in DNA synthesis can thus be used to measure the efficiency of a priming treatment with regard to enhancement of seed lot germination rate.