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Annals of Botany 37: 439-445, 1973
© 1973 Annals of Botany Company

RESEARCH-ARTICLE

Biochemical Changes during Germination of the Coconut (Cocos nucifera)

K. BALASUBRAMANIAM1, T. M. S. ATUKORALA1, S. WIJESUNDERA1, A. A. HOOVER1 and M. A. T. DE SILVA2

1Department of Biochemistry, University of Ceylon Colombo, Ceylon
2Coconut Research Institute Lunuwila, Ceylon

Received: 3 July 1972   

The concentrations of reducing and soluble sugars and the activity of pyrophosphatase in the kernel increased with the maturation of the coconuts. The highest levels were observed in the fallen nuts.

The reducing and the soluble sugars present in the kernel decreased during early stages of germination. The total starch content of the haustorium increased linearly whereas reducing and soluble sugar concentrations in this tissue rose very rapidly and remained at a steady state thereafter. These results suggest that during germination the embryo metabolizes the stored carbohydrates of the kernel. The excess carbohydrates mobilized from the kernel are stored in the haustorium as starch, probably to be utilized during unfavourable conditions.

The activities of deoxyribonuclease, ribonuclease, 3'-nucleotidase, pyrophosphatase, and acid phosphatase in the kernel of matured, dormant, and germinated coconuts remained almost constant. This, along with the presence of only a very few nuclei and the inability of the tissue to utilize oxygen, supports the idea that the kernel is a non-respiring storage tissue incapable of protein synthesis. Amylase, ß-manno-sidase, and sucrase are present in the haustorium, and not in the kernel. Of these enzymes, amylase and ß-mannosidase remained at a constant level whereas the sucrase activity increased during the very early stages of germination and then decreased to a low level.


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J. Exp. Bot., May 1, 2001; 52(358): 933 - 942.
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