Ação de diferentes enzimas na germinação de sementes de alface ( Lactuca sativa L.) - Asteraceae 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 the effect of different commercial enzymes on germination of lettuce seeds. Lettuce seeds were immersed in a solution of 300 mL distilled water and 5.0 mL enzyme solution during one hour. The treatments consisted of the commercial enzyme solutions: (1) Alcalase ® and Celluclean ® (purpose catalyze hydrolysis of peptide bonds and bonds of beta 1,3 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 bonds and to release sugars), (5) Alcalase ® and Ban ® (purpose to catalyze peptide bonds and hydrolysis of bonds alpha 1,4 - 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 were sown in Petri dishes containing filter paper or soil as a substrate, both saturated with distilled water. The seeds of all treatments germinated in four days after seeding. The percentage of seed germination on filter paper showed no significant differences between the treatments, but the germination percentage showed statistical differences when germinated in the soil. The highest percentages of germination in the soil were in the control treatment (96.6%) and in the treatment with Pectinex ® and Alcalase ® (81.6%). Industrial enzymes application in lettuce seeds does not