Open Access
Subscription Access
Open Access
Subscription Access
Role of Sucrose and Raffinose in the Desiccation Sensitivity of Theobroma cacao Seeds
Subscribe/Renew Journal
Freshly collected seeds of cocoa were desiccated at room temperature and germination rate moisture content, soluble carbohydrates etc were analysed in the samples collected at regular intervals. Cocoa seeds are highly recalcitrant and total lose of viability occurs within 6 days of storage at room temperature. There is progressive deterioration of integrity of the membrane component of the cellular system during desiccation. This is manifested as the enhanced leakage of electrolytes from the tissues. A significant increase in sucrose content was observed in the cocoa seed tissues during desiccation. Raffinose content in the seeds declined rapidly during desiccation. Sucrose is suggested to have a critical role in maintaining the integrity of the cell membrane during dehydration. HPLC analysis of sucrose and raffinose through successive stages of desiccation does not impart tolerance to dehydration. This is because of the crystallization of sucrose and the deficiency of raffinose to ameliorate it. The sucrose to raffinose ratio is critical to seed viability in cocoa than their absolute quantum. When the ratio goes beyond 8:1 the viability of the cocoa seeds commence to decline rapidly.
Keywords
Sucrose, Raffinose, Desiccation sensitivity, Theobroma cacao.
Subscription
Login to verify subscription
User
Font Size
Information
- Berjak, P. and Pammenter, N.W. (1997). Progress in the understanding and manipulation of desiccation-sensitive (recalcitrant) seeds. In : Ellis, R.H.; Black, M., Murdoch, A.J. and Hong, T.D. (Eds) Basic and applied aspects of seed biology. Dordrecht, Kluwer Academic Publishers, The Netherlands. pp. 689-703.
- Bernal-Lugo, I. and Leopold, A.C. (1992). Changes in soluble carbohydrates during seed storage. Plant Physiol., 98 (3) : 1207-1210.
- Bochicchio, A., Rizzi, E., Balconi, C., Vernieri, P. and Vazzana, C. (1994). Sucrose and raffinose contents and acquisition of desiccation tolerance in immature maize embryos. Seed Sci. Res., 4 (2) : 123-126.
- Brenac, P., Horbowicz, M., Downer, S.M., Dickerman, A.M., Smith, M.E. and Oberndorf, R.L. (1997). Raffinose accumulation related to desiccation tolerance during maize (Zea mays L.) seed development and maturation. J. Plant Physiol., 150 (4) : 481-488.
- Bruni, F. and Leopold, A.C. (1991). Glass transitions in soybean seed. Relevance to anhydrous biology. Plant Physiol., 96 (2) : 660-663.
- Buitink, J., Hemminga, M.A. and Hoekstra, F.A. (2000). Is there a role for oligosaccharides in seed longevity? An assessment of intracellular glass stability. Plant Physiol., 122 (4) : 1217-1224.
- Buitink, J. and Leprince, O. (2004). Glass formation in plant anhydrobiotes: survival in the dry state. Cryobiology, 48 (3) : 215-228.
- Caffrey, M., Fonseca, V. and Leopold, A.C. (1988). Lipid-sugar interactions. Relevance to anhydrous biology. Plant Physiol., 86 (3) : 754-758.
- Cherussery, Abis V. (2007). Desiccation and germination studies of cocoa (Theobroma cacao L.) seeds - a physiological and biochemical approach. Doctoral Thesis, University of Calicut, KERALA (INDIA).
- Crowe, J.H., Carpenter, J.F. and Crowe, L.M. (1998). The role of vitrification in anhydrobiosis. Annu. Rev. Plant Physiol., 60: 73-103.
- Hoekstra, F.A., Haigh, A.M., Tetteroo, F.A.A. and van Roekel, T. (1994). Changes in soluble sugars in relation to desiccation tolerance in cauliflower seeds. Seed Sci. Res., 4 (2) : 143- 147.
- King, M.W. and Roberts, E.H. (1982). The imbibed storage of cocoa (Theobroma cacao) seeds. Seed Sci.Technol., 10: 535-540.
- Koster, K.L. and Leopold, A.C. (1988). Sugars and desiccation tolerance in seeds. Plant Physiol., 88 (3) : 829-832.
- Leprince, O., Hendry, G.A.F. and McKersie, B.D. (1993). The mechanisms of desiccation tolerance in developing seeds. Seed Sci. Res., 3 (4) : 231-246.
- Lin, T.P., Yen, W.L. and Chien, C.T. (1998). Disappearance of desiccation tolerance of imbibed crop seeds is not associated with the decline of oligosaccharides. J.Exp. Bot., 49 (324) : 1203-1212.
- Mullett, J.H. and Wilkinson, R.I. (1979). The relationship between amounts of electrolyte lost on leaching seeds of Pisum sativum and some parameters of plant growth. Seed Sci. Technol., 7 (3) : 393-398.
- Nautiyal, A.R. and Purohit, A.N. (1985). Seed viability in Sal III. Membrane disruption in ageing seeds of Shorea robusta. Seed Sci. Technol., 13: 77-82.
- Parrish, D.J. and Leopold, A.C. (1978). On the mechanism of aging in soybean seeds. Plant Physiol., 61: 365-368.
- Roberts, E.H. (1973). Predicting the storage life of seeds. Seed Sci. Technol., 1: 499-514.
- Senaratna, T. and McKersie, B.D. (1983). Dehydration injury in germinating soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] seeds. Plant Physiol., 72: 620-624.
- Steadman, K.J., Pritchard, H.W. and Dey, P.M. (1996). Tissue specific soluble sugars in seeds as indicators of storage category. Ann.Bot., 77: 667-674.
- Stewart, R.R.C. and Bewley, J.D. (1980). Lipid peroxidation associated with accelerated aging of soybean axes. Plant Physiol., 65 (2) : 245-248.
- Vertucci, C.W. and Farrant, J.M. (1995). Acquisition and loss of desiccation tolerance, In : Kigel, J. and Galil, G. (Ed.) Seed development and germination. Marcel Dekker, New York, pp. 237-272.
- Wilson, A. M., Work, T. M., Bushway, A. A. and Bushway, R. J. (1981). HPLC determination of fructose, glucose and sucrose in potatoes. J. Food Sci., 46(1): 300-301.
- Wolkers, W.F., Tetteroo, F.A.A., Alberda, M. and Hoekstra, F.A. (1999). Changed properties of the cytoplasmic matrix associated with desiccation tolerance of dried carrot somatic embryos. An in situ fourier transform infrared spectroscopic study. Plant Physiol., 120 (1) : 153-163.
Abstract Views: 537
PDF Views: 2