THE TEMPERATURE COEFFICIENT OF INVERTASE FROM THE LEAVES OF COLD-HARDENED AND COLD-SUSCEPTIBLE WHEAT PLANTS

Abstract

The energy of activation of invertase in crude juice and in preparations purified by ammonium sulfate precipitation from winter wheat, Kharkov 22 MC, leaves grown at 6 °C, is lower than that in preparations from similar leaves grown at 20 °C. When Rescue wheat leaves are used the same value for the energy of activation of invertase is obtained whether plants are grown at 6 °C or 20 °C. In this respect Thatcher wheat appears to be intermediate between Kharkov 22 MC and Rescue. Some implications of these observations in relation to cold hardening are discussed.