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Monitoring soybean seed germination by calorimetry

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Abstract

A method to monitor seed germination that combines isothermal calorimetry and imbibition measurements is reported. Individual seeds of three cultivars of soybean seeds (A7636RG, Munasqa and DM5.8RR) and one of radish were used. Imbibition curves were performed on individual seeds in a germination chamber at 25 °C. Calorimetric specific thermal power (p)–time (t) curves of germination were also obtained at 25 °C for 10 or more individual seeds after 30 min of equilibration of the system. Calorimetric experiments of germination in 5 mM KCN were performed to estimate specific imbibitions enthalpies (Δi h). The p–t curves could be extrapolated to t = 0 by relating the rate of water uptake as determined from imbibitions curves with p values. Then, p–t curves were integrated to determine the specific metabolic enthalpies Δh which in turn were related to the water content (WC) of seeds at the corresponding times. The method allows determination of specific enthalpy change due to germination, Δg h, which apparently is species related. Besides, the standard deviation (SD) of the Δg h value gives an indication of seed quality. On the other hand, the water content that seeds need to germinate and the moment at which seeds are fully imbibed can also be determined. This is very important when breeding new cultivars for water stress tolerance. The water content needed for each cultivar to germinate was 74, 57, 35 and 64% for soybean seeds cvs. A7636RG, Munasqa, DM5.8RR and radish, respectively.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank al Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, CONICET, project PIP Nº 5176 and the Consejo de Investigaciones de la Universidad Nacional de Tucumán, CIUNT, projects 26/D333 and D450 for providing founds to research.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Instituto de Química Orgánica, Facultad de Bioquímica, Química y Farmacia, Universidad Nacional de Tucumán, Ayacucho 471, CP T 4000 INI,, Tucuman, Argentina

    Fanny I. Schabes

  2. INQUINOA—CONICET, Instituto de Química Orgánica, Facultad de Bioquímica, Química y Farmacia, Universidad Nacional de Tucumán, Ayacucho 471, CP T 4000 INI,, Tucuman, Argentina

    E. Elizabeth Sigstad

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  1. Fanny I. Schabes
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  2. E. Elizabeth Sigstad
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Correspondence to E. Elizabeth Sigstad.

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Schabes, F.I., Sigstad, E.E. Monitoring soybean seed germination by calorimetry. J Therm Anal Calorim 104, 5–11 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10973-010-1036-x

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