Germination of dormant seeds of Stylosanthes humilis as promoted by ethylene accumulation in closed environments

Abstract

Germination of scarified dormant seeds of Townsville stylo (Stylosanthes humilis) is very low in Petri dishes, but may be appreciable in sealed Erlenmeyer flasks if ethylene accumulates in their atmospheres. When ethylene in the flask atmosphere was fixed by a mercuric perchlorate solution, emanation of the gaseous regulator and germination of dormant seeds were drastically decreased. On the other hand, ethylene produced by dormant seeds and accumulated in the flask atmosphere led to a further enhancement of ethylene accumulation and a corresponding increased seed germination. Germination of both dormant and non-dormant seeds did not occur when ethylene biosynthesis was completely blocked.