Changes in carbohydrates,amino acids and proteins in developing seed of chickpea

Developing seeds of chickpea cultivars G-130, L-550 and 850-3/27 grown under field conditions were sampled at different stages of maturity and analysed for soluble sugars, starch, soluble nitrogen, protein nitrogen and amino acids. Fr. wt of seeds of all three cultivars decreased after 28 days of flowering while the dry wt continued to increase. Rapid starch accumulation was observed between 14 and 28 days after flowering. Starch as per cent of seed dry wt started to decrease after 28 days, while starch per seed increased till maturity. The percentage of salt-soluble proteins decreased with maturation of seed. The electrophoretic pattern revealed that deposition of seed storage protein in cotyledons occurred 14 days after flowering. Most of the biochemical activity apparently occurred between 14 and 28 days after flowering.     

Lipid biosynthesis in seeds of mustard (Brassica juncea) influenced by zinc and sulphur deficiency

In developing seeds of mustard ( Brassica juncea L. cv. RLM 198) the period between 20 and 30 days after fertilization (DAF) was identified as the period of active lipid biosynthesis, although dry matter continued to accumulate until maturity. The period of lipid synthesis was associated with a decrease in starch, soluble sugars and protein, thus, giving rise to precursors for the biosynthesis of lipids. Besides decreasing the dry matter content (on both % and seed basis), Zn and S deficiency caused a significant ( P > 0.05) reduction in oil content. As compared to control, the decrease in oil content was 11, 12 and 18% at 30 DAF and 4, 9 and 16% at maturity in Zn, S and (Zn+S) deficient treatments, respectively. Throughout the period of seed development, a significant decrease in starch and protein with a slight accumulation of soluble sugars was observed due to deficiency of Zn or S. The rate of [l-¹⁴C]-acetate incorporation into total lipids, which was maximal at 30 DAF, also displayed a significant decrease due to the abovementioned mineral deficiencies. Addition of Zn or S in vitro, enhanced the lipid synthesis at all stages of seed development. Under Zn and S deficiency, the phospholipids increased from 10 to 30 DAF and then declined until maturity. However, the proportion of glycolipids and free fatty acids increased, with a corresponding decrease in total glycerides. Further, in deficiency treatments, there was an increase in 22:1 with a corresponding decrease in 18:1, 18:2 and 18:3 in developing and mature mustard seeds.     

山黧豆胚胎发育过程中ODAP和一些大分子物质含量的变化

应用微量分析方法检测了山黧豆胚胎发育过程中ODAP毒素含量和核酸、蛋白质、糖类等大分子物质含量变化。结果表明：每粒种子的ODAP含量随着胚的发育而增加。每粒种子DNA量随着细胞的迅速分裂而增加,R、蛋白质、淀粉含量随着胚的发育而成倍地增加,当进入心形胚时这些物质的增加更为迅速。如以每克干重中的含量来表示,那么ODAP,DNA及可溶性糖含量则随胚的发育而下降,其它大分子物质含量在胚发育前期升高;进入心形胚时,这些物质达到最高峰;到鱼雷胚时,这些物质含量开始下降;直到胚基本分化完全时,降到最低点;只有酸性蛋白质含量一直保持增长。     

山黧豆胚胎发育过程中ODAP和一些大分子物质含量的变化

应用微量分析方法检测了山黧豆胚胎发育过程中ODAP毒素含量和核酸、蛋白质、糖类等大分子物质的含量变化。结果表明:每粒种子的ODAP含量随着胚的发育而增加。每粒种子DNA量随着细胞的迅速分裂而增加,R、蛋白质、淀粉含量随着胚的发育而成倍地增加,当进入心形胚时这些物质的增加更为迅速。如以每克干重中的含量来表示,那么ODAP、DNA及可溶性糖含量则随胚的发育而下降,其它大分子物质含量在胚发育前期升高,进入心形胚时,这些物质达到最高峰;到鱼雷胚时,这些物质含量开始下降,直到胚基本分化完全时,降到最低点;只有酸性蛋白质含量一直保持增长。     

Changes in the Levels of Total Soluble Proteins and Sugars During Leaf Ontogeny in Stevia rebaudiana Bert.

