Phytosterol Composition of Arachis hypogaea Seeds from Different Maturity Classes

Abstract

The seeds of cultivated peanut, Arachis hypogaea, are an agronomically important crop produced for human nutrition, oilseed and feed stock. Peanut seed is the single most expensive variable input cost and thus producers require seed with excellent performance in terms of germination efficiency. During the maturation process, triglycerides are stored in oil bodies as an energy resource during germination and seedling development. The stability of oil body membranes is essential for nutrient mobilization during germination. This study focused on evaluating the phytosterol composition in seed components including the kernel, embryo (heart), and seed coat or skin. Samples of different maturity classes were analyzed for macronutrient and phytosterol content. The three biosynthetic end products in the phytosterol pathway, β-sitosterol, campesterol and stigmasterol, comprised 82.29%, 86.39% and 94.25% of seed hearts, kernels and seed coats, respectively. Stigmasterol concentration was highest in the seed kernel, providing an excellent source of this sterol known to have beneficial effects on human health. Peanut hearts contained the highest concentration of sterols by mass, potentially providing protection and resources for the developing seedling. The amount of α-tocopherol increases in peanut hearts during the maturation process, providing protection from temperature stress, as well as stability required for seedling vigor. These results suggest that phytosterols may play a significant role in the performance of seeds, and provide a possible explanation for the poor germination efficiency of immature seeds.

Acquisition of the physiological quality of peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) seeds during maturation under the influence of the maternal environment

“…In general, we showed that the peanut seed acquires physiological quality sequentially with development, and that harvesting at the right time will improve its quality. As reported in previous studies, peanut seeds have less accumulation of reserves in the early stages of development [33,42], which also reinforces the idea that they do not have the complete constitution of their chemical composition. Therefore, immature seeds are of low physiological quality and have less accumulation of reserves for the production of vigorous seedlings in the field, which harms the formation of crops [17].…”

“…presented in studies performed with pepper seeds [41], okra [22] and soybean [9]. In peanut seeds, the accumulation of phytopherols, a special class of structural lipids, increases during maturation, and they may play a key role in seed performance and seedling vigor [42]. In addition, it is worth noting that the expression of the seed vigor also includes its storage potential [6,8].…”

Effect of Fungicides on Bayberry Decline Disease by Modulating Rhizosphere Soil Properties, Microflora, and Metabolites

“…The contents of the above substances were significantly increased by 59.31-149.48% (Figure 6; Table 5). Studies showed that phytosterols may play an important role in seed germination, which explains the low germination efficiency of immature seeds [31]. Thermal oxidation treatment may lead to the formation of phytosterol oxidation products, such as ketones, hydroxyl groups, and epoxy derivatives [32].…”

The dehiscence process in Panax ginseng seeds and the stigmasterol biosynthesis pathway in terms of metabolomics

“…Phytosterols can also regulate membrane-bound enzymes. For example, stigmasterol stimulates proton pumps in cellular membranes; therefore, it participates in some signal transduction activities associated with seed development [ [49] , [50] , [51] , [52] ]. Phytosterols are also precursors of several plant hormones, particularly BRs.…”