Evaluation of non-enzymatic antioxidant system, quantity of protein and oil of two canola cultivars (Brassica napus L.) seeds during accelerated aging conditions

In order to investigate the effect of accelerated ageing (AA) on physiological and biochemical traits of cultivar canola seeds, this study was laid out as a factorial experiments based on a completely randomized design with two factors cultivars (Modena and Okapi), aging level (0, 24 and 72 hours at temperature of 40˚c and relative humidity of saturated) and four replications in the Ferdowsi University of Mashhad at 2019-20. The results showed that the aged seeds of Okapi and Modena cultivars significant decline in germination characteristics. According to the biochemical results, in the treatments of 72 hours of AA compared to the control, oil, total protein and scavenging free radicals of canola seeds, has decreased by 9.89, 4.14 and 28.61 percent, respectively. Likewise, electrical conductivity increased by 84.64 percent. Interestingly, aging affected the content of non-enzymatic antioxidants. Here for example, it reduced flavonoids by 73.79%, proline by 47.18%, and phenol by 17.13% compared to non-aged seeds in Okapi cultivar. On the one hand, Okapi cultivar had great quality characteristics such as oil percentage, activity of antioxidant systems, but on the other hand, it was very sensitive to storage, because, aging caused extremely decline in Okapi cultivar seed quality. So, it is obvious that conditions of seed storage of this cultivar require more attention. In general, controlling storage conditions to minimize canola seed aging and deterioration is critical.