Abstract

CHAPARRO, DIANA C; PISMAG, REMIGIO Y  and  ELIZALDE C, ANA DE DIOS. GERMINATION EFFECT ON IRON AND CALCIUM CONTENT IN AMARANTH, QUINOA, PIGEON PEA AND SOYBEAN. Rev.Bio.Agro [online]. 2011, vol.9, n.1, pp.51-59. ISSN 1692-3561.

Changes on iron and calcium quantity were evaluated during the germination process of amaranth (Amaranthus sp.), quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa), pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan) and soybean (Glycine max) seeds. Seeds produced by farmers in the department of Cauca were used; the four species were selected being sure about their physical quality and a germination percentage higher than 90%. Initially the germinated seed obtaining method was standardized by variables definition such as the use or not of disinfectant, type of substrate, germination time and germination temperature. During the research development a randomly complete block design with three replicates for germination day (day cero, one, two and three) was applied; in order to quantify the iron and calcium content atomic absorption was used. With the found results it is possible to conclude that particular changes in the iron and calcium availability for seeds of each species were induced by germination; in amaranth, soybean and quinoa seeds the available iron tended to diminish as germination process advanced; nevertheless, germination did not significantly affect the iron content in amaranth and pigeon pea seeds. Available calcium was significantly increased in amaranth and quinoa seeds starting from the second day of germination; a percentage increase in calcium content was generated by germination in the order of 169.1% in amaranth and 24.75% in quinoa, whereas in pigeon pea and soybean the available calcium content diminished with germination.

Keywords : Germination; Calcium; Iron; Amaranth; Quinoa; Soybean; Pigeon Pea.

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