Large and small Aegilops Kotschyi caryopses have low α-amylase activity. After imbibition in water a marked increase takes place in α-amylase activity in the large, hulled and dehulled caryopses and only a slight increase in the small ones. Exogenously applied gibberellic acid (GA3) enhances α-amylase activity in both caryopses, and also improves germination of the small, hulled caryopses.Removing parts of the hull from different sites on the palea or lemma of the small caryopses improves germination. The most pronounced effect was obtained when the segment was removed from the palea just above the embryo. When this excised site was covered with a strip of wet filter paper before germination, the resulting germination was essentially similar to that of the non-excised controls.The role of GA3 and seed coat in improving germination of small Aegilops caryopses is discussed.