**Free Radicals and Antioxidant System in Seed Biology**

**Free Radicals and Antioxidant System in Seed Biology**

DOI: 10.5772/intechopen.70837

#### Fadime Eryılmaz Pehlivan Fadime Eryılmaz Pehlivan Additional information is available at the end of the chapter

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166 Advances in Seed Biology

Additional information is available at the end of the chapter

http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.70837

**Abstract**

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are involved in various development stages of seed biology. During seed desiccation, germination and aging, oxidative stress may increase in higher levels, leading to cellular damage and seed deterioration. Plant cells have antioxidant system, detoxifying enzymes and antioxidant compounds, that scavenge ROS, participating in seed survival. This antioxidant system has various roles in desiccation and germination of developing seeds, seed storability, and seed aging. On the other hand, ROS are accepted as molecules involving in cellular signaling, and having regulatory functions in seed development. ROS are also found to have roles in gene expression in early embryogenesis, dormancy and germination. Abscisic acid is a plant hormone and a signaling molecule in seed development and that is reported to have relationships with ROS. The objective of this article is to review the roles of ROS and the importance of antioxidant system in orthodox seeds, and to emphasize the dual effects of ROS in seed biology.

**Keywords:** free radicals, reactive oxygen species (ROS), antioxidant, seed biology, ROS signaling
