Does osmotic regulation of amylase synthesis in barley endosperm exist?

The hypothesis that the regulative action of the barley embryoon amylase synthesis in the aleurone layer is partially exertedby a mechanism of osmotic regulation was tested. When embryo growth was retarded by a drought treatment no concomitantrepression of amylase production could be detected. Inhibitionof growth by a cold treatment was not accompanied by an elevationof osmotic pressure or by a depression of the amylase levelin the endosperm. Osmotic concentration of de-embryonated seedswas lower than that of the endosperm of intact seedlings. We concluded that the results do not support the tested hypothesis. (Received June 4, 1973; )