No CrossRef data available.
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 27 March 2009
Chemical imposition of water leachable germination inhibition was attempted as a means of overcoming wheat seedling wilting after insufficient rainfall. Effective inhibition in aqueous solutions was imposed by abscisic acid, coumarin and by two ethylene releasing preparations, Ethrel and Alsol. Germination inhibition caused by the latter two compounds was found to be associated with effects of the carriers, other than pH, and was not a result of ethylene gas liberation. As evidenced by tetrazolium staining the dormant seed possessed respiratory activity, and imposed germination inhibition, even to the extent of 75%, was not lethal. Rainfall simulation effected by 30 h H2O leaching with a 200 mm precipitation equivalent was ineffective for reversal of germination inhibition caused by abscisic acid and Alsol, limitedly effective in the case of Ethrel, while the coumarin-induced inhibition was relieved to a greater extent.