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Promotion of Seed Germination by Nitrates and Cyanides

Nature volume 237, pages 169–170 (1972)Cite this article

Abstract

MANY viable seeds fail to germinate in darkness after imbibing water, but do so to varying degrees in solutions of several compounds. Well known promoters of germination are nitrate, nitrite and various sulphydryl and gibberellin salts1. Hydroxylammonium salts, although often cited as inhibitory1, are known to promote germination at low concentrations2. The essential action of none of these is understood and the use of nitrates in seed testing remains empirical. In seeking underlying causes for the promotive effects of nitrates we examined the germination responses to other nitrogenous salts as well as compounds affecting respiration. Cyanides were found to promote germination of many kinds of seeds in extension of the observations of Roberts3.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Plant Science Research Division, Agricultural Research Service, US Department of Agriculture, Beltsville, Maryland

    S. B. HENDRICKS & R. B. TAYLORSON

Authors
  1. S. B. HENDRICKS
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  2. R. B. TAYLORSON
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HENDRICKS, S., TAYLORSON, R. Promotion of Seed Germination by Nitrates and Cyanides. Nature 237, 169–170 (1972). https://doi.org/10.1038/237169b0

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