title: Evolution and kinetics of monosaccharides, disaccharides and alpha-galactosides during germination of lentils.
abstract: The effect of light and seed rinsing during the germination of lentil seeds (Lens culinaris var. vulgaris, cultivar Magda-20) on the level of monosaccharides, disaccharides and alpha-galactosides (raffinose, ciceritol and stachyose) was investigated. The total soluble sugar content corresponded to about 9% of the mature seed weight, about 65% of which was alpha-galactosides. Germination brought about a large decrease in alpha-galactosides: 18% to 40% losses after 3 days and 100% after 6 days. However, glucose, which was not detected in ungerminated seeds, as well as fructose and sucrose gradually increased during germination. The content of alpha-galactosides decreased more rapidly when germinating seeds were given 6 h light per day, but under these conditions there was also a major reduction in the levels of fructose, glucose and sucrose. Seeds rinsed daily showed a greater reduction of alpha-galactosides and an increase in the levels of fructose, glucose and sucrose. When seeds were germinated for 10 days in the dark with daily rinsing, the content of alpha-galactosides decreased gradually during the first 4 days and they were not detected after 6 days. Under these conditions, fructose, glucose and sucrose, which represented about 3% of the mature seed weight, started increasing after day 2 and represented more than 13% of the germinated seed dry weight after 10 days.
authors.affiliation: John Innes Centre, Norwich, UK.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Frias
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Diaz-Pollan
authors.forename: C L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Hedley
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Vidal-Valverde
mesh_terms: D004187:Disaccharides / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D007887:Fabaceae / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology*; D005632:Fructose / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D005697:Galactosides / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D018525:Germination; D005947:Glucose / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D007700:Kinetics; D008027:Light; D009005:Monosaccharides / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D010946:Plants, Medicinal; D012639:Seeds / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology*; D013393:Sucrase / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D004187:Disaccharides; D005697:Galactosides; D009005:Monosaccharides; D005632:Fructose; D013393:Sucrase; D005947:Glucose