Salt Stress Induced Changes in Growth and Enzyme Activities in Germinating Phaseolus Mungo Seeds

NaCl salt stress induced changes in growth and enzyme activities in blackgram (Phaseolus mungo L.) seeds during germination were studied. A decrease in germination percentage, root length, shoot length, and fresh mass was noticed with an increase in NaCl concentration. With the increase in NaCl concentration and duration of stress proline content increased and catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POX) and polyphenol oxidase (PPO) activities decreased.     

Accumulation of Vacuolar H+-Pyrophosphatase and H+-ATPase during Reformation of the Central Vacuole in Germinating Pumpkin Seeds

Protein storage vacuoles were examined for the induction of H+-pyrophosphatase (H+-PPase), H+-ATPase, and a membrane integral protein of 23 kD after seed germination. Membranes of protein storage vacuoles were prepared from dry seeds and etiolated cotyledons of pumpkin (Cucurbita sp.). Membrane vesicles from etiolated cotyledons had ATP- and pyrophosphate-dependent H+-transport activities. H+-ATPase activity was sensitive to nitrate and bafilomycin, and H+-PPase activity was stimulated by potassium ion and inhibited by dicyclohexylcarbodiimide. The activities of both enzymes increased after seed germination. On immunoblot analysis, the 73-kD polypeptide of H+-PPase and the two major subunits, 68 and 57 kD, of vacuolar H+-ATPase were detected in the vacuolar membranes of cotyledons, and the levels of the subunits of enzymes increased parallel to those of enzyme activities. Small amounts of the subunits of the enzymes were detected in dry cotyledons. Immunocytochemical analysis of the cotyledonous cells with anti-H+-PPase showed the close association of H+-PPase to the membranes of protein storage vacuoles. In endosperms of castor bean (Ricinus communis), both enzymes and their subunits increased after germination. Furthermore, the vacuolar membranes from etiolated cotyledons of pumpkin had a polypeptide that cross-reacted with antibody against a 23-kD membrane protein of radish vacuole, VM23, but the membranes of dry cotyledons did not. The results from this study suggest that H+-ATPase, H+-PPase, and VM23 are expressed and accumulated in the membranes of protein storage vacuoles after seed germination. Overall, the findings indicate that the membranes of protein storage vacuoles are transformed into those of central vacuoles during the growth of seedlings.     

Distribution of Physiological Activities in the Cotyledons of Germinating Seeds

From autoradiographical experiments on water-imbibing pea (Pisum sativum) or Phaseolus mungo cotyledons supplied with glucose-¹⁴C or iodoacetic acid-¹⁴C, it was shown that the compounds did not penetrate into the innermost part of the cotyledons but remained in the peripheral region during the early germination period. Changes in the rates of incorporation of ¹⁴C into alcohol from glucose-¹⁴C were examined during the early period of germination, and it was concluded that glucose supplied exo-genously was actively metabolized in the peripheral region. Endogenous alcohol formation was supposed to occur mainly in the peripheral region in the early phases of germination. On the basis of these results, the heterogeneity of the distribution of physiological activities in the cotyledon is discussed.     

Heat Shock Induced Lipid Changes and Solute Leakage in Germinating Seeds of Pigeonpea

Heat shock (HS) reduced total lipid and phospholipid contents and their synthesis in germinating seeds of pigeonpea [Cajanus cajan (L.) Millspaugh]. Lipid peroxidation was also enhanced with increasing temperature and HS duration. HS influenced lipid metabolism to a higher extent at 45°C than at 40°C. This altered lipid metabolism and lipid peroxidation was associated with the loss of various solutes from the germinating seeds, and modification of growth and development. Pretreatment of germinating seeds at 40°C for 1 h or at 45°C for 10 min followed by incubation at 28°C for 3 h prior to 45°C for 2 h ameliorated solute leakage due to reduced lipid peroxidation and improvement in lipid content and membrane function.     

