Exogenous antioxidants on quality of cabbage seeds

Abstract

During seed germination there is production of reactive oxygen species, which, in a controlled way, are important to cell signaling and protection against pathogens, but, in excess, impair germination. Therefore, the objective of this study was to assess the action of different compounds on antioxidant mechanisms and enzymatic activation in cabbage seeds. Compounds like kojic acid, thymol and tyrosol were used to imbibe the cabbage seeds together with distilled water, and a control treatment without imbibition was used as well, with subsequent assessment by means of germination test, endosperm rupture, vigor, radicle protrusion, and assessment of seedling biochemical analyses by the activity of enzymes ascorbate peroxidase, catalase, superoxide dismutase and α-amylase. Data were subjected to analysis of variance and to the LSD means comparison test. Seeds treated with tyrosol presented higher results on the rupture of the endosperm, germination and vigor, and root development increased with use antioxidants. For the activity of antioxidant enzymes in seedlings, only kojic acid showed increase in the superoxide dismutase activity. There was also a reduction in the catalase activity with the use of thymol and tyrosol compounds compared to dry-seed assessments. After tyrosol treatment, ascorbate peroxidase enzyme was not detected, and water-imbibed seeds showed higher α-amylase activity. The use of antioxidant compounds has beneficial effects on cabbage seeds, and soaking with tyrosol led to better physiological quality, with activation of antioxidant defense mechanisms during germination.

Key words:
enzymology; germination; oxidative stress