DORMANCY STUDIES IN SEED OF AVENA FATUA: 3. A RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN MALTASE, AMYLASES, AND GIBBERELLIN

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Initiation of germination in excised embryos requires an exogenous energy source. Normally this is obtained from the endosperm. In dormant seeds the hydrolysis of starch is blocked despite the fact that dormant and non-dormant seeds contain similar amounts of α- and β-amylases. Alone or in combination the amylases are unable to break down raw endosperm starch granules to simple sugars in vitro. Exogenous maltase in combination with α-amylase hydrolyzes raw starch to glucose. Exogenous maltase eliminates the requirement for exogenous sugar. Examination of the maltase content of imbibed dormant and non-dormant seeds showed a marked increase in non-dormant seeds during the first 40 hours. This does not occur in dormant seeds unless they are treated with gibberellic acid. The results lead to the conclusion that an important effect of gibberellic acid is to induce the synthesis of maltase or in some way activate the preformed enzyme.