What is germination?5 answersGermination is a natural process that involves the sprouting and growth of a seed into a plant. During germination, the seed absorbs water and undergoes biochemical changes, resulting in the activation of enzymes and the breakdown of stored nutrients. This process leads to an increase in the nutritional and functional quality of the seed. Germination has been shown to enhance the content of bioactive compounds such as polyphenols, vitamins, and antioxidants in edible seeds, which can have various health benefits. It also improves the digestibility of proteins and reduces the levels of antinutritional factors, making the seeds more suitable for consumption. Germination can be considered a cost-effective and efficient method to enhance the nutritional value of plant-based proteins and grains.
How does seed size affect germination?5 answersSeed size has a significant effect on germination. In some studies, it was found that smaller seeds had higher germination percentages compared to larger seeds. However, other studies showed that larger seeds had higher germination rates and shorter germination periods compared to smaller seeds. Seed size also influenced other morphological parameters such as root and shoot length, number of leaves, and collar diameter. Additionally, seed size affected seedling growth under different stress conditions. Medium and large seeds were more tolerant to salt stress, while small seeds had reduced germination rates under salt stress conditions. Under water stress conditions, shoot growth was drastically reduced for all seed sizes, but root growth was higher in seedlings from medium and large seeds. Overall, seed size plays a crucial role in germination and seedling growth, and its effects can vary depending on the specific plant species and environmental conditions.
What effect does germination have on different protein fractions in legumes?5 answersGermination of legumes has been found to have various effects on different protein fractions. During germination, there is an increase in albumin, globulin, kafirin, and glutelin proteins. Additionally, there is a decrease in cross-linked kafirin and cross-linked glutelin proteins. These changes in protein fractions indicate that germination leads to alterations in the composition and availability of proteins in legumes.
What are the fundamental changes to Legume protein during germination?5 answersDuring germination, legume protein undergoes several fundamental changes. Proteolysis is increased, leading to the breakdown of storage proteins and the reduction of anti-nutrient protease inhibitors. Germinating legume sprouts also show significant increases in free amino acids, particularly asparagine. Germination also results in a shift in protein size distribution towards smaller fractions and an increase in protein solubility. Additionally, germination depletes flatulence-causing oligosaccharides and reduces the levels of phytic acid, trypsin inhibitors, and tannins. The extent of improvement in digestibility during germination is species and strain dependent. The changes in legume protein during germination can be characterized using traditional analytical approaches, as well as proteomic and peptidomic analysis of mass spectrometry-identified peptide breakdown products.
What are the nutritional impacts of germination on legumes?5 answersGermination has several nutritional impacts on legumes. During germination, the amount of antinutritional compounds decreases, while the content of bioactive compounds such as phenolic compounds, phytosterols, folate, gamma aminobutyric acid, and antioxidant activity increases. Germination also leads to the synthesis of new compounds like Ɣ-oryzanol and amino acids. Additionally, the nutritional values of legumes are enhanced through the germination process, including increased protein/starch digestibility and vitamin content, as well as decreased antinutritional compounds. Germination is an economical and natural processing technique that can improve the nutritional profile, functional characteristics, and bioactive composition of legumes, making them more beneficial for human health.
What is the relationship between seed weight and germination in grasses?1 answersSeed weight has been found to have a relationship with germination in grasses. In Poaceae plants on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, there was a positive correlation between seed mass and germination index, indicating that larger-seed species had faster germination than smaller-seed species. In slender creeping red fescue, perennial ryegrass, and Kentucky bluegrass, the relationship between seed weight and germination percentage (GP) and mean germination time (MGT) could be described by nonlinear functions, with GP increasing and MGT decreasing with increasing seed weight. In rao plants, seed weight was strongly correlated with germination time and germination rate, with heavier seeds having longer germination times but faster germination rates. In wheat cultivars, heavy seeds generally had a slightly higher percentage germination and faster germination than light seeds, although the effect varied depending on the specific cultivar and salinity levels. In sand bluestem, sideoats grama, blue grama, switchgrass, and yellow indiangrass, heavy seeds had a slightly higher percentage germination and faster germination than light seeds, with heavy switchgrass seeds having a significantly greater percentage germination.