Effect of Accelerated Aging of Borage (Borago officinalis L.) Seeds on Seed Reproduction and Biochemical Content

Optimization of seed storage protocols is of great importance for their short and long-time conservation in Genbanks. Seeds containing oil are very sensitive to changes in moisture and temperature during storage. Thus, the work aimed to evaluate the effect of seed storage temperature and moisture content on germination, growth, and biochemical characteristics of Borago officinalis seedlings. The treatments included five levels of seed moisture (5, 10, 15, 20, 25%) and eight temperature levels (10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40 and 45 °C) and 12 storage levels (7, 14, 21, 28, 35, 42, 49, 56, 63, 70, 77 and 84 days). The results showed that, with increasing storage time, both proline levels and peroxidase activity increased. It was determined that at 25°C, peroxidase enzyme activity was highest at the beginning of storage (28 days), but as adverse conditions persisted, activity decreased significantly. The lowest proline level was observed at 15 °C and 25% humidity on the 28th day of storage. Based on the results, as storage time, storage temperature, and seed moisture content increase, the quality of Borago officinalis seedlings decreases. Since these seeds contain oil, optimal storage time and conditions must be maintained for their maximum quality. A better understanding of the mechanisms underlying seed ageing is necessary to identify optimal storage conditions for estimating seed longevity.