Abstract
1. The results of comparative study between diploid and artificialy induced tetraploid bu, ckwheats, Phagopyrum esculentum, concerning the groivth habit as well as the change in contents of total nitrogen and sugar in wrious stages of growth were described. 2. The tetraploid seeds were l.arger in size and noticeably slower in germination than the diploid ones. In the early stages of growih the tetraploids were also larger in size than the diploids, owing presumably due to their initial embryonic capital, 'Though, as they grew, ' the sloivness in growth of the fornl;er rendered the size difference radually obscure. After the stae of fiowering the speedier growth of the diploids overcame that of the tetraploids and the size relation was reversed. The general aspect of the growth habit of the tetraploids corresponded with that of other tetrapioids reported by several workers. 3. The content of total nitrogen was found predominant in the tetraploids than in the diploids at the period when the former were showing slower growth, i. e., at the time of germination and the subsequent stages after fiowering.. T.hough, in the subsquent stages after germination, when the tetraloids were retaining larger size, the fotal nitrogen content was conversely less than the diploid.s. 4. The tetraploid seeds proved to contain less amount of total sugar than the diploid ohes. In spite of the fact, the tiny tetfaploid seedlings with fully unfolded cotyledones gave a higher content of total sugar than the diploid ones, showing less consump-tion of sugar in the former than in the latter. In the early Stages of growth folloving the gerroiriation, however, the tetraploids again presehted less cop-tent of total sugar than the diploids as in the case with the total nitrogere content. ' 5. Thus, the ngode of change in the contents of to 1 sugar and total nitrogen in the tetraploids was quite different from that in the diploids. Hence, a result of a fragmental conparison between the two in the contents of these matters made at an arbitrary growth stage cannot be cansider9d to characterize their peculiality.
