Free sugars, amino acids, and soluble proteins in the embryo and female gametophyte of jack pine as related to climate at the seed source

Abstract

Non-stratified and dormant seeds from various geographic sources across the natural range of jack pine (Pinus banksiana Lamb.) were separated into embryo (diploid) and female gametophyte (haploid) and examined for their free sugars, free and bound amino acids, and soluble proteins. Climatic factors from not less than 8 and as many as 15 widely separated seed sources correlated well with most chemical components of the embryo and gametophyte. The composition of the dormant embryo was also highly correlated to levels of sugars and nitrogenous compounds in the female gametophyte. Climate at the seed source clearly affected the degree to which metabolism of carbon and nitrogenous compounds in the seed proceeded before and during incipient germination. Upon germination of seeds from one of the sources, the gametophyte was rapidly consumed, arginine level and protein pattern in the embryo changed, many soluble proteins disappeared and amide content increased greatly.