抄録
Studies on the germination of seeds of "Nori-Asa" (glutinous hemp), an amphidiploid crop raised between Abelmoschus esculentus and Abel. Manihot, which were stored in different conditions were made, in comparison with those of the parents. In the first year after storing seeds, there was no difference in each crop between the germination of seeds stored in the normal condition and in the dry state. In the second year, the germination of seeds stored in the normal condition was similar to that in the first year, but that of seeds stored in the dry state was poor. The degree of poorness was the largest in "Nori-Asa", medium in esculentus and the smallest in Manihot. But, the germination of seeds of each crop stored in the dry state was similar to that in the normal condition, if the seed coat was mechanically injured. So that, the cause of the poor germination of seeds above cited is in the difficulty in absorbing water due mainly to the mechanical change of seed coat brought about by the dehydration. The water content of seeds stored in both conditions was the largest in "Nori-Asa". The size and weight of seeds of each crop stored in the normal condition were somewhat larger than those in the dry state, the decrease of weight in the dry state being most prominent in "Nori-Asa". The water absorbing ability of seeds of Manihot was the largest, no difference being found between both conditions, but those of esculentus and "Nori-Asa" stored in the normal condition were quite larger than those stored in the dry state. The light line which may play some important roles in the absorption of water and consequently in the germination of seeds is found in the seed coat in esculentus and "Nori-Asa", but not in Manihot. The inner half of palisade tissue in the seed coat of "Nori-Asa", whose cell membrane was consisted of lignin, was thicker than those of esculentus and Manihot. The amount of respiration of seeds stored in the dry state was the same in three crops, but that in the normal condition was the smallest in Manihot. The amount of peroxidase of seeds stored in both conditions was the largest in "Nori-Asa".
