title: Changes in growth and antioxidant status of alfalfa sprouts during sprouting as affected by gamma irradiation of seeds.
abstract: Viking 3000 alfalfa seeds irradiated with gamma rays to doses of 0, 1, 2, 3, or 4 kGy were sprouted and allowed to grow for up to 8 days at 23 degrees C. Germination, growth (yield and length), antioxidant capacity, and ascorbic acid (AA) were measured during sprouting. Results showed percent germination of the seeds and the rates of growth of the sprouts were inversely related to the radiation dose absorbed by the seeds. Both antioxidant capacity and AA content expressed on a fresh weight basis decreased during growth of the sprouts. Sprouts grown from irradiated seeds had greater antioxidant capacity and AA content on a fresh weight basis than those grown from nonirradiated seeds. However, when the nutritive values were expressed on a per gram of seed basis, irradiation had no effect on the nutritive values of sprouts.
authors.affiliation: Food Safety, Intervention Technologies Research Unit, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Eastern Regional Research Center, 600 East Mermaid Lane, Wyndmoor, Pennsylvania 19038, USA. xfan@arserrc.gov
authors.forename: Xuetong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.forename: Donald W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Thayer
authors.forename: Kimberly J B
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Sokorai
mesh_terms: D000975:Antioxidants / Q000032:analysis; D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D005514:Food Irradiation; D005519:Food Preservation / Q000379:methods; D005720:Gamma Rays; D018525:Germination; D000455:Medicago sativa / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000528:radiation effects*; D009753:Nutritive Value; D012639:Seeds / Q000254:growth & development / Q000528:radiation effects
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants