Cyclic voltammetry as a method for determining the viability of seeds: a case study on silver maple (Acer saccharinum L.)
Abstract Background Efficient and dependable techniques for determining seed viability are essential in agronomy, forestry, and safeguarding endangered plant species, as seeds represent the most effective way to preserve plant germplasm. Certain seeds can endure preservation for thousands of years,...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
BMC
2025-08-01
|
| Series: | BMC Plant Biology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12870-025-07137-x |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1849332637278142464 |
|---|---|
| author | Magdalena Trusiak Danuta Zielińska Paulina Luśnia Tomasz Mikołajczyk Marcin Michalak Beata P. Plitta-Michalak |
| author_facet | Magdalena Trusiak Danuta Zielińska Paulina Luśnia Tomasz Mikołajczyk Marcin Michalak Beata P. Plitta-Michalak |
| author_sort | Magdalena Trusiak |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Efficient and dependable techniques for determining seed viability are essential in agronomy, forestry, and safeguarding endangered plant species, as seeds represent the most effective way to preserve plant germplasm. Certain seeds can endure preservation for thousands of years, while others may survive only a few weeks. However, all seeds ultimately deteriorate over time during storage. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) and their imbalance with intracellular antioxidants are the primary causes of seed aging and deterioration. Consequently, developing highly effective analytical methods to measure the antioxidant capacity of stored seeds is becoming increasingly critical. This study examines the application of cyclic voltammetry (CV) using a glassy carbon electrode to characterize the antioxidant milieu in aging recalcitrant seeds of Acer saccharinum L. This is a versatile electrochemical method that can be easily applied to investigate a broad range of biological matrices because it does not require redox-active reagents to determine the total antioxidant capacity. Instead, it is explicitly based on the electrochemical behavior of antioxidants in samples and their physicochemical properties. Results Seed deterioration occurred when A. saccharinum seeds with a high moisture content (MC of 45%) were subjected to accelerated aging at 35 °C for up to 14 days. Oxidative stress and antioxidant depletion were monitored by measuring ROS levels, quantifying antioxidants through the Cu2+ reduction reaction (CUPRAC-BCA) and CV, and evaluating the glutathione half-cell reduction potential (EGSSG/2GSH). Compared with Cu2+ reduction measurements, which yielded misleading results, CV appeared to be a more reliable technique for differentiating seeds based on their total antioxidant capacity. CV measurements of 80% methanolic and 1x PBS extracts were highly correlated with seed viability, observed as total germination (R = 0.92 and 0.86, respectively, p ≤ 0.01 for both solvents). Conclusions For the first time, we demonstrated a strong correlation between the CV results on the total antioxidant capacity and viability of seeds. This finding suggests that electrochemical techniques can be a quick and efficient method for evaluating seeds prior to germination, potentially from various species. This method enhances seed viability monitoring, achieving 92% accuracy and showing species-agnostic potential, pending validation in lipid-rich seeds. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-def1b29f03f942ca97155fc7df37a4d9 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1471-2229 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-08-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Plant Biology |
| spelling | doaj-art-def1b29f03f942ca97155fc7df37a4d92025-08-20T03:46:08ZengBMCBMC Plant Biology1471-22292025-08-0125111510.1186/s12870-025-07137-xCyclic voltammetry as a method for determining the viability of seeds: a case study on silver maple (Acer saccharinum L.)Magdalena Trusiak0Danuta Zielińska1Paulina Luśnia2Tomasz Mikołajczyk3Marcin Michalak4Beata P. Plitta-Michalak5Department of Forestry and Forest Ecology, Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry, University of Warmia and Mazury in OlsztynDepartment of Chemistry, Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry, University of Warmia and Mazury in OlsztynDepartment of Chemistry, Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry, University of Warmia and Mazury in OlsztynDepartment of Chemistry, Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry, University of Warmia and Mazury in OlsztynDepartment of Forestry and Forest Ecology, Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry, University of Warmia and Mazury in OlsztynDepartment of Chemistry, Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry, University of Warmia and Mazury in OlsztynAbstract Background Efficient and dependable techniques for determining seed viability are essential in agronomy, forestry, and safeguarding endangered plant species, as seeds represent the most effective way to preserve plant germplasm. Certain seeds can endure preservation for thousands of years, while others may survive only a few weeks. However, all seeds ultimately deteriorate over time during storage. