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PROMOTING GERMINATION OF FRESHLY HARVESTED BARLEY GRAIN WITH ALKALINE SOLUTIONS
Author(s) -
Hou J. Q.,
Simpson G. M.
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
journal of the institute of brewing
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.523
H-Index - 51
eISSN - 2050-0416
pISSN - 0046-9750
DOI - 10.1002/j.2050-0416.1994.tb00841.x
Subject(s) - germination , hordeum vulgare , alkaline hydrolysis , agronomy , chemistry , hydrolysis , horticulture , biology , poaceae , biochemistry
Effects of immersing freshly harvested barley ( Hordeum vulgare L.) grains in concentrated KOH and NaOH solutions on germination were studied in barley cv. Harrington. Promotion of germination up to 100% was achieved by alkaline treatments with a wide range of solution concentrations and immersion time. The effectiveness of alkaline treatments was dependent on maturity, presence of the hulls and moisture content of the grains. While alkaline treatments were generally not damaging to the grain, excessive exposure to the chemicals can harm the grains and adversely affect germination and subsequent growth of seedlings. Alkaline hydrolysis of the cuticles in the covering layers of the grain is at least partially responsible for the promotive effects on germination.