Leaf d. wt and the levels of soluble sugars and proteins showa two-phase development during leaf growth in Stevia rebaudiana.The initial large increases in leaf size are due mainly to waterintake up to an area of around 9–10 cm². Increases inabsolute protein content were initially slow though in the secondphase increased it rapidly with dry matter and soluble sugarcontent. In relative terms, however, the concentration of free sugarsdeclined throughout leaf growth. The data indicate that leafprotein synthesis is most probably dependent upon a carbon supplyfrom in situ photo synthesis which only becomes significantat 80 per cent of full leaf area. Stevia rebaudiana Bert., leaf ontogeny, protein content, sugar content     

An integrated overview of seed development in Arabidopsis thaliana ecotype WS

This work is part of a research program aiming at identifying and studying genes involved in Arabidopsis thaliana seed maturation. We focused here on the Wassilewskija ecotype seed development and linked physiological and biochemical data, including protein, oil, soluble sugars, starch and free amino acid measurements, to embryo development, to obtain a complete and thorough reference data set. A. thaliana seed development can be divided into three stages. During early embryogenesis (i.e. morphogenesis), seed weight and lipid content were low whereas important amounts of starch were transiently accumulated. In the second stage, or maturation phase, a rapid increase in seed dry weight was observed and storage oils and proteins were accumulated in large quantities, accounting for approximately 40% of dry matter each at the end of this stage. During the third and last stage (late maturation including acquisition of desiccation tolerance), seed dry weight remained constant while an acute loss of water took place in the seed. Storage compound synthesis ended concomitantly with sucrose, stachyose and raffinose accumulation. This study revealed the occurrence of metabolic activities such as protein synthesis, in the final phase of embryo desiccation. A striking correlation between peaks in hexose to sucrose ratio and transition phases during embryogenesis was observed.     

Biochemical changes during seed development in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pinus taeda</Emphasis> L.

Amino acids, polyamines, 3-indoleacetic acid (IAA), abscisic acid (ABA), buffer-soluble protein and starch contents and dry matter accumulation were analyzed in megagametophytes containing developing embryos during seed development in Pinus taeda. The highest total amino acids and polyamine contents occurred at the cotyledonary stage, followed by a significant decrease in the mature seed. Free polyamines exhibited higher levels than conjugated ones, with putrescine being the predominant type until the cotyledonary stage, and spermidine at the mature seed stage. IAA content increased continually from the globular stage reaching the maximum at the cotyledonary stage, followed by a decrease in the mature seed. The highest ABA level occurred at the globular stage, followed by a continuous reduction until stabilization at the pre-cotyledonary stage. Buffer-soluble protein and starch contents, and dry matter increased progressively during development, reaching their maximum values at the mature stage.     

Changes in water content, sugars and invertase activity in developing seeds of Hibiscus esculentum

Seeds of Hibiscus esculentum were analyzed for growth, in terms of fresh and dry weights, cell size, water content, reducing and non-reducing sugars and acid invertase activity. On the basis of growth analysis seed development is divided into four distinct phases of a) cell division, d) cell elongation, c) dry matter accumulation and, d) maturation. A close parallel with water content and cell size was observed. A peak level of reducing sugars was observed during the rapid elongation growth. The role of invertase in hydrolyzing sugars and its regulation of sink development is discussed.     

Influence of paclobutrazol on growth and development of fruit in Brassica juncea (L.) Czern and Coss

Foliar spraying of paclobutrazol(5, 10 and 20 g mL^–1) on Brassica juncea (cv. RLM 514) plants, at the green floral bud stage of the terminal inflorescence, exerted a profound effect on growth and metabolism of fruits (siliquae). Paclobutrazol caused a decrease in siliqua length but enhanced significantly siliqua width, seed size (diameter) and seed number per siliqua. Paclobutrazol increased dry matter production and also hastened the relative growth rate of the siliqua wall and seed. In paclobutrazol-treated plants the siliquae were darker green, and during active phases of growth both siliqua wall and seed exhibited higher total chlorophyll (Chl) content, decreased chl a/b ratios, greater hill reaction activity of chloroplasts and increased activities of -amylase, -amylase and invertase than controls. Paclobutrazol enhanced the levels of total soluble sugars, starch, protein and free amino acids in mature seeds. The seed oil content increased by 2 to 3 per cent with a treatment of 10 g mL^–1 pacolobutrazol.     

