Abstract
Caesalpinia echinata seeds stored in laboratory environmental conditions lose their viability in one month whilst under low temperatures germination is maintained for 18 months of storage. These seeds are tolerant to desiccation, keeping their viability up to 0.08 gH2O.gDW-1. Since soluble carbohydrates are believed to be involved with desiccation tolerance and seed storability, the aim of this work is to analyze the content and composition of soluble carbohydrates in C. echinata seeds during storage in paper bags (PB) and glass flasks (GF) at laboratory room (RT) and cool (CT) temperatures. In freshly harvested seeds, total soluble carbohydrates comprised approximately 10% of the dry weight, decreasing to ca. 8% over 18 months of storage at RT. In seeds stored at CT, sugars varied differently decreasing initially and being restored at the end of the analysis period. The main neutral sugars in seeds from all treatments were sucrose, fructose and glucose. Raffinose and stachyose were present as traces. Free myo-inositol and other cyclitols were also detected. The main tendency observed was the variation in levels of both glucose and fructose in relation to sucrose, the highest levels of monosaccharides which were found in seeds stored at CT. The values of glucose and fructose were practically constant in seeds stored in paper bags for 18 months at CT, decreasing consistently in the other treatments, mainly at RT. Sucrose contents remained relatively stable. Changes in soluble sugars during storage suggest that the loss of germinability of seeds of C. echinata could be associated with low levels of glucose and fructose in relation to sucrose.
Highlights
Caesalpinia echinata Lam. (Brazilwood, Pernambuco) is a Brazilian leguminous tree rarely found naturally in the moist coastal forests of Eastern Brazil, its original habitat
Cruz-Silva et al (2004) showed that the elastase inhibitor and one kallikrein inhibitor from seeds of C. echinata were active in reducing the edema formation in rabbit lungs and suggested that these seeds could be a useful plant material to study the role of these important enzymes in pathophysiological processes
Seed storage and analysis of seed quality The seeds were stored in paper bags and in Wheaton type glass flasks, which is a common procedure for seed storage, in cold room (CT) and laboratory room temperatures (RT)
Summary
Caesalpinia echinata Lam. (Brazilwood, Pernambuco) is a Brazilian leguminous tree rarely found naturally in the moist coastal forests of Eastern Brazil, its original habitat. Cruz-Silva et al (2004) showed that the elastase inhibitor and one kallikrein inhibitor from seeds of C. echinata were active in reducing the edema formation in rabbit lungs and suggested that these seeds could be a useful plant material to study the role of these important enzymes in pathophysiological processes. Brazilwood seeds lose their viability in approximately one month in a natural environment while stored under low temperatures (6-8 °C) in paper bags, germination is maintained up to 80% after 18 months. These seeds are tolerant to desiccation, keeping their viability up to 0.08 g H O.gDW-1 (7-8% wet basis) after drying at
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