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Changes in germination, growth and soluble sugar contents of Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench seeds under various abiotic stresses

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Abstract

The effect of various abiotic stresses on germination rate, growth and soluble sugar content in Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench cv. CSH 6 seed embryos and endosperm during early germination was investigated. Under stress conditions germination, water potential and tissue water content decreased markedly. Subsequently, this reduction resulted in marked decreases in fresh weight both in embryos and endosperm. Conversely, a substantial increase in dry weight was observed. Furthermore, a considerable increase in the sugar contents in both embryo and endosperm was detected. The fructose level was always higher than glucose and sucrose in response to various stresses. However, as compared to the control the level of glucose and sucrose was higher in embryos and endosperm after stress treatments. Based upon these results a possible physiological role of sugars in the germination of sorghum seeds is discussed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biotechnology, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, 143005, India

    Prabhjot Kaur Gill, Arun Dev Sharma, Prabhjeet Singh & Sukhdev Singh Bhullar

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  1. Prabhjot Kaur Gill
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  2. Arun Dev Sharma
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  3. Prabhjeet Singh
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  4. Sukhdev Singh Bhullar
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Gill, P.K., Sharma, A.D., Singh, P. et al. Changes in germination, growth and soluble sugar contents of Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench seeds under various abiotic stresses. Plant Growth Regulation 40, 157–162 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1024252222376

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