Premium
STUDIES OF THE GERMINATION PROCESS IN MELAMPYRUM LINEARE
Author(s) -
Curtis E. J. C.,
Cantlon J. E.
Publication year - 1965
Publication title -
american journal of botany
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.218
H-Index - 151
eISSN - 1537-2197
pISSN - 0002-9122
DOI - 10.1002/j.1537-2197.1965.tb06821.x
Subject(s) - endosperm , biology , gibberellin , germination , starch , gibberellic acid , botany , dormancy , agar , embryo , seed dormancy , horticulture , biochemistry , microbiology and biotechnology , genetics , bacteria
Seed germination of Melampyrum lineare Desr. requires activation (20 C storage or treatment with gibberellic acid) followed by an extended period of exposure to cold. Without these conditions seeds remain dormant. Seed structure and pattern of development following activation are described. Aseptic culture of embryos excised from dormant seeds showed growth to be possible on agar containing glucose but not on agar containing potato starch. Embryos excised from gibberellin‐activated seeds or embryos growing on agar containing gibberellin grew at the same rate on glucose but could not grow on starch. Thus the gibberellin‐sensitive dormancy mechanism does not involve synthesis or activation in the embryo of starch‐digesting enzymes. This could mean that such a mechanism is located in the endosperm or that the mechanism in Melampyrum is different from that described for barley and for oats