Influence of lipid antioxidants on soybean seed storage life

Abstract

In-storage losses of seed vigor, i.e., aging, that occur between harvest and planting may leave soybeans essentially worthless as seed. Peroxidation of lipids, with resultant loss of membrane integrity, is theorized to be a primary event in seed aging. Lipid antioxidants might have the potential to protect dry seed by neutralizing free radicals, which propagate lipid peroxidation and other destructive events. Seed were treated with antioxidants in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) to investigate possible protective effects of antioxidants during storage and thus also provide evidence for the lipid peroxidation model of seed aging. The toxicity of DMSO to soybean seed was found to be minimal at treatment times of 15 min or less. Seed were treated for 15 min with 0, 5, 25, and 50 mM solutions in DMSO of propyl gallate (PG), butylated hydroxyanisore (BHA), butylated hydroxy toluene (BHT), and tert-butylhydroquinone (TBHQ). Germination, seed leakage, seedling vigor, and phospholipids in the embryonic axis were monitored following storage at 40 C for up to 90 days.