Studies on the Germination of the Seeds of Striga hermonthica

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Abstract
An attempt has been made to elucidate some of the changes which take place in seeds of Striga hermonthica (immature, ripe and overripe), (a) during moisture-treatment at three temperatures (15°C., 22°C., and 32°C.), and (b) during after-ripening in dry storage. Observations on the drift of respiration of immature seed throughout pretreatment at 15°C. show that an inverse relationship exists between germination and respirational activity. This suggests that germination depends on the accumulation of some metabolite during pretreatment. It would seem that this metabolite may also be used as a substrate for respiration during pretreatment. After-ripening of the immature seeds has been shown to change the nature of the seeds in some way so that their peak respiration on exposure to moisture is at first progressively reduced. This reduction has been ascribed to the presence of some barrier capable of restricting gaseous diffusion. The data presented, togetherwith those of the previous paper of this series, suggest that the specific metabolite required for germination might be proteinaceous. Certain other data appear to rule out the suggestion that germination capacity is conditioned by the sugar content of the seeds. Reasons are given which support the view that one of the main effects of the stimulating solution on the seed is to increase the permeability of the seeds to gaseous diffusion.