Abstract: Aging, both before harvest and in storage after harvest, is the major determinant of the germination level and the physiological quality, sometimes was referred to as vigor, of a seed population, or seed lot.The germination level of a lot and the vigor of the germinable seeds interact with soil conditions eventually to determine whether or not a crop will be established suc cessfully.Total RNA, Poly A⁺ RNA were determined in tall fescue embryos during germination with accelerated aging for 0, 48 and 96hr.Both total RNA and Poly A⁺ RNA contents decreased with the loss of seed viability.The synthesis of new RNA, Poly A⁺ RNA was reduced signifi cantly during germination in aging seeds than non-aging seeds..Gel electrophoresis of RNA showed that enhanced breakdown of both 25s and 18s RNA with loss of viability.It also reflected that, the decrease of germination rate of tall fescue aging seed was more due to the level of Poly A⁺ RNA than the level of total RNA.

Key words: Festuca arundinacea, RNA, Poly A⁺ RNA, Viability

摘要： 本文以高羊茅(Camarillo品种)种子为材料,采用人工加速老化的方法,对其老化过程中的RNA和PolyA⁺RNA进行研究。结果表明,随着老化种子发芽率的下降,干种子胚中的RNA、PolyA⁺RNA含量均随之下降。在严重老化的种子中,则丧失其在发芽过程中新RNA、PolyA⁺RNA的合成能力。同时大分子量的RNA降解为小分子量的RNA并丧失其完整性。研究结果表明,在高羊茅种子人工加速老化的过程中,PolyA⁺RNA含量比总量RNA对老化种子发芽率的下降起着更多的作用。

关键词: 高羊茅种子, RNA, PolyA⁺RNA, 生活力