Leaching of Ions, Organic Molecules, and Enzymes from Seeds of Peanut (Arachis hypogeaL.) Imbibing without Testas or with Intact Testas

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Abstract
Reducing sugars, phosphates, potassium ions, total electrically conducting material, proteins, and phenolics leached from two varieties of peanut (Arachis hypogea L. ) seeds during 24 h imbibition in distilled water. The same substances leached from the seeds when testas were removed before imbibition. The quantities of substances leached from seeds without testas after 24 h, except protein and phenolics, were much greater than from seeds with intact testas. Time courses of leaching of sugars, phosphates, potassium ions, and of total electrically conducting material showed fastest leaching rates in the first hour of imbibition. In the first 4 h of imbibition more sugars leached from intact seeds than from seeds without testas. Peroxidase was present in leachates from intact seeds but was undetectable in leachates from seeds without testas. Hydrogen peroxide-reducing activity was detected in 24 h leachates from intact seeds and from seeds without testas. The activity was partly inhibited by 1 mM ascorbate. It was concluded that catalase was present in the leachates. The peanut testas were thin. Their presence around the embryo did not reduce the rate of imbibition as compared with that of seeds without testas. Thus the greater leaching of some substances in the absence of the testa could not be ascribed to the absence of a physical barrier to water uptake.
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