Mitochondrial biogenesis and metabolism were investigated during maize (Zea mays) seed germination. Mitochondria from dry and imbibed seed exhibited NADH-dependent O(2) uptake that was completely inhibited by KCN and antimycin A. Mitochondria in the dry seed had a lower rate of succinate-dependent O(2) uptake relative to that measured in imbibed and germinated seed. The activities of the tricar...

Considerable amounts of information is available on the complex carbohydrates that are mobilized and utilized by the seed to support early seedling development. These events occur after radicle has protruded from the seed. However, scarce information is available on the role of the endogenous soluble carbohydrates from the embryo in the first hours of germination. The present work analysed how ...

C RE D IT :D EN IS E BE RJ A K Despite their marked geographical and cultural diversity, the peoples of Africa are bound together by concerns about food security and the vagaries of rainfall across the continent’s extensive terrain, much of which is arid or semi-arid. This makes the scientific study of seeds and their storage an imperative. I became convinced of this scientific mandate even as ...

The importance of maize (Zea mays) in Ugandan economy has been increasing since 1990’s. The crop is grown for both local and foreign markets by mainly small-scale farmers. The bulk of the crop is shelled using the rudimentary traditional methods, which have low productivity and result into maize grain of low market value. Earlier studies conducted by Agricultural Engineering and Appropriate Tec...

The Viviparous-1 (Vp1) gene is required for expression of the C1 regulatory gene of the anthocyanin pathway in the developing maize seed. We show that VP1 overexpression and the hormone, abscisic acid (ABA), activate a reporter gene driven by the C1 promoter in maize protoplasts. Cis-acting sequences essential for these responses were localized. Mutation of a conserved sequence in the C1 promot...

Seed dormancy is an adaptive mechanism and an important agronomic trait. Temperature during seed development strongly affects seed dormancy in wheat (Triticum aestivum) with lower temperatures producing higher levels of seed dormancy. To identify genes important for seed dormancy, we used a wheat microarray to analyze gene expression in embryos from mature seeds grown at lower and higher temper...

Soil salinity is considered crucial for seed germination, seedling growth, and crop production in arid semi-arid regions. Seed priming can be an effective solution to improve maize germination under stress. An experiment was conducted study the effect of with NaCl stress on growth variety Arun-2. Before sowing, eighty seeds were soaked 5g/L aqueous 12 hours at 27-degree Celsius. Primed unprimed...

The variations of the amounts of phospholipid transfer proteins (PLTP), determined by ELISA and immunoblotting methods, were followed during the maturation and germination of maize (Zea mays L.) seeds. Changes of the amounts of PLTP occur during seed maturation. The levels of PLTP, low in the first 3 weeks after fecondation, strongly raised 3 to 5 weeks after, then reached and maintained a high...

Ageing reduces vigour and viability in maize inbred lines due to non-heritable degenerative changes. Besides non-heritable genetic changes due to chromosome aberrations and damage in the DNA sequence, heritable changes during maize conservation have been reported. Genetic variability among aged seeds of inbred lines could be used for association studies with seed germination. The objective of t...

Germination and seedling growth of major cereals treated with Moringa oleifera leaf extracts was investigate at University of Zambia. Aqueous extract of Moringa oleifera at the ratio of 1:10 (w/v) were sprayed on seed of maize (Zea mays. L.), rice (Oryzae sativa.L.), sorghum (Sorghum bicolor. L.) and wheat (Triticum Aestivum. L.) in a growth room at 25C for 14 days. The data were subjected to a...