Impact of Lead and Cadmium on Enzyme of Citric Acid Cycle in Germinating Pea Seeds

The present investigations were conducted to ascertain the influence of Pb₂₊ and Cd₂₊ both individually and in combination on selected enzymes of tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle. All the enzymes of TCA cycle examined (-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase, isocitrate dehydrogenase, succinate dehydrogenase, malate dehydrogenase) were affected deleteriously by Pb₂₊ as well as Cd₂₊ and these metals in combination gave more or less an additive effect.     

Changes in the Activity of Acetyl CoA Carboxylase in Germinating and Ripening Sunflower Seeds

Activity of acetyl CoA carboxylase was determined in germinating and maturing sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) cv. Rum Sun Record seeds. A constant decrease was observed in germi nating embryos. Exposure of etioplasts to light intensity of 500 (74 mW . cm^?2) lux for different time intervals decreased the activity of the enzyme in the embryos. A reverse trend was observed in ripening embryos where the ATP-Pi exchange rate was found to be directly correlated to the activity of acetyl CoA carboxylase.     

Fat Metabolism in Higher Plants. XXXVII. Characterization of the beta-Oxidation Systems From Maturing and Germinating Castor Bean Seeds

In the maturing castor bean seed (Ricinus communis), maximum β-oxidation appears at 28 days after flowering and in the germinating seed, 4 days after germination. Highest specific activities for both β-oxidation systems and their component enzymes are associated with cytosomal particles banding at a density of 1.25 g/ml in a sucrose gradient. Substrate specificity studies indicate that of several fatty acids, ricinoleate is oxidized most rapidly by the preparation from the maturing seed (28 days after flowering) while palmitate and linoleate are oxidized most rapidly by extracts obtained from tissue germinated for 4 days. The β-oxidation activities observed in both systems reflect the expression of activity of at least 3 of the component enzymes, crotonase, β-hydroxyacyl dehydrogenase and β-keto-thiolase, which rise and fall co-ordinately. Acyl thiokinase does not appear to play a limiting role in regulating β-oxidation per se under the conditions employed here.     

Stronium Mobility in Germinating Seeds and Plants

The uptake of strontium in the bean plant (Phaseolus vulgaris) was linear for the first 34 hr during continuous exposure to radiostrontium. After 35 hr there was a sharp increase in the rate of uptake to 48 hr. Radioactivity could be detected in the plant as early as 1 hr after addition of radiostrontium to the growth medium.     

Synthesis of Canavalin and Concanavalin A in Maturing Canavalia gladiata Seeds

In successive stages of seed development of Canavalia gladiata,seeds were harvested, and time-course changes of the accumulationof canavalin and concanavalin A (Con A) were investigated bySDS-gel electrophoresis and protein blot analysis. Results showedthat the synthesis of both seed proteins started as early as30 days after flowering (DAF) and that they had different accumulationpatterns during seed development. The synthesis and accumulationof canavalin were most active at SOSO DAF, whereas the contentof Con A continued to increase gradually until the seed maturationwas nearly completed (80 DAF). Next, an RNA fraction was preparedfrom seeds of 40 DAF, translated in a wheat germ system andits translation products analyzed by the immunoprecipitationand SDS-gel electrophoresis. The mol wt (about 48,000) of thein vitro product immunoprecipitated with the antiserum to canavalinwas very closed to that of canavalin. The mol wt (34,000) ofthe in vitro product immunoprecipitated with the antiserum toCon A was about 4,000 higher than that of Con A. Canavalin-mRNAwas present as early as at 30 DAF and its translational activitywas the highest at 35–40 DAF. Con A-mRNA was also detectedat 30 DAF and, in contrast to canavalin-mRNA, high activitieswere maintained until 75 DAF. (Received November 25, 1986; Accepted January 29, 1987)     

水稻胚乳甲壳素结合蛋白(ES-CBP)在发育种子中的组织专一性累积及其在萌发时的降解(英文)

