The Mechanisms of Changes in Storage Substances and Hormone Levels During Artificial Aging of Different Varieties of...

Seed aging is a key issue that affects the preservation of germplasm resources and crop production. At present, the anti-aging properties of perilla seeds and the mechanisms of differences among varieties have not been clearly reported. This study aims to analyze the mechanisms of changes in storage substances and hormone levels in different varieties of perilla during the artificial aging process. The results show that seed aging can significantly reduce the activity of antioxidant enzymes in perilla seeds, decrease the contents of storage nutrients such as soluble proteins, soluble sugars, and oil content, reduce the accumulation of unsaturated fatty acids such as oleic acid, linoleic acid, and linolenic acid, and significantly decrease the contents of endogenous Gibberellic acid (GA₃) and Indole-3-acetic acid (IAA). Meanwhile, the levels of hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) and Malondialdehyde (MDA) increased significantly, while the contents of saturated fatty acids such as palmitic acid and stearic acid rose, and the contents of endogenous Abscisic acid (ABA), Jasmonic acid (JA), Salicylic acid (SA), and Trans-zeatin riboside (TZR) were significantly upregulated. There are significant genotype differences in the tolerance of different perilla varieties to seed aging. The sensitivity of Shiban Perill (S23014) to aging stress is significantly higher than that of Qisu No. 2 (S23017). This study has confirmed that seed aging has adverse effects on the germination of perilla seeds by down-regulating the activity of antioxidant enzymes, reducing the accumulation of storage nutrients, and disrupting the balance of endogenous hormones. The research results provide an important theoretical basis for the preservation of perilla seed germplasm resources and the selection of anti-aging varieties.