Isoenzyme Changes during Seed Germination of Saguaro Cactus (Carnegiea gigantea)

Esterases, acid phosphatases, leucine aminopeptidases, peroxidases and glutamic-oxalacetic transaminases from extracts made from seeds of Saguaro cactus at different stages of germination were studied using starch gelelectrophoretic techniques. In general, four of the five enzyme systems showed significant increase in the number of isoenzymes and their activity after 72 hours of germination. It is suggested that Saguaro cactus seeds reach their enzymatically most active state between 48 to 72 hours after being placed at optimum moisture conditions at 30°C in continuous light.