Paper Title
Effect of Priming on Physiological and Chromosomal Changes of Stored Soybean Seeds

Abstract
Soybean seed ageing during storage is major cause of seed deterioration for agricultural production. Seed priming is an effective technique to improve seed quality and seedling establishment in a various number of crops. This study was undertaken to examine changes in mechanisms involved in prolonged storage seeds following priming. The seeds of grain type soybean cultivar, Cikurai were stored at room temperature (25ºC) for 6, 9 and 12months. Stored seeds were primed with water, 0.5% chitosan and -0.8MPa PEG. Priming with -0.8MPa PEG significantly improved percentage germination of 6 and9 month stored seeds with increased activities of catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) and decreased contents of malondialdehyde (MDA) and chromosomal aberrations. The study indicates that loss in seed germination during ageing is due to failure of CAT and SOD enzymes to protect ROS attack resulting auto-oxidation of lipid and nucleic acid. The results also suggest that membrane damage and genetic damage occurred in stored seeds are reduced with sufficient amount of antioxidant enzymes such as CAT and SOD enhanced by priming. Keywords - seed storage, priming, antioxidant enzymes, lipid peroxidation, chromosomal aberrations