The relationships between ethylene production and germination ofCicer arietinum seeds

The germination percentage of chick-pea (Cicer arietinum) Seeds was greatly reduced by temperatures of 30°C and 35°C. This thermoinhibition was overcome by ethylene (ethrel). Both ABA and PEG diminished ethylene production and germination percentage in a parallel way. FC, MGBG and CHA stimulated both ethylene production and germination. AVG reduced ethylene production to some extent but did not inhibit germination. CoCl₂ and PG completely prevented both ethylene production and germination; this effect was reversed by ethylene but not by its immediate precursor ACC. NBE prevented both germination and ethylene production. Our results suggest that high ethylene production rates are not essential for germination of chick-pea seeds but that certain quantities of ethylene may be required.