TEMPERATURE AND HYDRATION-DEPENDENCE OF MOLECULAR MOBILITY IN SEEDS

Broad-band sc dielectric relaxation spectroscopy (DRS) and various tec hniques of thermally stimulated currents (TSC) have been used to inves tigate molecular mobility in cereal and legume seeds, over wide ranges of water content and temperature. We focused our interest on the deta iled study of the interactions between water and seed constituents. Th e results are quantitatively discussed, using various concepts dictate d by the experimental techniques employed and in relation to the prote in and carbohydrate contents of the seeds. In addition, the glass tran sition in the seeds, freezing and melting of water, and the protonic c onduction process have been studied in some detail.