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Amylase Synthesis and Stability in Crested Wheatgrass Seeds at Low Water Potentials ¹

^a Plant Science Research Division, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Pullman, Washington 99163

Drying of seeds of Agropyron desertorum (Fisch. ex Link) Schult. did not result in breakdown of -amylase nor impair the ability of seeds to resume its synthesis when moistened again. -Amylase activity did not change during 5 days of germination at a water potential of 0 atmosphere nor during 40 days of incubation at –40 atmospheres. Seeds synthesized -amylase at 0, –20, and –40 atmospheres, but not at –60 atmospheres. At 0 and –20 atmospheres, the log of -amylase activity was linearly related to hastening of germination. But at –40 atmospheres, seeds synthesized -amylase during a time when there was little hastening of germination. Thus, it appears that other biochemical reactions are less drought-tolerant than synthesis of -amylase. It is concluded that inhibition of -amylase synthesis is not a controlling factor in the germination of these seeds at low water potentials.