Physiological and Chemical Differences in Aged Seeds¹

Abstract

Moisture content, germination percentage, seedling length and contents of sugars, amino acids, inorganic. phosphate, starch, and insoluble protein were determined in new and 10‐year‐old canned crimson clover and perennial ryegrass seeds. Conductances,u gars, aminoa cids, and phosphatew ere measuredi n the leachate of these seeds. Loss of viability and vigor was not due to depletion of food but appeared to be related to the activity of proteases, phytase, and phosphatases since an increase of permeability, amino acids, and inorganic phosphate was observed in the aged material. The magnitude of these increases was related to species, seed moisture and to a lesser degree storage temperature.