Relationships Between Seed Respiration During Imbibition and Subsequent Seedling Growth in Zea mays L.

Abstract
Corn (Zea mays L.) seed respiration rates during the first 30 hours of germination were compared with seedling growth 3 to 5 days after planting. Significant positive correlations were observed between rates of O2 uptake during imbibition and later stages of germination and seedling growth. Glutamic acid decarboxylase activity also was positively correlated with seedling growth. The highly significant correlations between respiratory quotients and seedling growth were negative.