Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-rdxmf Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-26T07:16:40.919Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Respiratory enzyme activities during germination in Brassica seed lots of differing vigour

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 September 2008

Mary Bettey*
Affiliation:
Horticulture Research International, Wellesbourne, Warwick, CV35 9EF, UK
W.E. Finch-Savage
Affiliation:
Horticulture Research International, Wellesbourne, Warwick, CV35 9EF, UK
*
* Correspondence

Abstract

The rate of oxygen consumption by cabbage seeds increased on imbibition and there was a further sharp increase on germination. This was delayed in artificially aged seeds of low vigour. The increases in oxygen consumption reflect the increased oxidation of carbohydrates via respiratory pathways. The activities of key regulatory enzymes of glycolysis and the oxidative pentose phosphate pathway were measured in aged and unaged seed lots of cabbage. Differences in the activities of glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase and pyrophosphate:fructose 6-phosphate 1-phosphotransferase were correlated with the rate of germination (T50) in seed lots with large differences in seed vigour induced experimentally by artificial aging. However, the activities of these enzymes could not be used to distinguish between untreated seed lots which had smaller vigour differences apparent only under stress. The enzymes are presumably not controlling and determining seed vigour, but merely reflecting actual seed performance under the current conditions.

Type
Biochemistry and Physiology
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1996

