Changes in seed reserve composition during germination and initial seedling development of safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.)

Authors: MUHAMMET TONGUÇ, RUZİYE ELKOYUNU, SABRİ ERBAŞ, YAŞAR KARAKURT

Abstract: The present study was carried out to determine the changes in some reserve molecules of safflower seeds during germination and early seedling growth. The seeds of 2 safflower cultivars were used as plant material (Dinçer 5-118 and Montola 2000). Seeds were germinated for 72 h and observations were taken every 12 h throughout the study. Changes in total oil content (%), total protein content (%), total soluble sugar contents (TSS, mg g^{-1}), and reducing sugar contents (RS, mg g^{-1}) were determined for each cultivar during germination and seedling growth. The oil content of the cultivars decreased from 54.7% and 57.4% to 49.5% and 45.1% for Dinçer 5-118 and Montola 2000, respectively. The total protein contents of Dinçer 5-118 and Montola 2000 were 32.5% and 28.0% at 0 h, and, at the end of the study, the total protein contents had decreased to 26.3% and 23.8%, respectively. The TSS and RS contents were lower at the end of the study; however, the amounts of TSS and RS varied throughout the study. Results suggest that significant changes took place in the oil, protein, and sugar metabolisms.

Keywords: Carthamus tinctorius, germination, oil content, protein content, sugar

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