Reciprocal effect of parental lines on the physiological potential and seed composition of corn hybrid seeds

Abstract

Obtaining corn hybrid seeds (Zea mays L.) with high vigour depends on the parental lines and the direction of the cross, and this relates to seed desiccation tolerance and composition. This research studied reciprocal crosses between pairs of proprietary, elite parent lines (L1 and L5; L2 and L4) producing hybrid seeds with different qualities attempting to correlate vigour with seed composition, focusing on storage proteins, starch and soluble sugar amounts. Four corn hybrid seed lots produced from reciprocal crosses were compared (HS 15 with HS 51, and HS 24 with HS 42) by assessing germination, vigour, and seedling emergence in the field. Seed composition was assessed in mature, dehydrated seeds. Proteins were extracted, quantified, and analysed by electrophoresis and densitometry. Starch amounts were assessed using a kit and soluble sugars were determined using high performance liquid chromatography with pulsed electrochemical detection. The L1 and L2 lineages, used as female parents, provided seeds with lower vigour; however, the quantification of major protein bands, and sucrose, raffinose and stachyose were similar between seed lot pairs. While both total seed protein and starch varied between reciprocal hybrids for one of the two sets of crosses, the amounts of neither correlated with seed vigour. Interestingly, hybrids with low seed vigour (HS 15, HS 24) accumulated greater amounts of fructose relative to their reciprocal; correlation analysis confirmed these results. We demonstrate different effects on seed vigour dependent on the maternal parent in reciprocal crosses producing hybrid corn seeds. We also show that vigour is negatively correlated with seed reducing sugar contents.

Biochemical profiling and its role in physiological quality of maize seeds

“…A negative correlation between the total protein, total phosphorus, phytate and starch with physiological response of seeds also was found, and a negative correlation between germination and starch content (-0.63) and the total phosphorus content (-0.65) (Figure 4b). Similar results were found by Santos et al (2017), according these authors total protein and starch content are not correlated with vigour in maize seeds. Delgado et al, (2015), showing that the initial content of the reserve components was not the determining factor for the maintenance of the vigor in soybean seed.…”

“…The results of correlation between soluble sugar and vigor by accelerated aging test, suggest that higher initial content of soluble sugar contributes to higher vigor of seeds for VPA1 inbred line. Santos et al (2017) observed the ratio between the sum of oligosaccharides and the sum of the monosaccharide reducing sugars, presented a positive correlation with the accelerated ageing, cold test and seedling emergence in the field tests in maize. This result indicate that seeds with a higher initial content of soluble sugars could overcome the stress condition.…”

Maize VIVIPAROUS1 Interacts with ABA INSENSITIVE5 to Regulate GALACTINOL SYNTHASE2 Expression Controlling Seed Raffinose Accumulation

“…41 The conversion of the small, soluble carbohydrate pool from predominately reducing monosaccharides to predominately nonreducing sugar oligomers during orthodox seed maturation reduces the absolute number of these dissolved solutes, protects against Maillard reactions by tying up reducing ends in intermonosaccharide covalent bonds, and creates oligosaccharides capable of forming a glassy state conducive to the intracellular milieu withstanding desiccation. 42 Also, the relative abundance of sucrose to RFO appears to influence seed vigor. 2 The zmvp1-R mutant seed exhibits increased glucose and sucrose and decreased galactinol and raffinose, compared to that of WT, and has a viviparous phenotype (Figure 1B−D).…”

Genotypic Diversity in 291 Maize Lines From Cimmyt and Phenotypic Characterization in Southern Cordoba, Argentina

“…Several reports noted differential expression between reciprocal F1 hybrids in maize for various kernel and germination traits (Cervantes Ortiz et al, 2007;Cabral et al, 2013;de la Torre and Biasutti, 2015;Santos et al, 2017;de Abreu et al, 2019). In Angiosperms, double fertilization results in the development of the diploid embryo and triploid endosperm that are surrounded by the maternal seed coat derived from the ovule integuments.…”