Alleviation by Gibberellic Acid and Kinetin of the Inhibition of Seed Germination in Maize (Zea mays L.) under Submerged Conditions

Under submerged conditions the germination of maize seeds isinhibited. Under normal conditions, i.e. on moist filter paper,more than 80 per cent of the seeds can germinate whereas lessthan 24 per cent of the seeds germinate under submerged conditions.The inhibition of germination under submerged conditions canbe fully overcome by the application of an appropriate concentrationof GA₂, and KN. The possible role of these hormones in overcomingthe inhibition of seed germination under an oxygen deficit dueto waterlogging is discussed. Zea mays L, maize, gibberellic acid, kinetin, germination