The Effect of Aging on Germination of Barley Seeds

1 Faculty member, Agricultural and Natural Resources Research Center of Yazd, Iran ABSTRACT. Seed aging is the main problem of seed storage. Changes of enzyme activity and reduction of seedling growth are consequence of seed deterioration. An experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of accelerated aging on germination indexes and enzyme activity of barley seeds. Seeds were incubated in closed plastic boxes for the accelerated aging treatments at 41°C. Three accelerate aging regimes were performed by placing seeds at 41°C and relative humidity (RH) of 90-100 % for 0, 4 and 8 day periods. Our results showed that increasing aging duration resulted higher reduction in germination percentage, germination index, mean time to germination, normal seedling percentage, catalase and ascorbate peroxidase. The highest germination percentage, germination index, normal seedling percentage and enzyme activity were achieved in control conditions (0 day of aging). Under aging conditions, germination percentage, means time to germination, germination index, normal seedling percentage and enzyme activity decrease significantly. Also, our results indicated that seed aging is related to decrease of enzymes and may contribute to low germination efficiency. The general decreases in enzyme activity in the seed lowers the respiratory capacity, which in turn lowers both the energy (ATP) and assimilates supply of the germinating seed, also decrease in antioxidant enzymes is linked to an increased accelerated ageing and decreased germination characteristics. Subsequently, proposed a positive relationship between antioxidant enzyme capacity and the vigour of the seed.