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Occurrence of -Amylase in the Axis of Germinating Peas

Department of Biological Sciences, Douglass College, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey 08903

-Amylase was found in the axis portion of ungerminated pea seeds (Pisum sativum var. Alaska). The occurrence of this enzyme was demonstrated with crude homogenates (also containing -amylase) using three different methods: the hydrolysis of -limit dextrin, the change in absorption spectra for the iodine-starch complex, and the increase in reducing materials relative to the decrease in starch. The first method was used to quantitate the changes in -amylase activity during germination. The increase in total amylase activity (primarily -amylase) paralleled germination; the accumulation of -amylase activity was not initiated for an additional day. The increased -amylase activity was related to epicotyl growth. Approximately half of this activity was found in the etiolated stem, the distribution being higher in growing than in nongrowing portions.