Metabolism of excised embryos of Lupinus luteus L. VII. An electrophoretic analysis of esterases and peroxidases in cultured embryos and normal seedling axes

A rich and active spectrum of esterases (E) exists already in the organs of a dry seed. The isolation of axes from the cotyledons exerts a considerable influence on the pattern of E. In the axial organs of a seedling the spectra and activity become impoverished starting from the 3rd day of culture in the dark. On the other hand in the axial organs isolated from the cotyledons from that moment onwards the spectra become richer and more active, particularily in the root. It appears that the enhancement of spectra in the detached axes is not dependent on the elimination with the cotyledons of a source of inhibitors, since in the cotyledons, until the end of the culture period (12 days), a rich pattern of E is maintained. Peroxidase (P) appears starting from the third day giving impoverished spectra, in general development similar to E. The removal of the seed coat from dry seeds exerts during the first two days of imbibition a strong influence on the spectra of axial and cotyledonary enzyms