Experimental Studies on Plant Metabolism

Treatment of Ricinus communis seeds with GA accelerated the production of reducing sugars and increased the total carbohydrate content. The effect increased progressively with increasing concentration of GA. — GA treatment also induced an earlier appearance of starch which was shown to be completely absent at the early stages of germination. Furthermore, GA accelerated the conversion of oils into carbohydrates. — Analysis of germinating seeds for their nitrogen content showed that whenever an increase in soluble-N due to GA treatment was detected, there was a decrease in protein-N. Breakdown of protein and formation of soluble-N increased progressively with increase in GA concentration. — GA induced variable changes in the length of the radicles and the hypocotyls, the dry weight and the water content of germinating seeds.