CHANGES IN QUANTITIES OF INOSITOL PHOSPHATES DURING MATURATION AND GERMINATION OF LEGUME SEEDS

The changes in the quantities of inositol phosphates during the matura tion and germination of pea, faba bean and lupin seeds were determined in two consecutive (1993 and 1994) years of differing weather conditi ons. Irrespective of the year, all seeds accumulated predominantly ino sitol hexaphosphate (IP6). The weather conditions influenced the accum ulation of inositol phosphates in maturing seeds, but they did not inf luence the total content. Gradual degradation of inositol phosphates o ccurred during seed germination. After 8 days of germination, IP6 was degraded by some 80% in peas, 78% in faba beans and 42% in lupin seeds . The enzymic hydrolysis of higher forms of inositol phosphates (IP6 a nd IP5) in germinating seeds was assumed to yield inositol tetraphosph ate (IP4) and inositol triphosphate (IP3), because the quantities of t hese compounds increased during seed germination.