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Differences in accumulation of soluble α-galactosides during seed maturation of several Vicia species

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Abstract

Composition and levels of soluble α-galactosides: raffinose family oligosaccharides (RFOs) and galactosyl cyclitols (Gal-C) in developing seeds were measured by high resolution gas chromatography (HRGC) method. The studies were performed on maturing seeds of several wild and cultivated Vicia species: Vicia angustifolia L. (common vetch), Vicia cracca L. (bird vetch), Vicia grandiflora Scop. (large yellow vetch), Vicia hirsuta (L.) S.F.Gray (tiny vetch), Vicia sativa L. (garden vetch, spring-growing cultivar Kwarta), and Vicia villosa Roth (winter vetch).

In all Vicia species similar patterns in the accumulation of RFOs were observed. Galactinol — the donor of galactosyl moieties in α-galactosides biosynthesis was present in the middle stage of seed development, before appearing measurable levels of RFOs. Accumulation of RFOs started parallel with seed desiccation process. At first accumulation of the raffinose, then few days later stachyose and finally verbascose was noticed. In the final stage of seed maturation the verbascose was the main soluble α-galactoside (up to 3% of dry weight, V. sativa). Besides the RFOs seeds of three Vicia species (V. cracca, V. hirsuta, and V. villosa) accumulated d-pinitol and its α-galactosides (Gal-C). Mono-galactosylpinitols (similar to raffinose) appeared in these species 2–4 days after galactinol, di-galactosyl pinitol A (common name: ciceritol) and di-galactosyl myo-inositol were present several days later than raffinose, and accumulation of tri-galactosyl pinitol A (TGPA) began after accumulation of stachyose. Matured seeds of V. hirsuta contained much more RFOs than Gal-C, opposite to seeds of V. villosa, and V. cracca where concentration of Gal-C was 4–8-fold higher than RFOs. In V. cracca seeds RFOs were almost replaced by Gal-C.

In seeds of V. cracca and V. villosa the level of d-pinitol was significantly higher, than the level of myo-inositol. Contents of both cyclitols declined rapidly at the beginning of seed desiccation, when accumulation of RFOs and Gal-C quickly increased. We suggest that α-galactosides of d-pinitol can substitute raffinose family oligosaccharides and play similar role during seed maturation and storage.

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Abbreviations

RFOs:

raffinose family oligosaccharides

Gal-C:

galactosyl cyclitols

DAF:

day after flowering

FW:

fresh weight

DW:

dry weight

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Plant Physiology and Biotechnology, Warmia and Mazury University, Oczapowskiego 1A, 10-957, Olsztyn, Poland

    Lesław B. Lahuta, Ryszard J. Górecki & Ewa Gojło

  2. Vegetable Quality Laboratory, Research Institute of Vegetable Crops, Konstytucji 3 Maja 1/3, 96-100, Skierniewice, Poland

    Marcin Horbowicz

Authors
  1. Lesław B. Lahuta
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  2. Ryszard J. Górecki
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  3. Ewa Gojło
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  4. Marcin Horbowicz
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Correspondence to Lesław B. Lahuta.

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Lahuta, L.B., Górecki, R.J., Gojło, E. et al. Differences in accumulation of soluble α-galactosides during seed maturation of several Vicia species. Acta Physiol Plant 27, 163–171 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11738-005-0020-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11738-005-0020-8

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