Effects of air pollutants on the percent protein of vegetable seed species.

The research attempts to study the effects of air pollutants on percent protein/unit fresh weight in selected vegetable seed species. The study of seed protein is important because protein is the major source of enzymes in the living system to operate the metabolic pathways. Glucose acts as a substrate for cellular respiration and produces energy. Amylase breaks down the storage starch to yield free glucose. Samples were collected at 2-hour intervals up to 12 hours. The Schmidt, Thanhauser, and Schneider extraction scheme for isolating and purifying proteins was applied to the germinating vegetable seeds. Layne's Spectrophotmetric assay for quantitating total protein was applied. The graphic display of the total proteins at 2-hour intervals provided the rate of protein synthesis. The gases used in this experimentation were carbon monoxide (CO), sulfur dioxide (SO2), and nitrogen dioxide (NO2), at 24 ppm, a concentration attainable in most industrialized cities. They were applied to the germinating vegetable seeds in sealed chambers. The ten vegetable seed species utilized in this experimentation are commonly grown and consumed in South Carolina. Observations received as of yet exhibit that protein synthesis is promoted in tomato, bell pepper, squash, lima bean, and collard by carbon monoxide; in tomato, mustard, spinach, pumpkin, and collard sulfur dioxide; and in squash by nitrogen dioxide.