Abstract
WHILE investigating environmental stress factors in seed germination and seedling growth, winter rye (Secale cereale) was found to be exceptionally resistant to a wide variety of ordinarily harmful conditions: (a) Germination is anaerobic, and proceeds well in the presence of carbon monoxide, nitrous oxide1 and hydrogen2. (b) Rye grains germinate readily at constant low temperatures (5° C, for example) and some can germinate on a cycle of 16 h at −30° C/8 h at + 20° C over periods of 7 days3; liquid nitrogen temperatures can also be endured by dry seeds. (c) In sea water and similar media, 100 per cent germination can be effected in 10 days3.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 51 print issues and online access
$199.00 per year
only $3.90 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on SpringerLink
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Siegel, S. M., Rosen, L. A., and Giumarro, C., Proc. U.S. Nat. Acad. Sci., 48, 725 (1962).
Renwick, G., and Siegel, S. M., Meeting Abstracts Amer. Soc. Plant Physiol., Northeastern Section, Brandeis Univ., Waltham, Mass. (March 1963).
Siegel, S. M., Renwick, G., Daly, O., Giumarro, C., Davis, G., and Halpern, L. A., in Current Aspects of Exobiology, edit. by Briggs, M., and Mamikunian, G. (McGraw-Hill) (in the press).
Katz, J. J., Ann. New York Acad. Sci., 84, 648 (1960).
Katz, J. J., Amer. Sci., 48, 544 (1960).
Morowitz, H., and Brown, L. M., Nat. Bur. Stand. Rep., 2179 (Washington, 1953).
Crespi, J., and Katz, J. J., Anal. Biochem., 2, 274 (1961).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
SIEGEL, S., HALPERN, L. & GIUMARRO, C. Germination and Seedling Growth of Winter Rye in Deuterium Oxide. Nature 201, 1244–1245 (1964). https://doi.org/10.1038/2011244a0
Issue date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/2011244a0
This article is cited by
-
Deuterium incorporation into cellulose: a mini-review of biological and chemical methods
Cellulose (2022)
-
Production of deuterated biomass by cultivation of Lemna minor (duckweed) in D2O
Planta (2019)
-
Allelopathic effects of exogenous phenylalanine: a comparison of four monocot species
Planta (2017)
-
Production of deuterated switchgrass by hydroponic cultivation
Planta (2015)
-
Further studies of the ultrastructure of D2O grown winter rye
Protoplasma (1975)
