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The levels of melatonin and its metabolites in conditioned corn (Zea mays L.) and cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) seeds during storage

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Abstract

The efficiency of pre-sowing conditioning/priming methods used to apply melatonin into seeds was verified: osmopriming in the case of dicot Cucumis sativus and hydropriming of monocot Zea mays seeds. Both priming techniques were selected experimentally as optimal for the studied plant species. Four different seed variants were compared: control non-treated ones, and seeds conditioned with water or with 50 or 500 μM melatonin water solutions. The HPLC–MS quantitative and qualitative analyses were used to determine the content of melatonin and of its potential metabolites in the seeds during 1 year following the conditioning. The control seeds and those conditioned with water contained small amount of endogenous melatonin in both species. However, the level of this indoleamine increased markedly in cucumber and corn seeds primed with exogenous melatonin and it was always correlated with the concentration of melatonin applied. It was noted that melatonin was metabolized during seed storage by its gradual oxidation, thus it protects dry seeds against oxidative stress, prevents potential injuries and significantly increases seeds quality. Interestingly, in the control and water-primed seeds, seasonal fluctuations of endogenous melatonin concentration were noted and significant increase in this indoleamine in the winter month was observed. This suggests that in seeds endogenous melatonin could play a crucial role in seasonal rhythms independently of environmental conditions.

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Acknowledgments

Research work financed in the years 2011/2014 by the National Science Centre of Poland as NCN N N310 111940 project.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Ecophysiology and Plant Development, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, University of Lodz, 12/16 Banacha Str., 90-237, Lodz, Poland

    Izabela Kołodziejczyk, Marta Bałabusta & Małgorzata M. Posmyk

  2. Department of Industrial Microbiology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, University of Lodz, 12/16 Banacha Str., 90-237, Lodz, Poland

    Rafał Szewczyk

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  1. Izabela Kołodziejczyk
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  2. Marta Bałabusta
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  3. Rafał Szewczyk
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  4. Małgorzata M. Posmyk
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Correspondence to Małgorzata M. Posmyk.

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Communicated by J. van Staden.

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Kołodziejczyk, I., Bałabusta, M., Szewczyk, R. et al. The levels of melatonin and its metabolites in conditioned corn (Zea mays L.) and cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) seeds during storage. Acta Physiol Plant 37, 105 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11738-015-1850-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11738-015-1850-7

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