Scientia Agricultura Sinica ›› 2025, Vol. 58 ›› Issue (5): 877-889.doi: 10.3864/j.issn.0578-1752.2025.05.005

• TILLAGE & CULTIVATION·PHYSIOLOGY & BIOCHEMISTRY·AGRICULTURE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Changes in Seed Vigor and Physiological Index of Winter Wheat Under Natural Aging Condition

ZHANG Ling(), CAO Lei, CAI Cheng, YAN XinYi, XIANG BoCai, AI Jia, ZHAN XinYang, SONG YouHong, ZHU YuLei()   

  1. College of Agronomy, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036
  • Received:2024-06-29 Accepted:2024-10-10 Online:2025-03-07 Published:2025-03-07
  • Contact: ZHU YuLei

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Abstract:

【Objective】This study aimed to examine changes in seed vitality and physiological mechanisms under natural aging conditions in winter wheat, to analyze how different storage durations affect seed germination vitality, root growth, and antioxidant capacity, and to identify key physiological indicators of seed aging, so as to provide a basis for breeding winter wheat varieties with improved storability. 【Method】 The newly bred winter wheat cultivars, including Annong1589 (AN1589), Annong1687 (AN1687), and Annong179 (AN179), were used as experimental materials. The seeds were stored at room temperature to simulate natural aging condition. Samples were taken from seeds stored for 6 months, 18 months, and 30 months to measure seed vigor indices, such as germination rate, germination potential, germination index, vigor index, field emergence rate, and seedling root characteristics. Additionally, those key physiological indicators during the seed and seedling stages were analyzed, including electrical conductivity (Con), malondialdehyde (MDA) content, proline (Pro), superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, catalase (CAT) activity, peroxidase (POD) activity, and the content of soluble sugars and soluble proteins in the seeds.【Result】Genotype had a significant effect on seed vigor and physiological indicators within the same storage period, with the interaction of cultivar and aging time having a notable impact on seed vigor. As storage time increased, the germination potential and root vigor of winter wheat seeds significantly declined. Germination index, vigor index, field emergence rate, and seedling stage indicators such as seedling height, fresh weight, and root fresh weight also showed a decreasing trend. Germination potential decreased most rapidly, with all three cultivars maintaining over 90% germination potential after 6 months of storage. After 18 months, the germination potential of AN1589, AN1687, and AN179 declined to 85.88%, 81.70%, and 88.58%, respectively. After 30 months of storage, the germination potential of all cultivars dropped below 80%, to 75.42%, 74.04%, and 79.17% of AN1589, AN1687, and AN179, respectively. This indicated a significant decline in seed vigor during natural aging. The study found that as the aging process progressed, the three cultivars continuously accumulated MDA and Pro, indicating increasing oxidative damage to the seed cell membranes. The initial MDA content in AN1589 was the lowest among the three cultivars, at 0.0427 μmol·g-1. Moreover, AN1589 had the smallest increase in Pro content after 30 months of storage, at 22.43%. The activities of antioxidant enzymes of SOD, CAT, and POD, as well as the contents of soluble sugars and soluble proteins, decreased with increasing aging, indicating a gradual loss of antioxidant capacity and consumption of internal substances to support seed germination and seedling growth. 【Conclusion】Under natural aging conditions, the vigor of winter wheat seeds gradually decreased, closely related to the consumption of internal substances, increased oxidative damage, and weakened antioxidant capacity. The increase in MDA content and changes in antioxidant enzyme activity were important physiological indicators reflecting seed aging. AN1589 exhibited relatively stable vigor and physiological indicators under natural aging conditions, indicating strong storage tolerance.

Key words: wheat, natural aging, seed vigor, standard germination test, physiological indicators

Table 1

Description of seed traits for three wheat cultivars"

品种
Cultivar		 审定号
Approval number		 千粒重
Thousand grain weight (g)		 粒长
Grain length (mm)		 粒宽
Grain width (mm)		 粒厚
Grain thickness (mm)		 饱满度
Plumpness		 粒质
Vitreous		 硬度指数
Hardness index (%)
AN1589 20210085 42.9 6.25 3.25 2.97 好 Well 角质 Cutin 66
AN1687 20210050 45.2 6.75 3.75 2.81 较好 Better 角质 Cutin 65
AN179 20230086 45.6 6.75 3.50 3.08 较好 Better 半角质 Hemichorny 63

Fig. 1

Changes in seed vigor traits of different wheat cultivars under natural storage condition"

Fig. 2

Changes in seedling phenotypic indicators of different wheat cultivars under natural aging conditions"

Fig. 3

Effect of storage time on the electrical conductivity of wheat seeds of different cultivars"

Fig. 4

Effects of storage time on MDA and Pro content in seedling leaves of different wheat cultivars"

Fig. 5

Effect of natural aging time on the content of protective enzymes in wheat leaves of different cultivars"

Fig. 6

Effects of natural aging time on the content of soluble protein and soluble sugar in wheat grains"

Table 2

ANOVA for the effects of wheat cultivars and aging time treatments on seed vigor and physiology related indicators"

来源
Source		 品种
C		 贮存时间
T		 品种×贮存时间
C×T		 来源
Source		 品种
C		 贮存时间
T		 品种×贮存时间
C×T
df 2 2 4 AD 15.83* NS NS
GP 109.25** 533.20** 32.29** TRL 25.36** NS NS
GR 133.62** 305.16** 8.49** TRV 47.29* NS NS
GI 99.17** 145.70** 16.77** Con 7.62* 23.71** NS
VI 155.00** 172.30** 18.34** MDA 17.45** 253.43** 46.87**
FER 20.89** 39.90** 5.91* Pro 4.43* 37.94** 18.66*
RV 84.93** 617.07** 17.03** SOD 68.90** NS NS
HS 23.64* NS NS CAT 14.15** NS NS
FWS 11.85* NS NS POD 39.72** NS NS
FWR 56.17** NS NS GSS 34.44** 128.65** 3.44*
R 29.67* NS NS GSP 17.32** 38.74* NS
RSA 67.92** 159.44* 38.21*

Fig. 7

Correlation analysis of seed vigor and physiological indicators in different wheat cultivars under natural aging condition"

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