Photosynthetic capacity in seagrass seeds and early-stage seedlings of Zostera marina

Kasper Elgetti Brodersen*, Michael Kühl

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articleResearchpeer-review

4 Citations (Scopus)
15 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

In many terrestrial seeds, photosynthetic activity supplies O2 to the developing plant embryo to sustain aerobic metabolism and enhance biosynthetic activity. However, whether seagrass seeds possess similar photosynthetic capacity to alleviate intra-seed hypoxic stress conditions is unknown. We used a novel combination of microscale variable chlorophyll fluorescence imaging, a custom-made O2 optode microrespirometry system and planar optode O2 imaging, to determine the O2 microenvironment and photosynthetic activity in developing seeds and seedlings of seagrass (Zostera marina). Developing, sheath-covered seeds exhibited high O2 concentrations in the photosynthetic active seed sheath and low O2 concentrations in the centre of the seed at the position of the embryo. In light, photosynthesis in the seed sheath increased O2 availability in central parts of the seed enabling enhanced respiratory energy generation for biosynthetic activity. Early-stage seedlings also displayed photosynthetic capacity in hypocotyl and cotyledonary tissues, which may be beneficial for seedling establishment. Sheath O2 production is important for alleviating intra-seed hypoxic stress, which might increase endosperm storage activity, improving the conditions for successful seed maturation and germination.

Original languageEnglish
JournalNew Phytologist
Volume239
Issue number4
Number of pages15
ISSN0028-646X
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2023

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2023 The Authors. New Phytologist © 2023 New Phytologist Foundation.

Keywords

  • microenvironment
  • photosynthesis
  • respiration
  • seagrass
  • seed

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