Changes in glutamate dehydrogenase and glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase activity during seed germination in groundnut

The levels of gultamate dehydrogenase and glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase activity were measured in the dormant and non-dormant groundnut seeds during 12 day period of germination. The mature dry seeds contained high levels of both the enzymes which decreased during first few days of imbibition. The activity of these enzymes increased subsequently to a peak which was comparatively lower in the freshly harvested dormant seeds. It appears that the preformed enzymes present in the mature dry seeds to initiate germination but for further growth of the seedling new enzyme synthesis is required which gets blocked metabolically during the seed dormancy.