Effect of seed deterioration on germination and antioxidant enzymes activity of oil flax (Linum usitatissimum L.) Red Bazrak genotype

In order to investigate the effect of deterioration on germination indices and enzymes activity of flax oil seed (Linum usitatissimum L.) Red Bazrak genotype, a factorial experiment was conducted base on completely randomized design with four replications in laboratory of seed technology at Yasouj University, 2015. The factors included the temperature at 4 levels (15, 25, 35 and 45oC) and moisture content in 4 levels (5, 9, 13 and 17%). After the seed moisture content achieve to 5, 9, 13 and 17 percent then were kept for 6 months in storage conditions at 15, 25, 35 and 45oC. The results showed that with increasing temperature and moisture content, all the physiological and biochemical traits except electrical conductivity decreased. The decrease in germination was also associated with a decrease in antioxidant enzymes activity like catalase, superoxide dismutase and ascorbate peroxidase which shows a decrease the antioxidant system performance to seed protection against reactive oxygen species. With the increase in reactive oxygen species, lipids peroxidation increased, probably due to the destruction of cell membranes, increased seed electrical conductivity that negative correlation between the electrical conductivity and the activity of antioxidant enzymes indicate to it. In general, the best flax seed storage condition is 15°C and 5- 9 percent moisture content.