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) and their imbalance with intracellular antioxidants are the primary causes of seed aging and deterioration. Consequently, developing highly effective analytical methods to measure the antioxidant capacity of stored seeds is becoming increasingly critical. This study examines the application of cyclic voltammetry (CV) using a glassy carbon electrode to characterize the antioxidant milieu in aging recalcitrant seeds of Acer saccharinum L. This is a versatile electrochemical method that can be easily applied to investigate a broad range of biological matrices because it does not require redox-active reagents to determine the total antioxidant capacity. Instead, it is explicitly based on the electrochemical behavior of antioxidants in samples and their physicochemical properties. Results Seed deterioration occurred when A. saccharinum seeds with a high moisture content (MC of 45%) were subjected to accelerated aging at 35 °C for up to 14 days. Oxidative stress and antioxidant depletion were monitored by measuring ROS levels, quantifying antioxidants through the Cu2+ reduction reaction (CUPRAC-BCA) and CV, and evaluating the glutathione half-cell reduction potential (EGSSG/2GSH). Compared with Cu2+ reduction measurements, which yielded misleading results, CV appeared to be a more reliable technique for differentiating seeds based on their total antioxidant capacity. CV measurements of 80% methanolic and 1x PBS extracts were highly correlated with seed viability, observed as total germination (R = 0.92 and 0.86, respectively, p ≤ 0.01 for both solvents). Conclusions For the first time, we demonstrated a strong correlation between the CV results on the total antioxidant capacity and viability of seeds. This finding suggests that electrochemical techniques can be a quick and efficient method for evaluating seeds prior to germination, potentially from various species. This method enhances seed viability monitoring, achieving 92% accuracy and showing species-agnostic potential, pending validation in lipid-rich seeds.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12870-025-07137-xAcer saccharinumAntioxidant capacityCyclic voltammetryOxidative stressSeed agingSeed viability |
| spellingShingle | Magdalena Trusiak Danuta Zielińska Paulina Luśnia Tomasz Mikołajczyk Marcin Michalak Beata P. Plitta-Michalak Cyclic voltammetry as a method for determining the viability of seeds: a case study on silver maple (Acer saccharinum L.) BMC Plant Biology Acer saccharinum Antioxidant capacity Cyclic voltammetry Oxidative stress Seed aging Seed viability |
| title | Cyclic voltammetry as a method for determining the viability of seeds: a case study on silver maple (Acer saccharinum L.) |
| title_full | Cyclic voltammetry as a method for determining the viability of seeds: a case study on silver maple (Acer saccharinum L.) |
| title_fullStr | Cyclic voltammetry as a method for determining the viability of seeds: a case study on silver maple (Acer saccharinum L.) |
| title_full_unstemmed | Cyclic voltammetry as a method for determining the viability of seeds: a case study on silver maple (Acer saccharinum L.) |
| title_short | Cyclic voltammetry as a method for determining the viability of seeds: a case study on silver maple (Acer saccharinum L.) |
| title_sort | cyclic voltammetry as a method for determining the viability of seeds a case study on silver maple acer saccharinum l |
| topic | Acer saccharinum Antioxidant capacity Cyclic voltammetry Oxidative stress Seed aging Seed viability |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12870-025-07137-x |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT magdalenatrusiak cyclicvoltammetryasamethodfordeterminingtheviabilityofseedsacasestudyonsilvermapleacersaccharinuml AT danutazielinska cyclicvoltammetryasamethodfordeterminingtheviabilityofseedsacasestudyonsilvermapleacersaccharinuml AT paulinalusnia cyclicvoltammetryasamethodfordeterminingtheviabilityofseedsacasestudyonsilvermapleacersaccharinuml AT tomaszmikołajczyk cyclicvoltammetryasamethodfordeterminingtheviabilityofseedsacasestudyonsilvermapleacersaccharinuml AT marcinmichalak cyclicvoltammetryasamethodfordeterminingtheviabilityofseedsacasestudyonsilvermapleacersaccharinuml AT beatapplittamichalak cyclicvoltammetryasamethodfordeterminingtheviabilityofseedsacasestudyonsilvermapleacersaccharinuml |