Comparison between two gravimetric methods to determine the lignin content in soybean seed coat
2001
A:PS
Details
Title
Comparison between two gravimetric methods to determine the lignin content in soybean seed coat
Publication Date
2001
Call Number
A:PS
Summary
Soyabean (Glycine max) seed coat lignin content is an important trait for the selection of genotypes for seed physical and physiological qualities. Lignin provides resistance in the seed coat against embryo mechanical damage originating from harvesting, conditioning and handling operations. The objective of this research was to select the best methodology for the determination of the lignin content in the seed coat, with the purpose of screening soyabean breeding lines for high seed quality. Plants of 12 soyabean cultivars, known to vary in mechanical damage susceptibility and lignin content in the seed coat, were hand harvested after physiological maturity (R7) and dried to a moisture content of 13% (?0.5%) fresh weight. At this stage, pods were hand threshed and the seed coats removed for the evaluation of lignin content, using two different analytical procedures. Sulfuric acid was used to digest organic matter in one method and in the other, potassium permanganate was used. Coefficients of variation of 2.5% for the sulfuric acid method and 18.6% for the potassium permanganate method were found. The mean separation of the results of lignin content by the sulfuric acid method identified five distinct groups of cultivars, while the potassium permanganate method identified only three groups. Based on these results, the following conclusion was drawn: while the sulfuric acid method requires more time for the analytical procedure (24 hours) than the potassium permanganate (6 hours) method, sulfuric acid is more accurate and sensitive for determining lignin content in tissues with very low lignin content, such as in the soyabean seed coat.
Journal Citation
v.29(3):619-624, SEED SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Contact Information
harvest@worldveg.org
Record Appears in
Research > Published Articles