Changes in soluble sugar and antioxidant enzymes in peanut seeds during ultra dry storage and after accelerated aging

Changes in soluble sugars and antioxidant enzymes in peanut seeds during ultra dry storage and after accelerated aging were investigated. The results indicate that ultra-drying treatments improved the aging-resistance ability of peanut seeds. The ratio of non-reducing sugars/reducing sugars and the ability of aging-resistance of moderately ultra-dried peanut seeds (MC 2.0%) were higher than those of control seeds (non-ultra-dried seeds) after accelerated aging. Ultra-drying treatments inhibited superoxide production to some extent and enhanced lipid oxidation during accelerated aging compared with the control. The antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT)) in ultra-dried seeds remained more effective than those of control seeds, which were in accordance with the change of vigor of seeds. The content of ATP and the activities of antioxidation enzymes (SOD, CAT, APX and G-POD) in the embryo of ultra-dried peanut seeds, with different moisture contents stored under natural conditions, were significantly higher than those of control seeds during germination, while the contents of lipid peroxidation products were lower than those in control seeds. These results indicated that the prolonging of seed life by ultra-drying treatment is closely associated with the changes in soluble sugars and reactive oxygen.