On the Germination of the Seed of the Spinacia Oleracea, L., at Low Temperatures

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Abstract
The habitually low percentage of germination of spinach seed at room temp. may be raised materially by germinating in a low temp. or in pure O by removing a part of the pericarp, or by changing the air enmeshed in the pericarp twice daily by reducing the pressure of the surrounding air. A gradual decrease in pH, not due to CO2 accumulation, takes place in the embryos of living but ungerminated seed. At the low temp. or with increased facility of O supply, this concentration does not, before the end of the test, reach the point it has attained at the time germination stops in air at room temp. Failure of some seed to germinate under the latter condition is believed due to production of deleterious organic compounds, as in fermentation or in muscular fatigue, the O being supplied too slowly to complete the rapid oxidational changes taking place. Other examples from the plant kingdom are cited, where structural characters may be instrumental in affecting the ability to withstand comparatively high temp.

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