Some Morphological and Chemical Characteristics of Developing Fruits of Raphia hookeri

Ndon, B. A. 1985. Some morphological and chemical characteristicsof developing fruits of Raphia hookeri.—J. exp. Bot. 36:1817–1830. Fruits which were at different stages of development were randomlysampled from different inflorescences of Raphia hookeri palms.The morphological characteristics and chemical (the dry matter,lipid and carbohydrate) contents of the exocarp and seeds weredetermined. The results showed that the seed length, circumferenceand volume were optimal at 24 months after pollination whichindicates that Raphia seeds attained maximum size at that period.The seed endosperm was liquid or semi-liquid between 6–18months after pollination but became solid with a prominent embryoat 24 months. The seed dry matter was low at the early stagesof development but there was a rapid increase in seed dry weightat 18–33 months after pollination. The seeds were physiologicallymatured at 30–33 months after pollination, while the exocarpmatured at 24–30 months after pollination. The Raphia seeds were low in lipid (about 2%) compared to theexocarp which had 30–40% lipid at full maturity. Maximumamount of lipid was accumulated within the exocarp at 36–42months after pollination and this period indicates the timefor harvesting Raphia fruits for maximum oil which is probablythe most economic part of the fruit. The total sugar concentration increased in the exocarp withincrease in maturity. Conversely the concentration of sugarsdecreased within the seeds as the fruit matured. Maximum totalsugar concentration (about 309 mg g^–1 dry fat free sample)was found in the exocarp at 36–42 months after pollination.Mature seeds at 48 months after pollination had about 50 mgof total sugars per g of fat free sample. There was insignificantaccumulation of starch in the exocarp. The mature seeds werelow in starch (5–10% of the dry weight). Key words: Raphia hookeri, development, fruit     

Biochemical changes in developing seeds of pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan)

Soluble sugars, starch, soluble nitrogen and protein nitrogen were studied in developing seeds of 3 cultivars of pigeonpea. When expressed on a per seed basis soluble sugars increased up to 35 days after flowering and then declined slightly. Rapid starch accumulation was observed between 14 and 28 days after flowering. The levels of soluble nitrogen and protein nitrogen underwent rapid changes during the same period. Amino-acid composition of seed protein was also studied at different stages of maturation. Sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of salt-soluble proteins revealed that seed storage globulins are formed after 14 days of flowering and do not change much during later stages of maturation.     

Gas exchange and leaf metabolism of irrigated maize at different growth stages

Abstract

Net ecosystem exchange (NEE), leaf gas exchange and biochemical traits were investigated in an irrigated maize crop grown under Mediterranean conditions. Sub-optimal irrigation water supply determined a drought stress during the early vegetative growth stage (45–49 days after swing) that decreased NEE. Drought, in the late vegetative stage, also caused a reduction of leaf gas exchange. In the latter period, proline, glycine and serine, as well as sucrose leaf contents increased, while starch, proteins and glucose contents decreased. In the early reproductive stage, the crop experienced a longer dry spell that induced a reduction in canopy as well as in leaf gas exchanges, while protein and free amino acid contents decreased with respect to the late vegetative stage. Both ecophysiological and biochemical data demonstrate a good capacity of cultivar Pioneer PR32D99 to endure the environmental stress, related to Mediterranean summer drought, leading to an elevated dry matter yield at harvest. Photosynthetic apparatus appeared fairly resistant to soil water shortage due likely to the increased leaf content of organic solutes, such as amino acids and soluble sugars.     

Effect of CO2-Concentration on the Accumulation of Starch and Sugar in Tomato Leaves

The carbohydrate content (starch, glucose and sucrose) in tomato plants grown in air Containing 0.04, 0.10, 0.15, 0.22, 0.32, or 0.50 vol. per cent CO₂ was studied at 2 hours’ intervals over a period of 24 hours. The highest starch content was found at 0.22 vol. per cent CO₂, while the highest content of soluble sugars were reached at a concentration of 0.10 vol. per cent CO₂. A few observations of the morphogenic effects of carbon dioxide were also made.     

