The Influence of Embryo Condition on the Leaching of Solutes from Pea Seeds

Abstract

Differences in the leaching of solutes from different seed lots of peas were found to be associated with the condition of the embryos and not the testae. Seeds with areas of dead tissue on the abaxial surfaces of their cotyledons exhibited the highest levels of leaching but the large range of levels found among seed lots resulted from differences in leaching from living tissue. When dry embryos were placed in water a rapid decline in the leaching of solutes was seen over the first 30 min for all lots tested but differences between lots were seen from the first minute in water and were related to the ability of the embryos to retain solutes rather than their solute content. Differential retention of solutes by the cytoplasm and sensitivity to the damaging effects of rapid imbibition are both discussed as possible explanations for differences in leaching.