The Journal of Research ANGRAU
Contents of 41(1) 2013 - acharya ng ranga agricultural university
Contents of 41(1) 2013 - acharya ng ranga agricultural university
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<strong>Research</strong> Notes<br />
J.Res. <strong>ANGRAU</strong> 41(1) 66-69, 2013<br />
EFFECT OF SEED PRIMING ON BIOCHEMICAL CHANGES DURING SEED<br />
STORAGE OF MAIZE (ZEA MAYS L.) HYBRIDS<br />
M. RAM KUMAR, P. S. RAO, V. PADMA and K. V. RADHA KRISHNA<br />
Department <strong>of</strong> Crop Physiology, College <strong>of</strong> Agriculture<br />
Acharya NG Ranga Agricultural University, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad-500 030<br />
Date <strong>of</strong> Receipt : 04.06.2012 Date <strong>of</strong> Acceptance : 08.02.2013<br />
Maize is one <strong>of</strong> the most important cereal<br />
crops in the world. It is widely grown twice a year in<br />
certain agro climatic zones <strong>of</strong> India and the world as<br />
a staple food. Only 20-25 percent quantity <strong>of</strong> the seed<br />
is invariably stored and used by farmers in<br />
subsequent seasons. <strong>The</strong> remaining 75-80 percent<br />
<strong>of</strong> the seed quantity is transported to market during<br />
the first season itself to meet the demand <strong>of</strong> the<br />
farmers. <strong>The</strong> challenging task to overcome problems<br />
in process <strong>of</strong> the seed storage is the seed<br />
deterioration (viz., physiological or biochemical<br />
changes) which ultimately leads to loss <strong>of</strong> its vigour<br />
and viability. Priming is also thought to increase<br />
enzyme activity and counteract the effects <strong>of</strong> lipid<br />
peroxidation (Saha et al., 1990). During priming de<br />
novo synthesis <strong>of</strong> á-amylase is also documented<br />
(Lee and Kim, 2000). Metabolic activities in seeds<br />
increase with á-amylase activity, indicating higher<br />
seed vigour. Rapid and uniform field emergence, are<br />
two essential prerequisites to increase yield, quality<br />
and ultimately pr<strong>of</strong>its in crop production. Uniformity<br />
and percentage <strong>of</strong> seedling emergence <strong>of</strong> directseeded<br />
crops have a major impact on final yield and<br />
quality.<br />
<strong>The</strong> medium vigour (Six month old) seed lots<br />
<strong>of</strong> five maize hybrids viz., AH 122, SMH-9, DHM<br />
111, DHM 115 and DHM 117 having germination up<br />
to minimum seed certification standard (MSCS) were<br />
dried to 9% moisture are used for the study during<br />
2010-11. <strong>The</strong> seeds were subjected to priming at 25 o C<br />
with distilled water (T 1<br />
), PEG - 1.2 MPa (T 2<br />
), KNO 3<br />
@ 0.5% (T 3<br />
) along with untreated control (To). <strong>The</strong><br />
invigoration treatments were given to the seeds<br />
by soaking in same quantity <strong>of</strong> water/aqueous<br />
solution <strong>of</strong> chemical (1: 1 seed and water/solution)<br />
for 18 hours at ambient temperature followed by drying<br />
back to original moisture content under shaded<br />
condition. Immediately after drying the treated seeds<br />
were stored in moisture impervious containers at<br />
ambient condition. <strong>The</strong> seed samples (primed and<br />
unprimed) were drawn at 0, 2, 4 and 6 months after<br />
treatment for studying the enzymatic changes during<br />
storage. <strong>The</strong> fresh seed sample <strong>of</strong> 0.5 g was<br />
homogenized with 5ml <strong>of</strong> chilled citrate buffer (pH<br />
5.0) and centrifuged at 10,000 rpm for 15 minutes.<br />
<strong>The</strong> supernatant was used for assessing the<br />
activity <strong>of</strong> á-amylase as per the procedure described<br />
by Choi et al. (1996). Enzyme extract for peroxidase<br />
was prepared by first freezing the weighed amount<br />
<strong>of</strong> seed sample (1g) in liquid nitrogen to prevent<br />
proteolytic activity followed by grinding with 10 ml<br />
extraction buffer (0.1M phosphate buffer, pH<br />
7.5,containing 0.5 mM EDTA). Brie was passed<br />
through four layers <strong>of</strong> cheese cloth and filtrate was<br />
centrifuged for 20 min. at 15000 G and the supernatant<br />
was used as enzyme extract. <strong>The</strong> enzyme extract<br />
was used for assesing the acivity <strong>of</strong> peroxidase<br />
described by Castillo et al. (1984).<br />
<strong>The</strong> α - amylase activity (mmol g -1 fr wt)<br />
was reported to be significantly different among<br />
treatments and hybrids. <strong>The</strong>re was a significant<br />
interaction between hybrids and treatments at all<br />
duration <strong>of</strong> time after storage (Table 1). Among the<br />
five maize hybrids DHM 117 primed with water<br />
(Hydropriming) recorded maximum value (2.17 mmol<br />
g -1 ) <strong>of</strong> á- amylase activity while unprimed seeds <strong>of</strong><br />
AH 122 recorded least value (1.81 mmol g -1 ).<br />
Significant interaction between hybrids and treatments<br />
at all time intervals <strong>of</strong> germination at all the months<br />
<strong>of</strong> storage was noticed. <strong>The</strong> findings are in conformity<br />
with the studies <strong>of</strong> Sung and Chang (1993); where in<br />
the hydropriming was superior to PEG 6000 in sh-2<br />
corn hybrid and was more effective in improving the<br />
emergence which resulted due to higher á- amylase<br />
and â-amylase activities. Similarly a laboratory<br />
study was conducted by Sathish and<br />
email: sampalrao@gmail.com<br />
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