THE EFFECT OF INFECTION WITH BEET YELLOWS AND BEET MOSAIC VIRUSES ON THE CARBOHYDRATE CONTENT OF SUGAR-BEET LEAVES, AND ON TRANSLOCATION

The loss of total carbohydrate (sugars and starch) per cent of residual dry matter (dry matter less total carbohydrate) during a period of darkness from leaves of sugar-beet plants infected with yellows virus was as great as that from the leaves of healthy plants. The conclusion of previous workers, based on the results of the Sachs iodine test for starch and the occurrence of 'phloem gummosis' in infected plants, that starch accumulates in infected leaves because translocation is prevented by blockage of the sieve-tubes, is therefore incorrect.
Older leaves of infected plants had a higher content of reducing sugars and sucrose, and usually but not invariably of starch, both at the beginning and end of the dark period, than comparable leaves of healthy plants. By far the greater part of the increase was in reducing sugars. In leaves taken in late September from infected plants growing in the field, 20 % or more of the total dry matter was present as reducing sugars. The reducing sugars in both healthy and yellows-infected leaves were shown by paper chromatography to be glucose and fructose in approximately equal amounts.
Accumulation of carbohydrate in infected leaves is probably not a passive consequence of differences in carbohydrate production, distribution and utilization, but is attributable to changes in the physiology of the cells of the leaf.
The carbohydrate content of sugar-beet leaves was little affected by infection with beet mosaic virus.
Yellows-infected leaves had a lower water content per cent of fresh weight than healthy leaves. This was accounted for by the higher carbohydrate content of infected leaves, for the ratio of water: residual dry matter was not affected by infection or was slightly reduced. This implies that hydration was independent of carbohydrate content.     

Seasonal Variations in the Carbohydrates in the Xylem of Antiaris africana

The xylem of Antiaris africana contains sucrose, starch, glucose,fructose, maltose, and raffinose. Sucrose and starch are themost abundant carbohydrates. Glucose and fructose occur in relativelyequal amounts while maltose and raffinose are the least abundant.Raffinose disappears from the xylem during the dry season, justbefore leaf fall. The pattern of seasonal variation in the individualsugars and starch is similar. There is generally a peak at leaffall and a depletion of these reserves at new flush. Accumulationof carbohydrates during leaf fall occurs first in the youngestxylem (i.e. the 0–2-cm segment). The youngest xylem alsoaccumulates the greatest amount of reserve sugars and starch.The concentrations of the sugars decrease inwards until theybegin to rise after the 4–6-cm segment. There is, however,no such rise in the concentration of starch. The dry-mattercontents increase inwards from the youngest xylem until theylevel out after the 4–6-cm segment. There is a rapid fallin the sucrose and starch contents of felled A. africana. Sucrosedropped by about 65 per cent and starch by about 73 per centin the first 10 days after felling. The levels of other sugarsdecreased gradually except for glucose and fructose which initiallyrose and then fell. Glucose and maltose could still be detectedon the 68th day after felling.     

The Development of Desiccation-tolerance and Maximum Seed Quality During Seed Maturation in Six Grain Legumes

‘Physiological maturity’, i.e. the time when seedsreach their maximum dry weight during development, occurredwhen maturation drying on the parent plant in the field hadreduced seed moisture content to approximately 60 per cent infaba bean (Vicia faba L.), lentil (Lens culinaris Medic.), chickpea(Cicer arietinum L.), white lupin (Lupinus albus L.), soya bean(Glycine max [L.] Merr.) and pea (Pisum sativum L.) The onsetof desiccation-tolerance, i.e. the ability of seeds to germinatefollowing harvest and rapid artificial drying, coincided withphysiological maturity, except in pea where it occurred a littleearlier at about 70 per cent moisture content. Maximum seedquality as determined by maximum viability, minimum seedlingabnormalities and maximum seedling size occurred in pea, chickpeaand lupin when seeds were harvested for rapid drying at physiologicalmaturity; but for maximum seed quality in the other speciesmaturation drying had to proceed further - to about 45 per centmoisture content in soya bean and to about 30 per cent moisturecontent in lentil and faba bean seed crops. Much of this variationamongst the six species, however, was due to differences inthe variation in maturity within each seed crop. Results forindividual pods showed that peak maturity, i.e. maximum seedquality following harvest and rapid artificial drying, was achievedin all six species once maturation drying had reduced the moisturecontent of the seeds to 45–50 per cent. In pea, faba beanand soya bean there was a substantial decline in viability andan increase in seedling abnormalities when harvest was delayedbeyond the optimal moisture content for harvest.     

