LEAKAGE DURING IMBIBITION, RESISTANCE TO DAMAGE AT LOW TEMPERATURE AND THE WATER CONTENT OF PEAS

Abstract

SUMMARY The extent of leakage from imbibing pea embryos depends on their initial water content, leakage being very low if the embryos already have a water content of 30% or more (water potential higher than −80 bars). Seeds that have reached this degree of hydration are killed by a 20‐min exposure to liquid nitrogen.