ENDOGENOUS ETHYLENE IN THE PROCESS OF SPR ING BARLEY (HORDEUM-VULGAREL) GERMINATION

In spring barley plants (Hordeum vulgare L.) cultivated in natural con ditions of southern Slovakia aging and and dying of leaves of highest layers by the desiccant Reglone was induced. Subsequently, their relat ionship to biological properties of new grain generation was studied. Our results did not confirm the predicted relationship. Grain germinat ion after dormancy was not affected significantly by premature dying o f leaves of parent plant. Endogenous ethylene, whose amount increased in dependence on length of germination, was detected in germinating gr ains. There were no differences between germinative plants of the cont rol treatment and treatments with induced aging of leaves in amount of ethylene produced. Dry matter weight of germinating grain fell in the process of germination what was in negative correlation with amount o f releasing ethylene. Their regression relationship is expressed by co rrelation coefficient r = -0.725163.