Comparison of reconstruction of carbon and nitrogen compounds during germination between gramineae and leguminosae

Abstract

In order to obtain basic information on the reconstruction of carbon and nitrogen compounds during germination, changes in the content and composition of the chemical components of Gramineae (rice, wheat, and maize) and Leguminosae (soybean, field bean, and peanut) during germination were compared. The results obtained were as follows.

1.	In seeds, the carbohydrate content decreased preferentially in Gramineae, whereas components such as crude protein, carbohydrates, crude fiber, and crude lipid were decomposed rather evenly in Leguminosae during germination.
2.	The composition of the free amino acids and amides (FAA) and amino acids of hydrolyzed proteins (PAA) in seeds was similar in Gramineae, but different in Leguminosae during germination. In all the crops of these two families examined, the composition of FAA in stems was different from that of PAA in seeds and leaves.
3.	The composition of PAA was quite similar in seeds and leaves in all the crops examined.
4.	Nitrogen application did not affect the composition of FAA and PAA in all the crops.
5.	The reconstruction process of the carbon and nitrogen compounds was assumed to be quite different among these two families.

Key Words:

• chemical components
• germination
• Gramineae
• Leguminosae
• reconstruction of amino acids