Mitotic Delay in Root Tips of Peas Induced by Artificial Seed Aging

Abstract

Pea (Pisum sativum L. `Progress No. 9') seeds were adjusted to 7%, 13%, and 18% moisture content and stored at 10, 21, 32, and 38 C in sealed metal cans for periods of from 2 days to 6 mo. The rate of decline in germinability increased as seed moisture and storage temperature increased. As seed germinability decreased, the speed of germination decreased, and the number of abnormalities of roots and shoots increased. The abnormalities usually resulted in seedling death. The delay in the occurrence of first mitosis was correlated strongly with the decrease in germinability. The activation of cell division following the first mitosis was suppressed in aged seeds compared with unaged control seeds.