PHOSPHATE METABOLITES IN GERMINATING LETTUCE SEEDS OBSERVED BY P-31 NMR-SPECTROSCOPY

31P NMR spectroscopy was used with intact lettuce seeds to study the phosphorylated metabolites in vivo. Phytate, inorg. phosphate, and sugar phosphates were identified at different imbibition times. The identification of the various metabolites was confirmed with perchloric acid exts. Particular attention was devoted to phytic acid and to inorg. phosphate. Changes of levels of these metabolites during germination were obsd. These results show that metabolic processes, involving phosphate metabolites, can be followed directly in intact-germinating seeds by 31P NMR spectroscopy.