Notes on Metabolic Changes in the Germination of Seeds

i. The influence of decrease of oxygen-tension on the oxygenintake of germinating starchy and oily seeds was determined gasometrically. 2. This influence appeared variable with the species investigated. Brassica nigra as well as Brassica Rapa were little affected by decreased oxygen-tension in the early stages of germination. This sensitivity increased in the later stages of germination. 3- Catalase-activity was determined in seeds of Brassica nigra in the latent, 24, 48 hour stages 'by an autographic method. 4. No velocity-constant could be determined from catalaseaction in ungerminated seed, the catalase 'being present probably in a highly labile condition. 5. In 24 and 48 hour germinated seeds the decomposition of the peroxide followed the autocatalytic equation. 6. In Linum usitatissimum and Brassica nigra the presence of a system could be demonstrated in certain germination stages. 7. A micro-method for the determination of fermentable sugars of Brassica nigra was elaborated. 8. At latent, 24, 48 hour germinated seeds, no measurable quantities of fermentable sugars could be found. 9. An ethereal extract was prepared of the same stages of germination of Brassica nigra. Several constants were determined from the „oil” prepared from this extract. 10. The constants showed a tendency to change appreciably up to 24 hour germination, while the change between 24 and 48 hour was less pronounced. The opposite phenomena also occur frequently. 11. Due to the simultaneous happening of a great many complicated processes, no far-reading conclusions may be drawn from the results obtained. At most, a certain trend in a definite direction may be observed. 12. It is supposed that after 24 hour germination, in Brassica nigra dehydrogenating processes change fatty acids, in which processes oxygen or another substance may serve as After 48 hour germination synthetic processes might act upon fatty acid derivatives. The activity of the dehydrogenases decreases, whereas the influence of the oxygen-tension increases.