Determination of the thermogenesis curves and studies of the thermodynamics and thermokinetics of seed germination

The thermogenesis curves of the germination of different rice and tree seed s were determined and studied by using a newly constructed microcalorimeter . The thermogenesis curves of the germination of the seeds demonstrate the existence of physiological triphasic patterns, which include imbibition, ac tivation and growth stages in the germination process. The thermodynamics a nd thermokinetics of the main growth phase of the growth stage in the germi nation process have been studied. The growth heat effect (Delta H), the gro wth rate constant (k), the growth inhibitory factor (s) and deceleration ra te constant (beta) have been determined and calculated, In addition, the ex perimental thermokinetic equations of the growth stage in the seed germinat ion process have been established. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science BN. All rights reserved.