THE INFLUENCE OF THE TREATMENT OF IMPULSE PRESSURE ON LIPID PEROXIDATION AND THE CONTENT OF ANTIOXIDANTS IN WHEAT GRAINS DURING AGING

Background. The aging of seeds results in physiological and biochemical changes such as decrease of the activity of antioxidants (AO), and structural and functional degradation of proteins due to lipid peroxidation (LP), as well as degradation of membranes and DNA. Purpose. Identification of the traits of the antioxidant system of wheat grains with powdery and vitreous endosperm during aging and under the influence of a stressor. Materials and methods. Soft wheat grains were treated with impulse pressure (IP) and stored for 3 years. Germination was determined. The content AO was determined by the o-phenanthroline method, and LP products were assessed by the reaction of malonic dialdehyde with thiobarbituric acid. Results. Germination of control seeds with powdery endosperm after storage for 3 years was the lowest (20%). In control part of seeds with vitreous endosperm, germination was 27%. ID increased the amount of seeds with vitreous endosperm and germination. The content of AO in control grains with powdery endosperm was higher than in vitreous grains, and the content of LP products was lower. After the treatment of IP the content of AO increased in vitreous grains; it did not change as compared to the control in powdery grains. The content of LP products in the grains treated with ID 11 MPa was lower than in the control variant. An increase in POL at ID 29 MPa indicates the accumulation of damage; Conclusion. During the storage of wheat grains, germination decreased mainly due to the appearance of dead grains. The greatest decrease in germination was observed in grains with powdery endosperm. IP promoted vitrification of biopolymers which led to an increase in germination as compared to the control after 3 years of storage. A higher content of AO in grains with vitreous endosperm after IP treatment and storage contributed to the preservation of grain viability during storage.