Trypsin Inhibitors during Germination of Vigna sinensis Seeds

The trypsin inhibiting activity of cotyledonary extracts of serido beans (Vigna sinensis) falls continuously during germination to a value which represents 5 % of the value for the dry seed. The specific activity is constant over the first three days and then decreases, reaching a level at the seventh day of germination which represents 20 % of the initial value. It is also shown that the axial parts control the disappearance of the trypsin inhibiting activity of the cotyledons. The results presented here seem to indicate a role for these substances in the process of germination.