Respiration in barley seeds treated with mutagenic methyl methanesulphonate and stored at different water contents

Abstract

In water soaked barley seeds the respiration rate (QO2) at 25 °C is about 100 times higher at 30% than at 20% water content. The treatment of seeds with mutagenic methyl methanesulphonate led to the depression of the respiration rate in dependence on the applied mutagenic dose. Seed storage at 30% water content resulted in a recovery from the inhibition of seed respiration caused by methyl methanesulphonate. In contrast, at 20% seed water content the respiration rate either slightly decreased or remained unchanged in the course of storage. The results are discussed in relation to the previously described changes in the yield of induced mutagenic effects in barley seeds treated with monofunctional alkylating agents and stored at 30% and 20% seed water content.