EXPOSURE OF Teramnus labialis (LF) SPRENG SEEDS TO LIQUID NITROGEN DOES NOT AFFECT NUTRITIONAL STATUS OF FIELD GROWN ADULT PLANTS

BACKGROUND: Teramnus labialis (L.f.) Spreng is a potentially important legume species, and can be used as an animal feed and to enhance soil physicochemical characteristics. Despite the biological and agricultural importance, the low availability of seeds, their small size and the low percentage germination limit their large-scale use by farmers. We previously reported a method to cryopreserve seeds of T. labialis which also allowed for the breaking of seed dormancy. OBJECTIVE: The current study reports on the nutritional status of 5 month old field grown plants regenerated from cryostored and control seeds. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Biomass (fresh and dry mass of leaves and stems) and contents of ash, neutral detergent fiber, acid detergent fiber, lignin, cellulose, crude protein, P, Ca, Mg and K were measured. RESULTS: Seeds germinated and emerged faster following immersion in liquid nitrogen (LN) which was supported by quantitative evaluations of fresh and dry weights per m(2). However, the ratio of leaf:stem mass were not altered by seed exposure to LN. CONCLUSION: The results showed that exposure of seeds to cryogenic temperatures did not alter the nutritional composition of regenerated plants.

Automated summary

The study found that seeds of Teramnus labialis exposed to liquid nitrogen germinated and grew faster, but did not change the nutritional composition of the regenerated plants.