Eugenia spp. (Myrtaceae) seeds and their new concepts about propagation

ABSTRACT

The standard behavior expected for seeds, whether by inexpert or even experts on the subject, is that of a dry structure that, when placed in a medium with sufficient water availability, germinates and produces a new plant, thus perpetuating the species. However, there is a huge number of species with recalcitrant seeds which the behavior is totally different. They cannot be dried, are shed moist in the environment and, along the evolution of the species, have developed alternative systems to guarantee their propagation. In this review, we seek to demonstrate one of the most complex and interesting systems for the preservation of species with recalcitrant seeds, focusing on species of the genus Eugenia, of the Myrtaceae family. Both the ability to regenerate embryos from cotyledonary tissues and the extremely efficient control in not wasting reserve material are addressed, avoiding simultaneous germination in the same seed. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) seem to be involved in this control, which are also reviewed in this article.

Keywords:
ecological strategy; reactive oxygen species; recalcitrant seeds