EFFECT OF TITANIUM ASCORBATE ON THE LIPOXYGENASE PATHWAY OF TOMATO AND RED-PEPPER SEEDLINGS

The effect of titanium applied as titanium ascorbate (Titavit(R)) on t he lipoxygenase (LOX) pathway of tomato and red pepper seedlings was s tudied. Seeds were germinated in solutions containing titanium at 5 an d 10 ppm. The uptake of titanium was significant and occurred at a sim ilar amount for both tomato and red pepper. LOX and hydroperoxide deco mposing (HPD) activities were determined in the crude extracts. The re sults showed that LOX activity in the extract of Titavit-germinated se edlings was significantly higher than that of the control, whereas no effect was observed on the activity of HPD enzymes. It is suggested th at activation of LOX by Titavit was due to a chemical interaction of t itanium within the reaction mixture than to an induction of the biosyn theis of the enzyme.