Effect of Accelerated Ageing Conditions on Physiological and Biochemical Changes of Sunflower (Helianthus annus L.) Seeds Hussein Hussein J.1,,*, Yasser Oda M.2, Shaheed Abdulla I.3, Abidi A.B.4 1Department of Biology, College of Science for Women, University of Babylon, Babil – Iraq. 2Department of Biology, College of Science, University of Babylon. Babil – Iraq. 3Department of Chemistry, College of Science, University of Babylon. Babil – Iraq. 4Department of Biochemistry, Sam Higginbottom Institute of Agriculture, Techonology & Science-Allahabad-India *corresponding author -huss2010feb@yahoo.com
Abstract Sunflower (Helianthus annus L.) seeds were subjected to accelerated ageing treatment for, 3 and 7 days at 45 ±1°C and 100% relative humidity. These artificially aged seeds were compared with control (Unaged seeds) for evaluation of vigour and enzymes activity in seeds. Accelerated ageing of Sunflower seeds up to three days had significant effect on moisture content, germination percentage, Amadori products and glutathione reductase and peroxidase activity. However, further increase in ageing period caused increased in moisture content and a decrease in germination percentage, Amadori products and enzymes activity. Germinability was lost completely at 7 days of accelerated ageing. In addition, the reduction in germination percentage there was a decrease in germination speed index and seed vigour index.. Finally, the results revealed that accelerated ageing caused depression of Sunflower seeds viability through the above parameters. Top Keywords Seed deterioration, sunflower, biochemical, seeds. Top |