Hostname: page-component-8448b6f56d-42gr6 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-24T22:31:06.060Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Lipid autoxidation and seed ageing: putative relationships between seed longevity and lipid stability

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 September 2008

R. T. Ponquett
Affiliation:
Department of Applied Chemistry, University of Natal, Durban 4001Republic of South Africa
M. T. Smith*
Affiliation:
UN/FRD Research Unit for Plant Growth and Development, University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg 3200, Republic of South Africa
G. Ross
Affiliation:
Department of Applied Chemistry, University of Natal, Durban 4001Republic of South Africa
*
* Correspondence

Abstract

On the premise that seed ageing may be largely a result of free-radical lipid autoxidation, a study was made of the relationship between lipid stability and longevity in seeds of soybean (Glycine max), lentil (Lens culinaris), mungbean (Vigna radiata), chickpea (Cicer arietinum), broadbean (Vicia faba), pea (Pisum sativum), lettuce (Lactuca sativa), and tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum). Seed lipids were examined for α-, γ- and δ-tocopherols, and levels of unsaturated and saturated fatty acids. Using this information, analysis was attempted using linear, multiplicative or exponential models to correlate aspects of lipid stability with seed longevity values from the published literature. No statistically significant correlations could be found between longevity and total lipid unsaturation, tocopherol levels or two protection formulae obtained from the oil chemistry literature. When values for tomato were excluded, a good correlation (r = 0.89, P = 0.007) was obtained using a multiplicative regression model for levels of linolenic acid per unit of total tocopherols in relation to longevity. Possible factors contributing to a lessening of the relationship between lipid stability and seed longevity are discussed.

Type
Short Communication
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1992

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.)

Footnotes

1

Present address Biology Department, University of Natal, King George V Avenue, Durban 4001, Republic of South Africa

References

Barton, L.V. (1961) Seed preservation and longevity. London, Leonard Hill.Google Scholar
Bewley, J.D. and Black, M. (1982) Biochemistry of seeds in relation to germination. Vol. 2. Berlin, Springer-Verlag.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Dickie, J.B., Ellis, R.H., Kraak, H.L., Ryder, K. and Tompsett, P.B. (1990) Temperature and seed storage longevity. Annals of Botany 65, 197204.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ellis, R.H. and Roberts, E.H. (1980) Improved equations for the prediction of seed longevity. Annals of Botany 45, 1330.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ellis, R.H., Hong, T.D. and Roberts, E.H. (1990) Moisture content and the longevity of seeds of Phaseolus vulgaris. Annals of Botany 66, 341348.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Frankel, E.N. (1982) Volatile lipid oxidation products. Progress in Lipid Research 22, 133.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Justice, O.L. and Bass, L.N. (1978) Principles and practice of seed storage. USDA Handbook, 506.Google Scholar
Mead, J.F. (1980) Membrane lipid peroxidation and its prevention. Journal of the American Oil Chemists Society 57, 393397.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Priestley, D.A. (1986) Seed ageing: implications for seed storage and persistence in the soil. New York, Comstock.Google Scholar
Priestley, D.A., Cullinan, V.I. and Wolfe, J. (1985) Differences in seed longevity at the species level. Plant, Cell and Environment 8, 557562.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Pyriadi, T.M. and Mason, M.E. (1968) Composition and stability of pecan oils. Journal of the American Oil Chemists Society 45, 437440.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Villiers, T.A. (1973) Ageing and longevity of seeds in field conditions. pp. 265288 in Heydecker, W. (Ed.) Seed ecology. London, Butterworths.Google Scholar
Wilson, D.O. and McDonald, M.B. (1986) The lipid peroxidation model of seed ageing. Seed Science and Technology 14, 269300.Google Scholar