EFFECT OF AQUEOUS EXTRACTS AND LEACHATES OF ANTHERS OF CERATONIA-SILIQUA L, ON THE INHIBITION OF LETTUCE SEED-GERMINATION

Aqueous extracts and leachates of young. mature, and senesced anthers of Ceratonia siliqua were tested for their inhibition of lettuce seed germination. Only senesced anthers was found to contain substantial am ounts of germination inhibitors. Isolation of the inhibitors from the anthers revealed the inhibitors to be soluble in water, methanol, etha nol, ethyl acetate and was acidic in nature. Kinetin and GA3 were foun d to counteract the inhibition of the aqueous extract and leachates of the senesced anthers. Little, loss in the inhibitory activity of the aqueous extract occured even after subjecting the anthers to the highe st soil temperature of 80-degrees-C for 60 minutes, which indicated th at the inhibitorS were not proteinaceous.