Abstract
`Lovell' peach seeds were stratified for 0 to 13 weeks at 4C under moist conditions. Heat of metabolism and CO2 evolution, measured by Differential Scanning Calorimetry, increased with stratification time. The calorespirometric ratio increased between 0 and 6 weeks and then remained constant until 13 weeks. Germination percentages paralleled this ratio and reached 80% only after 6 weeks of stratification. After radicle emergence, seedlings from different stratification treatments were grown for 3 weeks. Increasing stratification time resulted in taller seedling growth. Calorimetrically measured CO2, evolution and the calorespirometric ratio of the apex (one cm) of the seedling increased with longer stratification time. Contrary to the observations of the seeds, metabolic heat rates decreased as stratification time increased. Yet, seedling sustained higher growth rates. These data suggest that the stratification treatment resulted in an improvement in metabolic efficiency.
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