title: Biosynthesis of ascorbic acid in germinating rapeseed cultivars.
abstract: Biosynthesis of ascorbic acid in irradiated and unirradiated germinating rapeseed cultivars was studied at ambient room temperature (20-35 degrees C). Appreciable quantities of ascorbic acid (19.8-24.1 mg/100 g) were detected in the seeds and synthesis of this vitamin increased significantly (three fold) with increasing germination time depending upon rapeseed cultivars (p < 0.05). Soaking of seeds in tap water (1:2) for 24 hours resulted in the decrease of the vitamin in each case. Among the radiation treatments (0.05-0.20 kGy), maximum amounts of ascorbic acid were found in 0.10 kGy (342.1 mg/100 g dry weight) and 0.15 kGy (113.8 mg/100 g wet weight) samples after 96 hours of germination. An overall significant linear relation (r = 0.96) was observed between vitamin biosynthesis and germination time upto 96 hours in rapeseed.
authors.affiliation: Nuclear Institute for Food and Agriculture, Tarnab, Peshawar, Pakistan.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sattar
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Badshah
authors.lastname: Aurangzeb
mesh_terms: D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D001937:Brassica / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000528:radiation effects; D005720:Gamma Rays; D018525:Germination; D012639:Seeds / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000528:radiation effects
chemical_list: D001205:Ascorbic Acid