1. The growth of each embryonic organ,
i. e., plumule, epioctyl, hypocotyl, radicle, and cotyledon of
Vigna sesquipedalis was followed daily during the course of the germination stage, by determining increase in dry weight and water-soluble and water-insoluble fractions. The water-soluble fraction of each organ was further analyzed in respect to sugars, polysaccharides, nitrogen, pentose nucleic acid, and proteins. The water-insoluble fraction of hypocotyls was estimated for fats and waxes, pectic substances, proteins, hemicelluloses, and cellulose.
2. Growth curves of sigmoid shape were obtained for each anabolic organ, whereas cotyledons lost their weight in an exponential way. Growth of epicotyl did not proceed practically until the middle of the germination stage, when it was enhanced to a considerable rate (epigeal germination).
3. With plumules, epicotyls, and radicles, a general trend that tissue constituents examined change in parallel to the extent of growth of respective organs was observed. In hypocotyl, however, there oc-curred an abrupt ceasing of protein accumulation in the water-soluble fraction and distinct decrease in amount of pentose nucleic acid (PNA) as well as sugars in the same fraction at about the middle of the germi-nation stage. The amount of cell-wall materials grew unceasingly thoughout the stage; especially that of cellulose continued its ex-ponential increase. 4. Cotyledons were found to have a large amount of PNA storage, which together with other tissue constituents studied diminished rapidly as the germination proceeded.
5. A possible role of PNA played in the protein accumulation has been discussed and the epigeal type of germination in the present material was interpreted in terms of acropetal migration of metabolites, above all that of PNA, along the stem axis.
Grateful acknowledgement is made to Prof. T. Mori of this institute for his con-tinuing interest throughout the course of this study.
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