Biochemical Analysis of Developing Wheat Grains

Developing wheat grain was analysed for its fresh and dry weights, water content and some enzymes of the respiratory pathway. Grain dry weight data was fitted to a polynomial equation and biphasic linear regression analysis. Based on biphasic regression analysis and data of water content, the entire wheat grain development is divided into four phases: (i) cell division; (ii) cell elongation; (iii) dry matter accumulation; and (iv) maturation. Various enzymes of glycolysis, Oxidative pentose phosphate pathway and Tricarboxylic acid cycle have been estimated during entire wheat grain development, which recorded higher activities during cell elongation phase and maintained higher levels during dry matter accumulation phase. The role of these enzymes in the generation of NADPH and provision of carbon skeleton for starch and nucleic acid synthesis is discussed.