Distribution of Physiological Activities in the Cotyledons of Germinating Seeds

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Abstract
From autoradiographical experiments on water‐imbibing pea (Pisum sativum) or Phaseolus mungo cotyledons supplied with glucose‐14C or iodoacetic acid‐14C, it was shown that the compounds did not penetrate into the innermost part of the cotyledons but remained in the peripheral region during the early germination period. Changes in the rates of incorporation of 14C into alcohol from glucose‐14C were examined during the early period of germination, and it was concluded that glucose supplied exo‐genously was actively metabolized in the peripheral region. Endogenous alcohol formation was supposed to occur mainly in the peripheral region in the early phases of germination. On the basis of these results, the heterogeneity of the distribution of physiological activities in the cotyledon is discussed.