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Changes in soluble sugars in relation to desiccation tolerance in cauliflower seeds

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 September 2008

F. A. Hoekstra*
Affiliation:
Department of Plant Physiology, Wageningen Agricultural University, Arboretumlaan 4, 6703 BD Wageningen, Netherlands
A. M. Haigh
Affiliation:
Department of Plant Physiology, Wageningen Agricultural University, Arboretumlaan 4, 6703 BD Wageningen, Netherlands Royal Sluis, Westeinde 161, 1601 BM Enkhuizen, Netherlands
F. A. A. Tetteroo
Affiliation:
Department of Plant Physiology, Wageningen Agricultural University, Arboretumlaan 4, 6703 BD Wageningen, Netherlands Royal Sluis, Westeinde 161, 1601 BM Enkhuizen, Netherlands
T. van Roekel
Affiliation:
Department of Plant Physiology, Wageningen Agricultural University, Arboretumlaan 4, 6703 BD Wageningen, Netherlands
*
* Correspondence

Abstract

Changes in soluble sugars in cauliflower seeds were followed during 50 h of imbibition in relation to desiccation tolerance. Sucrose and stachyose contents decreased, and glucose and fructose accumulated. This occurred in radicles first and subsequently in hypocotyls and cotyledons. Loss of desiccation tolerance in the various seed parts coincided with an increase in glucose and fructose and the complete loss of stachyose, but sucrose content, the major sugar, was still high. Drying imbibed seeds over silica gel did not evoke resynthesis of stachyose, but did increase sucrose and decrease glucose and fructose contents. Seeds primed in solutions of 30% polyethylene glycol for 10 days showed a loss of stachyose, while sucrose remained high and glucose and fructose contents were still very low. Redrying of primed seeds did not change the sugar contents. The primed seeds were still tolerant of desiccation. We conclude that stachyose is not a prerequisite for desiccation tolerance, but that sucrose may be. We suggest that glucose and fructose may be involved in desiccation damage.

Type
Short Communication
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1994

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Footnotes

Present address: Faculty of Horticulture, University of Western Sydney, Hawkesbury, Richmond NSW 2753, Australia.

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