LEAKAGE AND MOBILIZATION OF STORAGE RESERVES DURING IMBIBITION OF SWEET CORN.

Abstract

Interconversion and transport of seed storage reserves during imbibition may influence subsequent germination. Sweet corn (Zea mays L. cv. Florida Staysweet) seeds were imbibed in aerated distilled water for either 0, 3, 6,9,12, or 24 h intervals. Seed leachate electrical conductivity, leachate soluble carbohydrate concentrations, and seed moisture were quantified at each interval. Lipid, non-structural carbohydrate, and protein concentrations of embryo and endosperm tissue were quantified for each imbibition interval. After imbibition treatments, seed germination performance was evaluated at 10 and 25C. Leachate conductivity and seed moisture increased with duration of imbibition. Glucose and fructose were the major soluble carbohydrates found in the seed leachate. Embryo lipid and sucrose concentrations significantly increased within 6 h of imbibition, while endosperm lipid decreased. Endosperm sucrose concentration remained constant throughout the duration of imbibition. Germination percentage was not significantly improved at 10 or 25C during the course of imbibition. Conversely, time to germination decreased significantly at 10C within 3 h. Storage reserve mobilization during imbibition may be responsible for the decreased time to germination observed at 10C.