Methods for the assessment of isoenzymes activity in sunflower seeds

Métodos para a avaliação da atividade de isoenzimas em sementes de girassol

Enzyme activity detection in seeds allows the assessment of the deterioration process in the early stages. In this context, the objective was to assess the effectiveness and the degree of similarity between the results of izoenzymes activity using different methods, as follows: spectrophotometry, visual analysis after electrophoresis, evaluation of the bands nodes gels with software GelAnalyzer. 250 hybrid seeds were submitted to artificial aging to form four lots with differences in physiological quality. In addition to the enzymatic determinations, physiological germination tests, emergence and emergence speed index were performed. It was concluded that there are differences in results according to the methods used; the results were consistent between test methods and correlated with physiological results when the catalase enzyme was evaluated; and in the isozyme analysis of superoxide dismutase and alcohol dehydrogenase there was a divergence among the results of the methodologies, and according to such, the relationship to seeds physiological quality.

seed quality; deterioration; enzymatic changes