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Germination kinetics and seed reserve mobilization in two flax (Linum usitatissimum L.) cultivars under moderate salt stress

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Abstract

Because of its high contents of protein, α-linolenic-rich oil, lignans, and fiber, demand is increasing for flax(Linum usitatissi-mum L.) and flax seed oil as a food source. In this comparative survey, we examined germination and the mobilization of seed storage products (lipids and soluble proteins) of 3-d-old seedlings from two flax cultivars (N 51 and H 52) challenged with moderate salinity (up to 200 mM NaCl). At the highest salt concentration, germination appeared to be cultivar-dependent, with that of ‘N 51’ being less impaired and delayed than in ’H 52’. Sodium chloride inhibited germination via osmotic and toxic effects, so that seed viability was altered, especially in ‘H 52’. At 200 mM NaCl, lipid mobilization was delayed in the earliest germination phases. This response was associated with increased proportions of linolenic acid contents in both cultivars and more linolenic acid-rich molecular species of TAGs. Irrespective of the salt level, soluble protein contents in both cultivars decreased over time, although a salt-related precocity of protein degradation occurred at 200 mM NaCl.

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Author notes

  1. Ahmed Debez

    Present address: Institut für Botanik, Leibniz Universität Hannover, 30419, Hannover, Germany

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratoire de Biochimie des Lipides et Interactions avec les Macromolécules, Faculté des Sciences de Tunis, Campus Universitaire, 1060, El Manar, Tunisia

    Khaled Sebei, Wahid Herchi, Sadok Boukhchina & Habib Kallel

  2. Laboratoire d’Adaptation des Plantes aux Stresses Abiotiques, Centre de Biotechnologie à la Technopole de Borj-Cedria, BP 901, 2050, Hammam-Lif, Tunisia

    Ahmed Debez

Authors
  1. Khaled Sebei
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  2. Ahmed Debez
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  3. Wahid Herchi
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  4. Sadok Boukhchina
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  5. Habib Kallel
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Correspondence to Ahmed Debez.

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Sebei, K., Debez, A., Herchi, W. et al. Germination kinetics and seed reserve mobilization in two flax (Linum usitatissimum L.) cultivars under moderate salt stress. J. Plant Biol. 50, 447–454 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03030681

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03030681

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