Effect of Anoxia on Energy Charge and Protein Synthesis in Rice Embryo

Abstract

Energy charge, adenine nucleotide levels, and protein synthesis were studied during the transfer of rice seedlings from air to anoxia. Within minutes, the energy charge value dropped from 0.90 in air to 0.50 in the seed and 0.60 in the coleoptile after the transfer to a nitrogen atmosphere, and then increased to a value of 0.80 during the subsequent hours. The sum of nucleotides also dropped to 60% of the value in air in the seeds and to 30% in the coleoptiles. However, during the anaerobic growth of coleoptiles, a considerable increase in the nucleotide pool occurred.