The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of temperature on the oxidative metabolism through the activity of the enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD), ascorbate peroxidase (APX) and catalase (CAT) in the embryonic axis and micropylar endosperm of Melanoxylon brauna Schott seeds during germination. The seeds were sown in paper rolls germitest moistened with distilled water and subjected to constant temperatures of 15, 25, 30 and 40°C for 10 days. Measurements of the activities of enzymes SOD, APX and CAT were made in the seeds germinated under the same conditions described above, and every 12 hours until the samples were taken root protrusion of 50% of the seeds or 168 hours for the temperature 15°C. There were no activities of the enzymes SOD, APX and CAT in the micropylar endosperm at different temperatures. In the embryonic axis, the activities of the enzymes SOD and CAT showed greater changes over the germination of 15°C and 40°C, demonstrating that temperature stress causes oxidative damage. The APX enzyme activity in the embryonic axis was not affected by temperature during germination and its activity was extremely low. © 2014, Federal University of Lavras. All rights reserved.
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