Tritium incorporation from tritium water as an index of metabolism

Abstract

In part A of this thesis, the aim has been to answer the questions "why do seeds not germinate at low temperatures?" More fully, the question could be framed "What metabolic aberration(s) prevents seeds from germination under conditions which are suitable for germination except that the temperature is too low?" Chemists are all familiar with the rule of thumb that reaction rates halve for every 10 °drop in temperature. Seed germination is an extreme exception to that rule. Seeds will germinate in a few days at 20° but at 0° or 5° most species fail to germinate even after many weeks.