172 Calorimetric Evaluation of Apple Seed Dormancy

Abstract

Apple embryos from moist seeds kept at 4 °C were used for a calorimetric characterization of Red and Golden Delicious apple seed dormancy. Seeds were sampled at 100-h intervals during 1200 h. The metabolic response of such samples was compared to that from chilled Golden Delicious seeds (>1200 h) stored under controlled atmosphere (CA). Isothermal calorimetry at 25 °C, evaluated metabolic activity (q), respiration rate (RCO2), metabolic 65 °C estimated activation energy (Ea) in a 10 to 20 °C range, and respiration coefficients (Q10) from 10 to 50 °C at 10 °C intervals. Data showed a direct relationship between chilling exposure and embryo metabolic responses from both cultivars. Once chilling requirement was satisfied, Red and Golden Delicious seeds presented a significant increase (P ≤ 0.05) in q, 0.94 and 0.98 μW/mg dry weight (dw); RCO2, 9.9 and 7.6 mmol CO2/mg dw; and RSG·ΔHB, 3.6 and 2.5 μW/mg dw, respectively. On the other hand, q/RCO2 did not follow a definite pattern, neither in Red nor Golden Delicious cultivars. Ea decreased 19.2 and 23.4 J/mol per °K per mg dw in Red and Golden Delicious, respectively, as a function of seed chilling. Q10 showed a significant response to temperature, but not to chilling exposure. Golden Delcious seeds from CA showed a significant reduction on q, RCO2, and RSG·ΔHB of 0.28 μW/mg dw, 2.47 mmol CO2/mg dw, and 14 μW/mg dw, respectively. Results show that calorimetry is a sufficiently sensitive, fast, and precise tool to quantify metabolic responses during seed chilling, as evolving energy.