Thermal behavior of calafate (Berberis buxifolia) seeds

Martín-Ramos, Pablo (Universidad de Zaragoza) ; Martín-Gil, Jesús ; Ramos-Sánchez, María del Carmen ; Hernández-Navarro, Salvador ; Martín-Gil, Francisco Javier

Resumen: Low temperature is the most important factor limiting the distribution of plants. In this study the low temperature thermal behavior of calafate seeds was analyzed by Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), and a vibrational characterization of their different components was conducted by infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). In cold-acclimated plants, such as calafate, the total percentage of polyunsaturated fatty acids in their seeds is significantly higher than that of saturated fatty acids. Successive freezing-thawing cycles lead to increased formation of linoleic (LA) and linolenic (LNA) a-crystals. This process would barely modify the phase-transition temperature of the lipid membrane but would lead to an increase in the membrane fluidity (LNA would make the cell membranes more fluid during seed development). It seems that processes in membranes rather than in the glassy cytoplasm may determine the cooling resistance.

Idioma: Inglés

DOI: 10.4067/S0717-92002016000300019

Año: 2016

Publicado en: Bosque (Valdivia) 37, 3 (2016), 625-630
ISSN: 0304-8799

Factor impacto JCR: 0.52 (2016)

Categ. JCR: FORESTRY rank: 50 / 64 = 0.781 (2016) - Q4 - T3

Factor impacto SCIMAGO: 0.235 - Forestry (Q3)

Tipo y forma: Article (Published version)

Área (Departamento): Area Ingeniería Agroforestal (Dpto. CC.Agrar.y Medio Natural)