EFFECTS OF ANOXIA ON SUCROSE DEGRADING ENZYMES IN CEREAL SEEDS

We report here data on the effects of anaerobic conditions on the stat us of cytosolic sucrose degrading enzymes. The activities of sucrose s ynthase (EC 2.4.1.13) and cytosolic alkaline invertase (EC 3.2.1.26) w ere studied in rice (Oryza sativa L.), maize (Zea mais L.), wheat (Tri ticum aestivum L.), and barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) seeds and seedling s subjected to air-anoxia transition or directly sown under anaerobic conditions. The activity of alcohol dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.1) is also reported, to allow comparison with a typical anaerobic polypeptide. T he data, discussed and compared with the other available reports on th is subject, indicate sucrose synthase induction at the transcriptional level also in maize seedlings, and suggest that sucrose synthase is t he major sucrose-degrading enzyme in cereal seeds directly sown under anaerobic conditions.