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ARS Home » Midwest Area » East Lansing, Michigan » Sugarbeet and Bean Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #60744
Title: USE OF NMR SPECTROSCOPY AND MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING FOR SELECTION OF GERMINABLE JUGLANS NIGRA L. SEEDS

Author
item VOZZO, J - USDA, FS
item Halloin, John
item COOPER, T - MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERISTY

Submitted to: Seed Science and Technology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/18/1996
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: Black walnut seeds are large and require several months of cold treatment for germination; however, many seeds fail to germinate following this treatment, and prior seed selection to enhance potential germination of seed lots is desired. Experiments were done to determine if germination enhancement can be achieved through use of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to aid in selection of germinable seeds. Both NMR spectroscopy and MRI were effective for detecting seeds that lacked embryos and therefore could not germinate. NMR spectroscopy showed that most seeds contained both water and lipids; some seeds, however contained little lipid, and consistently failed to germinate. Seeds containing abundant lipids yielded more intense MRI images than those lacking lipids. Either NMR spectroscopy or MRI can be used as selection tools to enhance germination potential of walnut seed lots.

Technical Abstract: Black walnut (Juglans nigra L.) seeds are large and require stratification for germination. However, many seeds fail to germinate following stratification, and prior seed selection to enhance potential germination of seed lots is desired. Radiography can be used to select empty seeds. This paper presents the results of experiments to determine if germination enhancement can be achieved through use of NMR spectroscopy of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Both NMR spectroscopy and MRI were as effective as radiography for detecting empty seeds. NMR spectroscopy before stratification showed that most seeds gave proton spectral peaks for both water and lipids; some seeds, however showed no major lipid peak, and consistently fail to germinate following stratification. NMR spectra of seeds following stratification were similar to those obtained before stratification. Results of MRI experiments mirrored those of spectroscopy experiments; seeds lacking large amounts of lipid produced images with very low intensity, relative to those containing abundant lipid. Images of all embryos were more intense following stratification. Among seeds containing large amounts of lipid produced images with very low intensity, relative to those containing abundant lipid. Images of all embryos were more intense following stratification. Among seeds containing large amounts of lipid, germinable seeds were indistinguishable from nongerminable ones by either method. Either NMR spectroscopy or MRI can be used to enhance germination potential of walnut seed lots; the major advantage of MRI over spectroscopy is that it allows simultaneous evaluation of many seeds.