title: Free radical generation in Pinus sylvestris and Larix decidua seeds primed with polyethylene glycol or potassium salt solutions.
abstract: Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectra of Pinus sylvestris and Larix decidua seeds show that priming with PEG+200 mg kg(-1) gibberelic acid (GA(3)) results in appreciably higher free radical contents than in unprimed control samples. Only relatively minor changes in the free radical levels were observed in seeds primed with K(+) salts. However, both priming treatments have been reported previously to result in faster germination rates compared to controls without changing the germination percentage. In measurements on individual seeds of L. decidua, there were no significant differences between the mean free radical levels in viable and non-viable seeds within each treatment group. Thus, the elevation in free radical levels in the PEG+GA(3) treatments appear to be a direct consequence of the priming treatment and do not correspond to the initiation of germination.
authors.affiliation: ARC Seibersdorf Research, Department of Environmental Research, 2444 Seibersdorf, Austria. c.naglreiter@umweltforschung.at
authors.forename: Christina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Naglreiter
authors.forename: Thomas G
authors.initials: TG
authors.lastname: Reichenauer
authors.forename: Bernard A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Goodman
authors.forename: Harald R
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Bolhàr-Nordenkampf
mesh_terms: D004578:Electron Spin Resonance Spectroscopy; D005609:Free Radicals / Q000378:metabolism; D018525:Germination; D005875:Gibberellins / Q000494:pharmacology; D028221:Larix / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D009566:Nitrates / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010710:Phosphates / Q000494:pharmacology*; D041605:Pinus sylvestris / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017680:Potassium Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012639:Seeds / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D012996:Solutions
chemical_list: D005609:Free Radicals; D005875:Gibberellins; D009566:Nitrates; D010710:Phosphates; D017680:Potassium Compounds; D012996:Solutions; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; C013216:potassium phosphate; C007842:gibberellic acid; C023844:potassium nitrate