ACTIVITY OF THE PENTOSE-PHOSPHATE PATHWAY AND CHANGES IN NICOTINAMIDE NUCLEOTIDE CONTENT DURING GERMINATION OF SEEDS OF CICER-ARIETINUM-L

Changes in the level of nicotinamide nucleotides, rate of 14CO2 output from [1-14C] or [614 C6/C1 ratios, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase, and NAD kinase activities were determined during the first 72 h of germination of seeds of Cicer arietinum L. The level of oxidized and reduced forms of nicotinamide nucleotides, together with the activity of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase, NAD kinase, and C6/C1 ratios, suggest that the pentose phosphate pathway is activated during early germination in cotyledons of chick pea seeds. The results obtained in embryonic axes seems to indicate a lower participation of the PP pathway, probably due to the development of the activity of the glycolytic-TCA pathway. © 1979 Oxford University Press.