Changes in oligosaccharide content and antioxidant enzyme activities in developing bean seeds as related to acquisition of drying tolerance and seed quality.

Seeds of bean (Phaseolus vulgaris cv. Vernel) were collected throughout their development on the plant and dried at 15 degrees C and 75% relative humidity to a final moisture content of about 16% (fresh weight basis) to determine whether the onset of tolerance to this drying condition was related to changes in soluble sugars or the activities of the main antioxidant enzymes, namely superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), and glutathione reductase (GR). Measurements of soluble sugars and enzyme activities were made after drying the seeds, and drying tolerance was evaluated by the ability of dried seeds to germinate and to produce normal seedlings. Seeds became tolerant to drying at 45 d after anthesis, a time marking physiological maturity. At physiological maturity, the moisture content of seeds was about 50-55% (fresh weight basis) and seed dry matter reached about 190 mg per seed. Seed vigour, evaluated by controlled deterioration and conductivity measurements, continued to increase after seed mass maturity, but decreased when seeds remained thereafter for more than 7 d on the plant. Acquisition of drying tolerance was coincident with an accumulation of raffinose and stachyose. Dried-tolerant seeds were also characterized by a high amount of sucrose, the most abundant sugar, and by a low content of monosaccharides. The (raffinose+stachyose)/sucrose ratio increased during seed filling, reaching a value close to 1 when all the seeds became tolerant to drying, and maintaining this proportion during the final stages of maturation. Acquisition of drying tolerance was also related to a reorientation of the enzymatic antioxidant defence system. Drying-tolerant dried seeds displayed high CAT and GR activities and low SOD and APX activities, while the opposite condition was observed in immature dried seeds. The shift in antioxidant enzymes corresponded to the beginning of the maturation-drying phase. These results suggest that oligosaccharide metabolism and enzymatic antioxidant defences may be involved in acquisition of drying tolerance during bean seed development, but are not related to seed vigour.     

Seed Nutrient Reserves of Proteaceae with Special Reference to Protein Bodies and their Inclusions

The storage reserves of seeds of a wide taxonomic range of Proteaceaewere examined by chemical analyses for macronutrients, proteinand non-protein-N composition, by light microscopy of cotyledonarytissue for morphological and histochemical study of proteinbodies and their inclusions, and by X-ray point microanalysisfor determining the elemental composition of the various typesof inclusions. The 70 species from 30 genera showed higher levelsof N, P and Mg but not of Ca and K in seed dry matter in comparisonwith a similarly sized sample of non-proteaceous species. Small-seededProteaceae tended to have seed dry matter significantly moreenriched with minerals than large-seeded species. Protein levelsranged from 18 to 89 per cent of embryo dry weight (mean for32 species 39.5 per cent). Protein and ethanol soluble N fractionsof many species were exceptionally rich in arginine. Oil wasabundant in most species, starch universally absent. Seven typesof protein body inclusions were identified on the basis of size,shape and reaction to toluidine blue. Mineral composition ofthe inclusions differed significantly, particularly in ratiosof Ca to P and of P to S and Mg. All genera and certain speciescould be distinguished one from another on the basis of distributionand frequency of inclusion types within tissues of the cotyledonsand staining patterns of protein bodies to amido black. Thetaxonomic significance of the data is evaluated. Seed reserves, Proteaceae, protein bodies, protein body inclusions, mineral composition, taxonomy     

Enzymes involved in starch synthesis in the developing mung bean seed

The levels of free sugars, starch and enzymes involved in starch metabolism—sucrose synthetase, UDP and ADP glucose pyrophosphorylase, phosphorylase and starch synthetase—were assayed during seed development of three cultivars of mung bean (Vigna radiata). Free sugars and starch increased with increasing seed weight. Changes in levels of sucrose synthetase, UDP- and ADP-glucose pyrophosphorylases, and phosphorylase were paralleled by changes in starch accumulation. After the maximum activity levels of these enzymes had been reached, maximum activities of soluble starch synthetase and starch granule-bound starch synthetase occurred. There were high activities of sucrose synthetase and phosphorylase at maximum rates of starch accumulation. Thus, starch could be synthesized via the ADP glucose pathway in mung bean seeds. However, phosphorylase may account for the starch accumulation in the early stages of mung bean seed development.