THE EFFECT OF IMBIBITION AND VERNALIZATION ON SOME PARAMETERS OF ROOT GROWTH OF TRITICUM × AESTIVUM L.c.v. RIDEAU AND MARQUIS

Abstract

The effect of a vernalizing temperature on the early root growth of spring and winter wheats var. Marquis and Rideau was examined after two imbibition periods (5 and 14 hours), and 1–7 weeks of grain chilling.Completion of the thermophase, as verified by two standard biochemical methods, varied with the grain variety and the imbibition period.Four weeks of pretreatment in the cold provided the maximal impetus to germination regardless of the cereal variety, imbibition period, or thermophase requirement.A marked change in selected parameters of growth was observed to coincide with the completion of the thermophase in both grain varieties.