RELATION BETWEEN INHIBITORY SUBSTANCES AND VARIABILITY IN TIME TO GERMINATION OF SUGAR BEET CLUSTERS

Evidence was obtained for the presence of germination inhibitors in the aqueous extract from sugar-beet clusters. A positive correlation was shown between the germination of cress seeds moistened with aqueous extracts from clusters of twenty sugarbeet plants and the germination characteristics of other clusters from the same plants. Inhibition was thus greater in extracts from clusters with poor rather than good germination, and also in extracts from immature clusters or those which had received overhead irrigation. The inhibitory effect was found to be located in the perianth and pericarp tissue rather than in the true seed. © 1969, Cambridge University Press. All rights reserved.