Action of different enzymes on germination of lettuce seeds (Lactuca sativa L.) - Asteraceae

Seed germination involves the use of different enzymes for metabolism. The aim of this study was to evaluate theeffect of different commercial enzymes on germination of lettuce seeds. Lettuce seeds were immersed in a solution of300 mL distilled water and 5.0 mL enzyme solution during one hour. The treatments consisted of the commercialenzyme solutions: (1) Alcalase and Celluclean (purpose catalyze hydrolysis of peptide bonds and bonds of beta1,3 and 1,4 glucan present in the cellulose, respectively), (2) Pectinex (purpose dilutes pectin, releasing sugars),(3) Alcalase (purpose to catalyze peptide bonds), (4) Pectinex and Alcalase (purpose to catalyze peptide bondsand to release sugars), (5) Alcalase and Ban (purpose to catalyze peptide bonds and hydrolysis of bonds alpha1,4 - glucosidic forming dextrin preferably as product), (6) Spirizyme (glucoamylase enzyme: glucan 1,4 alphaglucosidase)and (7) control (distilled water free of enzymes). After treatment with the enzyme solutions seeds weresown in Petri dishes containing filter paper or soil as a substrate, both saturated with distilled water. The seeds ofall treatments germinated in four days after seeding. The percentage of seed germination on filter paper showed nosignificant differences between the treatments, but the germination percentage showed statistical differences whengerminated in the soil. The highest percentages of germination in the soil were in the control treatment (96.6%) andin the treatment with Pectinex and Alcalase (81.6%). Industrial enzymes application in lettuce seeds does notincrease the speed and percentage of seed germination.