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Indian Journal of Biochemistry and Biophysics (IJBB) >
IJBB Vol.47 [2010] >
IJBB Vol.47(5) [October 2010] >
| Title: | Characterization of water distribution and activities of enzymes during germination in magnetically-exposed maize (Zea mays L) seeds |
| Authors: | Vashisth, Ananta
Nagarajan, Shantha |
| Keywords: | Zea mays L
Germination
Imbibition
Nuclear Magnetic Resonance
Longitudinal relaxation time
Transverse relaxation time
Germination enzymes |
| Issue Date: | Oct-2010 |
| Publisher: | NISCAIR-CSIR, India |
| Abstract: | Magnetic seed
treatment is one of the physical pre-sowing seed treatments to enhance the
performance of crop plants. In our earlier experiment, we found significant
increase in germination and vigour characteristics of maize (Zea mays
L.) seeds subjected to magnetic fields. Among various combinations of magnetic
field (MF) strength and duration, best results were obtained with MF of 100 mT
for 2 h and 200 mT for 1 h exposure. The quicker germination in
magnetically-exposed seeds might be due to greater activities of germination
related enzymes, early hydration of membranes as well as greater molecular
mobility of bulk and hydration water fractions. Thus, in the present study,
changes in water uptake during imbibition and its distribution and activities
of germinating enzymes during germination were investigated in maize seeds
exposed to static magnetic fields of 100 and 200 mT for 2 and 1 h respectively
by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. The magnetically-exposed seed
showed higher water uptake in phase II and III than unexposed seed. The
longitudinal relaxation time T1 of seed water showed significantly
higher values and hence greater molecular mobility of cellular water in
magnetically-exposed seeds as compared to unexposed. Component analysis of T2
relaxation times revealed the early appearance of hydration water with least
mobility and higher values of relaxation times of cytoplasmic bulk water and
hydration water in magnetically-exposed over unexposed seeds. Activities of  -amylase, dehydorgenase and protease during germination were higher
in magnetically-exposed seeds as compared to unexposed. The quicker germination
in magnetically-exposed seeds might be due to greater activities of germination
related enzymes, early hydration of membranes as well as greater molecular
mobility of bulk and hydration water fractions. |
| Page(s): | 311-318 |
| CC License: |  CC Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 2.5 India |
| ISSN: | 0975-0959 (Online); 0301-1208 (Print) |
| Source: | IJBB Vol.47(5) [October 2010]
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