免设印迹表明,水稻 ES—CBP(en—dosperm chitin—binding Protein)是胚乳专一性蛋白。蛋白休用NaCl提取后再用TritonX—100提取,所得的两个组份在作免疫印迹时,均能与抗ES—CBP的抗血清起反应,表明这种细胞器的衬质(matrix)和膜部分部有ES—CBP存在。免疫印迹还表明,在开花后7d(7DPA)的水稻种于胚乳中已经累积了相当多的 ES—CBP。在7～30 DPA之问.ES—CBP在胚乳总蛋白中的相对水平随着种子发育而下降。这些结果表明,ES—CBP在7DPA以前的胚乳中的累积是相对活跃的。水稻种子贮藏蛋白在7DPA以后累积最快,这时胚乳中已经累积了相当多的ES—CBP。种子萌发后2d(2DPG)时,ES—CBP已有明显的降解。到7DPG,胚乳中只剩下少量的甲壳素结合蛋白。ES—CBP这样的累积和降解模式支持了该甲壳素结合蛋白是水稻胚乳中蛋白体组织者的假说。     

Ethylene as a Component of the Emanations From Germinating Peanut Seeds and Its Effect on Dormant Virginia-type Seeds

The embryonic axes of Spanish-type peanut seeds that do not exhibit dormancy to any extent were found to produce ethylene during germination. Virginia-type peanut seeds of the extremely dormant variety NC-13 produced low levels of ethylene when imbibed but not germinating. Treatments that released dormancy of NC-13 peanut seeds resulted in increased ethylene production by the embryonic axis. The estimated internal concentration of ethylene in Virginia-type peanut seeds was 0.4 ppm at 24 hr of germination. Fumigation with an external concentration of 3.0 to 3.5 ppm for 6 hr was sufficient to break dormancy of Virginia-type peanut seeds. These results suggest that ethylene is associated with the germination processes of non-dormant seeds and participates in the breaking of seed dormancy of dormant peanut varieties.     

Some Quantitative Changes in the Fat Metabolism of Germinating Lettuce Seeds and their Inhibition by Coumarin

The fat reserve of lettuce seeds of two varieties, ‘GrandRapids’ and ‘Progress’, was examined. It wasfound to be an unsaturated lipid, closely resembling sunflower-seedoil. The changes in the fat content with time and under treatmentwith thiourea and with coumarin were studied, as were the changesin the acidity of the fat. No free volatile saturated acidswere detected. On hydrolysis the seeds yield one such acid whoseidentity was not finally established and whose origin is uncertain,it not being certain that it is connected directly with fatmetabolism.     

The Relation of Storage Protein to Vigor and Its Mobilization Pattern in Germinating Peanut Seeds

The peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) seeds harvested at the last stage of maturation were divided into five grades by size. The content of total protein, salt-soluble protein, arachin, conarachin I and 2s globulin in these seeds were measured. No obvious differences in germination percentage and the length of radicle and hypocotyl within 3d germination in dark were observed among the five grades of seeds. But there were significant differences in the seedling growth after two weeks of germination in light. There was a very close correlation between the storage protein in cotyledons and the seedling growth. When seeds germinated in light, the efficiency of mobilization of the salt-soluble protein in the cotyledons was higher than that in the cotyledons of the seeds germinating in dark. All of the salt-soluble protein in cotyledons was used up after 14d seedling growth in light. SDS-PAGE of salt-soluble protein showed that 23.5, 38.5 and 41 kD subunits of arachin were first mobilized during germination. The 18 kD subunits of arachin were not mobilized until the above-mentioned subunits were used up. The 60.5 kD subunit of conarachin I and 2s globulin were degradated within 2 to 3 days during germination.     

Alkaloid Changes in Tobacco Seeds during Germination

Nicotine, nornicotine, anabasine, and anatabine, normally found in growing and mature tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) plants, were extracted and quantified from mature tobacco seeds and young tobacco seedlings. The rate of net alkaloid disappearance and accumulation in tobacco seedlings was related to phases of germination.