On the relative role of the scutellum and aleurone in the production of hydrolases during germination of barley

Abstract

The relative roles of the scutellum and the aleurone layer in the production and mediation of both germination-specific α-amylase and cell wall breakdown hydrolases has been examined in vivo following treatment of barley seeds with the plant hormones gibberellic acid and abscisic acid. To facilitate entry of these exogenous hormones, a technique is presented where multiple incisions (>nicks<) are made in the outer layers of the seed prior to germination. Treatment of seeds with gibberellic acid and abscisic acid effected major changes on the pattern of hydrolase transport. The nature of the changes were such that it is concluded that the scutellum alone is capable of producing and mediating up to 50% of germination specific hydrolases in a commercial European malting barley, germinating at the conventional European malting temperature of 15°C.