POSSIBLE ROLE OF THE ADENYLATE ENERGY-CHARGE IN DORMANCY ALLEVIATION OF STRELITZIA-JUNCEA SEEDS

The alleviation of dormancy of Strelitzia juncea seeds by oxygen treat ment, resulted in an increase in the adenylate energy charge during th e pre-germination phase, with values > 0.8 in comparison with values < 0.7 for dormant seeds. The ATP concentration of the embryos of oxygen treated seeds increased linearly and was higher than that of the embr yos of air-incubated seeds. ATP/ADP ratios increased from 2.32 on day one to 7.32 on day four just prior to germination, while the highest v alue for dormant seeds was 2.8. The AMP content for the two treatments differed only on day one. Over the four days of incubation, the adeny late pool of the embryos of oxygen treated seeds was four times higher than that of the control treatment. It is concluded that, in contrast to most dormant seeds requiring stratification for dormancy release, and to dormant Avena sativa seeds which experience hypoxic conditions, the energy metabolism of dormant S. juncea seeds may be limiting duri ng normal incubation.