ABSTRACT
This research studied the standard procedure developed for crop seeds to examine the biochemical processes in accelerated aging seeds (kept for 96 hours at 42ºC and 100% RH) and stored seeds (from 5, 10 and 15 years) using isoenzyme electrophoresis and peroxidase activity by colorimetric assay. There was significant decrease (z-test) in the vigor of accelerated aging seeds (54,9%) when compared to the stored ones (97,25%, 95,22% and 89,25%).The peroxidase (PER, EC 1.11.1.7) activity was low, however there was na increase in activity with seed aging. There was a simultaneous increase in both malate dehidrogenase (MDH, EC 1.1.1.37) and esterase (EST, EC 3.1.1.1) activities. The results fllowed the in crease in the seeds storage period of time and of the stress which occurs due to the temperature and humidity conditions utilized in accelerated aging.
Key words:
accelerated aging; seeds; Eucalyptus grandis; enzyme activities