NIGERIAN JOURNAL OF SCIENCE AND ENVIRONMENT
Journal of the Faculties of Science and Agriculture, Delta State University, Abraka, Nigeria
ISSN: 1119-9008
DOI: 10.5987/UJ-NJSE
Email: njse@universityjournals.org
ACTIVITIES OF SOME CELL WALL ENZYMES OF THE HAUSTORIUM OF THE GERMINATING OIL PALM (ELAEIS GUINEENSIS) SEED
DOI: 10.5987/UJ-NJSE.17.108.3 | Article Number: A512E523 | Vol.10 (3) - December 2011
Authors: Osagie V. E. and Azih M. C.
Studies were carried out on the quantity of total hydrolysed oil extracted from tissues around the haustorium of the germinating oil palm seed (Elaeis guineensis). The seedlings used ranged in age from day-old to 12 weeks. The activities of cellulase and proteinase enzymes were also determined. The study showed that the levels of hydrolysed lipids around the haustorium gradually increased from the day-old (0.1327g lipid/g of haustorium) to the highest value of 1.4626g/g for the 8th week. This was then followed by a drop to 0.8103g/g by the 12th week. The activity of cellulose (μmole cellobiose equiv./min) rose from 1.93 × 10−4 for the day-old to 16.00 × 10−4 by the 10th week, while the relative activity of proteinase (expressed as change in absorbance per minute) rose from 4.20 × 10−3 (day-old) to 19.20 × 10−3 (10th week). The results suggest an enhanced breakdown of cell wall components of the haustorium, aided by the cell wall enzymes, to facilitate maximal absorption of the stored food reserve.
Abeles, F. B. and Takeda, F. (1990). Cellulase activity and ethylene in ripening strawberry and apple fruits. Scientia Horticulturae 42 (4): 269-275.
Abu-Goukh, A. A. and Bashir, H. A. (2003). Changes in pectic enzymes and cellulase activity during guava fruit ripening. Food Chemistry 83 (2): 213-218.
Alang, Z C., Moir, G.F.J and Hones, L. H. (1988). Composition, degradation and utilization
of endosperm during germination in the oil palm (Elaeis guineensis jacq.). Annals of Botany
61: 261-268.
Boatman, S.G.(1956). Fatty acid metabolism in the developing seeding of Elaeis guineensis
jacq. Ph.d. Thesis, University of Southampton. (As cited by Boatman & Crombie, 1958).
Boatman, S.G. and Crombie, W.M. (1958). Fat metabolism in the West Afican oil palm (E.
guineensis) part 2. Fatty acid metabolism in the developing seeding. Journal of Experimental
Botany 9 (25): 52-74.
Bonner, J. and Varner, J.E. (1976). Plant Biochemistry. Academic Press, New York.
Dixon, W.J. and Massey, F.J. (1957). Introduction to Statistical Analysis. McGraw-Hill Book
Company Inc., Toronto.
Fisher, R.A. and Yates, F. (1974). Statistical Tables for Biological, Agricultural and Medical
Research. 6th ed. Longman, London.
Hasegawa, S. and Smolesky, D.C. (1971). Cellulase in Dates and its Role in Fruit Softening. Journal of Food Science 36: 966-967.
Hinton, D.M. and Pressey, R. (1974). Cellulase Activity in Peaches during Ripening. Journalof Food Science 36: 783-787.
Hancock, J.G. and Miller, R.L. (1965). Association of Cellulolytic, Proteolytic and Xylolytic
Enzymes with Southern Anthracnose, Spring Black Stem and Stamphylium leaf spot of alfaalfa. Phytopathology 55: 356-360.
Nartey, F., Miller, B.l. and Anderson, M.R. (1974). Changes in the Major Constituents of
Manihot esculenta Seeds during Germination and Growth. Economic Botonay. 28: 145-154.
Oo, K. C. and Stumpf, P. K. (1983). Some Enzymic Activities in the Germinating Oil Palm
(Elaeis guineensis) Seedling. Plant Physiology 73 (4): 1028–1032.
Opiyo, A. M. and Ying, T.J. (2010). Regulation of cellulase and pectinase activities in cherry tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum mill var. cerasiforme) fruit by use of 1-
methylcyclopropene. ARPN Journal of Agricultural and Biological Science 5 (5): 55-64.
Pesis, E., Fuchs, Y. and Zauberman, G. (1978). Cellulase activity and fruit softening in avocado. Plant Physiology 61: 416-419