Amylase activity is present in extracts of the axis tissue of etiolated pea seedlings. Several lines of evidence establish that this starch-hydrolyzing activity is due to the presence of a β-amylase (α-1,4-glucan maltohydrolase, EC 3.2.1.2); the properties of this enzyme are reported. Maltase (EC 3.2.1.20) activity is also present in extracts of the same tissues. Since α-amylase (EC 3.2.1.1) activity in the germinating cotyledon, the following hydrolytic pathway for the degradation of starch to glucose is present in the pea seedling: The importance of this pathway is considered in relation to the alternative route for starch catabolism, namely, the phosphorolytic pathway involving the enzyme phosphorylase (EC 2.4.1.1).