Protein Synthesis in the Axes of Polyethylene Glycol-Treated Pea Seed and during Subsequent Germination

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Abstract
Germination of Alaska pea seeds is inhibited by −0.3 MPa polyethylene glycol but upon subsequent transfer to water, germination is completed rapidly and radicle emergence occurs more quickly than in water-imbibed seeds. Protein synthesis is reduced in the axes of seeds imbibed on PEG but increases upon their return to water, though not to the level exhibited by axes germinated on water. Mobilization of proteins in the axes is retarded by their failure to complete germination on PEG, although some does occur. The quantitative reduction in protein synthesis resulting from incubation in osmoticum is not accompanied by marked qualitative changes. The block to germination is not obviously associated with a restriction in synthesis of any particular protein or set of proteins; conversely, no ‘water-stress’ proteins are synthesized in the presence of PEG. The synthesis of growth-specific proteins is prevented by PEG, but these increase upon relief from the osmoconditioning treatments. These observations dispute earlier claims for accelerated protein synthesis resulting from PEG treatments.