Changes in the synthesis of some proteins during breaking of secondarily induced thermodormancy by respiration inhibitors (cyanide, azide) and BAP in embryos of Agrostemma githago L. seeds

Secondary dormancy (thermodormancy) in Agrostemma githago L. seeds, caused by imbibing the seeds for 4 d at 35°C in the dark, is broken under the influence of cyanide (10 mM), azide (1 mM or BAP (0.44 mM). Both respiration inhibitors (cyanide and azide) and BAP increase the synthesis of five specific soluble proteins in the embryo axes and cotyledons. The activity of β-cyanoalanine synthase (β-CAS, EC 4.4.1.9.), which is able to detoxify cyanide, decreased in response to cyanide and azide. The relevance of these findings to the breaking of thermodormancy is discussed.