Title : Viability loss of bamboo seeds of three species associated with membrane phase behaviour and enzyme analysis during storage
Abstract:
Background: The aim of the study was to correlate membrane integrity and enzyme analysis with seed viability or physiology during storage for upto 18 months in 3 species of bamboo seeds, i.e Dendrocalamus strictus, bambusa bambos and dendrocalamus hamiltonii. Flowering of bamboos takes a long interval and generally flowering is sporadic. However seeds are hardly available and also their viability is for short time of 2-3 months.
Methods: Mostly the seeds are stored under controlled condition of 4 degree Celsius in desiccators alongwith anhydrous calcium chloride so as to maintain viability for longer time. When seeds are stored, deterioration increases with time interval. Biological membranes with a normal composition and organisation generally regulate the transport of material into and out of the cell. Seed deterioration can be explained due to damage caused to the organisation of cell membrane. Activity of α-amylase, β-amylase and catalase was assessed of all the three species of bamboos dendrocalamus strictus, dendrocalamus hamiltonii and bambusa bambus till period of 18 months in both naturally and controlled aged seeds.
Results: Content of α-amylase increases in both naturally and controlled aged seeds with increase in time interval maximum content of α-amylase was found in dendrocalamus strictus 93.24 in freshly aged seeds and β-amylase was maximum in 107.8 in dendrocalamus hamiltonii and catalase in 411.12 in bambusa bambos.
Conclusion: The study demonstrates that the lower selectivity with time is due to damage caused to the membrane during storage and hence increase in the leakage of solutes to the environment is one of the main reason behind the decline in the physiological quality of seeds and catalase enzyme is present in major amount compared to other enzymes which continously decreases with increasing interval of time.
