Quantitative determination of the effects of He–Ne laser irradiation on seed thermodynamics, germination attributes and metabolites of Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L) in relation with the activities of germination enzymes

Perveen, R; Wang, X; Jamil, Y; Ali, Q; Ali, S; Zakaria, MQ; Afzaal, M; Kasana, RA; Saleem, MH; Fiaz, S

Abstract

The present investigation was undertaken to assess the effects of different doses (100, 300, and 500 mJ) of low power He–Ne laser (632.8 nm) irradiation on seed germination and thermodynamics attributes and activities of potential germinating enzymes in relation with changes in seed metabolites. He–Ne laser seed irradiation increased the amylase (Amy), protease (Pro) and glucosidase (Gluco) activities, with a significant improvement in seed thermodynamics and seed germination attributes. A fast increase was found in free fatty acids (FFA), free amino acids (FAA), chlorophyll (Chl), carotenoids (Car), total soluble sugars (TSS) and reducing sugars (RS) in laser treated seeds in parallel with fast decline in seed oil contents and total soluble proteins (TSP). Significant positive correlations were recorded in laser-induced enhanced seed energy levels, germination, activities of germination enzymes with levels of FAA, FFA, Chl, TSS and RS, but a negative correlation with the levels of TSP and oil. In conclusion, the seed treatment with 100 and 300 mJ He–Ne laser was more effective to improve the seed germination potential associated with an improvement in seed energy levels due to increased activities of germination enzymes due to the speedy breakdown of seed reserves to simple metabolites as building blocks.

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jul 9, 2021
• Publication Date: Jul 14, 2021
• Deposit Date: Jul 19, 2021
• Publicly Available Date: Jul 19, 2021
• Journal: Agronomy
• Print ISSN: 2073-4395
• Electronic ISSN: 2073-4395
• Publisher: MDPI
• Volume: 11
• Issue: 7
• Pages: e1411
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy11071411
• Publisher URL: https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy11071411
• Related Public URLs: https://www.mdpi.com/journal/agronomy
• Additional Information: Additional Information : ** From MDPI via Jisc Publications Router ** Licence for this article: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ **Journal IDs: eissn 2073-4395 **History: published 14-07-2021; accepted 09-07-2021; Funders : Natural Science Basic Research Program of Shaanxi Province;National Natural Science Foundation of China;Top Young Talents of Shaanxi Special Support Program;Higher Education Commision, Pakistan; Grant Number: 2018JQ5218; Grant Number: 51809224