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

ap Rees, T. (1980) Integration of pathways of synthesis and degradation of hexose phosphates. pp 142 in Preiss, J. (Ed.) The biochemistry of plants. Volume 3, London, Academic Press.Google Scholar
Bewley, J.D. and Black, M. (1994) Seeds. Physiology of development and germination. 2nd edition. New York, Plenum Press.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bogatek, R., Zarska-Maciejewska, B., Sinska, I. and Lewak, S. (1989) The embryonic axis controls lipid catabolism in cotyledons of apple seeds during germination. Physiologia Plantarum 76, 557562.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Botha, F.C., Potgieter, G.P. and Botha, A.M. (1992) Respiratory metabolism and gene expression during seed germination. Plant Growth Regulation 11, 211224.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bradford, M.M. (1976) A rapid and sensitive method for the quantification of microgram quantities of protein utilizing the principle of protein dye-binding. Analytical Biochemistry 72, 248254.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Carver, M.F.F. and Matthews, S. (1975) Respiratory measurements as indicators of field emergence ability in pea. Seed Science and Technology 3, 871879.Google Scholar
Ching, T.M. (1973) Biochemical aspects of seed vigour. Seed Science and Technology 1, 7388.Google Scholar
Ching, T.M. (1972) Aging stresses on physiological and biochemical activities of crimson clover (Trifolium incarnatum L. var, Dixie) seeds. Crop Science 12, 415418.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Côme, D. and Corbineau, F. (1989) Some aspects of metabolic regulation of seed germination and dormancy. in Taylorson, R.B. (Ed.) Recent advances in the development and germination of seeds. New York, Plenum Press.Google Scholar
Côme, D., Corbineau, F. and Lecat, S. (1988) Some aspects of metabolic regulation of cereal seed germination and dormancy. Seed Science and Technology 16, 175186.Google Scholar
Coxon, D.T. and Wright, D.J. (1985) Analysis of pea lipid content by gas chromatographic and microgravimetric methods. Genotype variation in lipid content and fatty acid composition. Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture 36, 847856.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Davies, H.V. and Chapman, J.M. (1979) The control of food metabolism in seeds of Cucumis sativus L. I The influence of embryonic axis and testa on protein and lipid degradation. Planta 146, 579584.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Delouche, J.C. and Baskin, C.C. (1973) Accelerated aging techniques for predicting the relative storability of seed lots. Seed Science and Technology 1, 427452.Google Scholar
de Meillon, S., Small, J.G.C. and van der Venter, H.A. (1990a) The respiratory metabolism of Strelitzia juncea Ait. seeds: The effect of dormancy release through oxygen incubation. Journal of Experimental Botany 41, 707714.Google Scholar
de Meillon, S., van der Venter, H.A. and Small, J.G.C. (1990b) The respiratory metabolism of Strelitzia juncea Ait. seeds: The effect of dormancy release by oxygen on certain glycolytic enzyme activities and metabolite concentrations. Journal of Experimental Botany 41, 885892.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Dixon, W.L. and ap Rees, T. (1980) Identification of the regulatory steps in glycolysis in potato tubers. Phytochemistry 19, 12971301.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Dizengremel, P. and Tuquet, C. (1984) Changes in respiration and mitochondrial activities in cotyledons from imbibition to senescence. Physiologie Végétale 22, 687700.Google Scholar
Finch-Savage, W.E. (1995) Influence of seed quality on crop establishment, growth and yield, pp 361384 in Basra, A.S. (Ed.) Seed quality. Basic mechanisms and agricultural implications. USA, Haworth Press.Google Scholar
Folch, J., Lees, M. and Sloane-Stanley, G.H. (1957) A simple method for the isolation and purification of total lipides from animal tissues. Journal of Biological Chemistry 226, 497509.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Geigenberger, P. and Stitt, M. (1991) Regulation of carbon partitioning between sucrose and nitrogen assimilation in cotyledons of germinating Ricinus communis L. seedlings. Planta 185, 563568.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Gutiérrez, G., Cruz, F., Moreno, J. and González-Hernández, V.A. (1993) Natural and artificial seed aging in maize: germination and DNA synthesis. Seed Science Research 3, 279285.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hall, R.D. and Wiesner, L.E. (1990) Relationship between seed vigour tests and field performance of ‘Regar’ meadow bromegrass. Crop Science 30, 967970.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
ISTA (1993) International rules for seed testing. Seed Science and Technology 21, (supplement).Google Scholar
Kacser, H. and Porteous, J.W. (1987) Control of metabolism: what do we have to measure? Trends in Biochemical Science 12, 514.Google Scholar
Kruger, N.J., Kombrink, E. and Beevers, H. (1983) Pyrophosphate: fructose 6–phosphate phosphotransferase in germinating castor bean seedlings. FEBS Letters 153, 409412.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Leprince, O., Bronchart, R. and Deltour, R. (1990) Changes in starch and soluble sugars in relation to the acquisition of desiccation tolerance during maturation of Brassica campestris seed. Plant Cell and Environment 13, 539546.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Melethiou-Christou, M.S., Diamantoglou, S. and Mitrakos, K. (1990) Analysis of lipids of Citrullus lanatus (cv. Sugar Baby) during seed germination and seedling growth. Journal of Experimental Botany 41, 14551460.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Paul, M., Sonnewald, U., Hajirezaei, M., Dennis, D. and Stitt, M. (1995) Transgenic tobacco plants with strongly decreased expression of pyrophosphate: fructose-6-phosphate 1-phosphotransferase do not differ significantly from wild type in photosynthate partitioning, plant growth or their ability to cope with limiting phosphate, limiting nitrogen and suboptimal temperatures. Planta 196, 277283.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Perino, C. and Côme, D. (1991) Physiological and metabolical study of the germination phases in apple embryo. Seed Science and Technology 19, 114.Google Scholar
Perry, D.A. (1978) Report of the vigour test committee 1974–1977. Seed Science and Technology 6, 159181.Google Scholar
Petruzzelli, L. and Carella, G. (1983) The effect of ageing conditions on loss of viability in wheat (T. durum). Journal of Experimental Botany 34, 221225.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Podestá, F.E. and Plaxton, W.C. (1994) Regulation of cytosolic carbon metabolism in germinating Ricinus communis cotyledons. I. Developmental profiles for the activity, concentration and molecular structure of the pyrophosphate- and ATP-dependent phosphofructokinases, phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase and pyruvate kinase. Planta 194, 374380.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Powell, A.A. and Matthews, S. (1984) Application of the controlled deterioration vigour test to detect seed lots of Brussels sprouts with low potential for storage under commercial conditions. Seed Science Technology 12, 649657.Google Scholar
Priestley, D.A. (1986) Seed aging. Ithaca, New York, Comstock Publ. Assoc.Google Scholar
Priestley, D.A. and Leopold, A.C. (1983) Lipid changes during natural ageing of soybean seeds. Physiologia Plantarum 59, 467470.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Qouta, L.A., Waldron, K.W., Baydoun, E.A.-H., Brett, C.T. (1991) Changes in seed reserves and cell wall composition of component organs during germination of cabbage (Brassica oleracea) seeds. Journal of Plant Physiology 138, 700707.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Salama, A.M. and Pearce, R.S. (1993) Ageing of cucumber and onion seeds: phospholipase D, lipoxygenase activity and changes in phospholipid content. Journal of Experimental Botany 44, 12531265.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Te Krony, D.M. and Egli, D.B. (1991) Relationship of seed vigour to crop yield: a review. Crop Science 31, 816822.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Thomas, S.M. and ap Rees, T. (1972) Glycolysis during gluconeogenesis in cotyledons of Cucurbita pepo. Phytochemistry 11, 21872194.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Vimala, Y. (1984) Changes in certain enzymes accompanying natural and induced loss of seed viability. Journal of the Indian Botanical Society 63, 6168.Google Scholar
Woodstock, L.W. and Feeley, J. (1965) Early seedling growth and initial respiration rates as potential indicators of seed vigour in corn. Proceedings of the Association of Officicial Seed Analysts 55, 131139.Google Scholar
Woodstock, L.W. and Grabe, D.F. (1967) Relationships between seed respiration during imbibition and subsequent seedling growth in Zea mays L. Plant Physiology 42, 10711076.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Woodstock, L.W., Furman, K. and Solomos, T. (1984) Changes in respiratory metabolism during aging in seeds and isolated axes of soybean. Plant and Cell Physiology 25, 1526.Google Scholar
Zalewski, K. (1992) The metabolism of aged seeds. The involvement of the pentose phosphate pathway in respiration in germinating rye grains of various ages. Acta Societatis Botanicorum Poloniae 61, 167175.CrossRefGoogle Scholar