Application of31P NMR to Monitor Phosphorus Compounds and their Changes During Germination of Legume Seeds

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Abstract
Extracts of embryonic axes and cotyledons of 19 species of legumes were analysed by 31P nuclear magnetic resonance; the effect of different extraction procedures on the solubilization of the several phosphocompounds was investigated. The contents of phytic acid, inorganic phosphate, phosphomonoesters and phosphodiesters were determined. The relative contents of these phosphocompounds were very different when embryonic axes and cotyledons were compared, and were greatly influenced by the taxonomic affiliation of the corresponding species. Phytic acid and inorganic phosphate were by far the major phosphocompounds found in cotyledon extracts; an unusual phosphodiester component was detected only in embryonic axes and was particularly abundant in species belonging to the Lotoideae sub-family. The changes in the amount of the phosphodiester compound were followed during germination and the results suggest that it is not a phosphorus reserve. Furthermore, this component was preferentially present in the roots of the new plants. It was partially hydrolysed by RNAse and to a smaller extent by proteases, but not affected by DNAse. The hypothesis that this unusual component might be a ribonucleoprotein is discussed.

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