Effect of Different Techniques on Germination Efficacy and Antioxidant Capacity of Indigenous Legumes of Pakistan

Abstract

The present study investigated five different strategies for germination, utilizing distinctive substrata like jute bag, separating funnel, muslin cloth, filter paper and aluminum foil followed by evaluation of percent germination, radicle size, weight gain, total phenols and antioxidant activity of eleven indigenous legumes. The results revealed that jute bag displayed the most elevated percent germination in all legumes (84-96) % with the exception of kabuli chick pea, desi chick pea, garbanzo bean and cow pea which demonstrated improved percent germination when filter paper was utilized as substrata. The longest root length (3.1cm) was seen in cow pea when filter paper was used as substrata. It was additionally observed that jute bag demonstrated the highest increment in total phenolic compounds after germination in soy bean i.e. 6.3 mg gallic acid/gram. Among all germinated legumes, cowpea demonstrated the most elevated amount of total antioxidant activity (98.1%) when either filter paper or separating funnel was utilized. The results revealed that every bean requires optimum sprouting technique/conditions inorder to enhance its antioxidant capacity to maximum extent.