RESUMO
Mobilisation of lipids and its relationship with the Iipolytic activities was determined in the germinating seeds of Cucumis melo f. garma. After some initial loss in the lipid content of cotyledons their level] remained nearly constant during the later stages of germination. Lipid content in the primary root decreased constantly with increase in length, the portion towards the cotyledons having least amount. Percentage of non-polar lipids [mainly glycerides] decreased on the basis of total lipids while that of the polar lipids [mainly phosphoglycerides] increased in both the cotyledons and the primary root along with germination. Relative proportion of non-polar and polar lipids was nearly constant at 3:1 in the various sections of 30 cm root. With increase in length of the primary root lipase activity per root increased while that of phospholipase decreased. An inverse relationship between lipolytic activities and the level of their substrates therefore existed in the primary root during germination. A higher level of lipase activity in the apical portion of the primary root and that of phospholipase activity in the portion towards the cotyledons showed the extent of their role in hydrolysing the corresponding substrates in the various regions of the primary root of C. melo f. garma