Changes in germination indices and the activity of antioxidant system of cottonseed (Gossypium hirsutum L.) during deterioration

Seeds deteriorate and become aged during storage so that the rate of this process depends on the temperature and seed moisture content. This experiment was conducted to study changes in the activity of antioxidant system of cottonseeds during deterioration. An Accelerated aging test was used to create different levels of deterioration. Cottonseeds were incubated at 43 ℃ for 0, 48, 96, 144, and 192 hours and 100% relative humidity. Results showed that the membrane electrical conductivity, lipid peroxidation, and hydrogen peroxide increased with lengthening of deterioration periods. Increase in hydrogen peroxide was accompanied with decreased activity of catalase and the increased activity and content of peroxidase and ascorbic acid, respectively, which indicates declined activity of catalase due to aging as compared with peroxidase activity and ascorbic acid content. Also, with an increase in the period of deterioration, percent, rate, and uniformity of germination reduced. In general, the study indicated that the oxidative stress due to the accumulation of reactive oxygen species and the reduction of the antioxidant system is one of the main reasons for cottonseed viability loss during storage.