PROBLEMS AND RESULTS IN ISRAEL 395 
ling growth. This retardation of growth is a very important factor, 
as germination and seedling growth have to be very rapid in order 
to establish this plant in its climatically unstable natural sur- 
roundings. A practical method had, therefore, to be developed 
for the removal of the coats before sowing the seeds. 
Oryzopsis miliacea 1s a perennial grass, valuable both for 
pasture and soil conservation, various ecotypes of which are 
native to nearly all regions of Israel. In the northern part of the 
country reseeding of the plant in fall was practiced. The seeds 
germinated gradually during early spring. For reseeding under 
desert conditions, where soil moisture is available for much 
shorter periods, such prolonged germination 1s, however, out of 
the question. A method for hastening germination had to be 
worked out. It was found that the seeds contain a water-soluble 
germination inhibitor which is removed by treating the seeds 
with sulfuric acid. Seeds thus pretreated may be dried without 
impairing their germinability. This is important, as after the acid 
treatment the seeds are wet and cannot be sown by mechanical 
means. 
In addition, it was found that the acid-treated seeds need for 
optimal germination either a daily alternating temperature of 20° 
and 30°C, independently of light, or a constant temperature of 
20°C with the addition of light. This would have meant that, 
under constant temperature conditions, the seeds should be sowed 
very superficially with all the resulting hazards. However, it was 
found that dark germination could be increased to nearly 100% 
when the dark is interrupted by a short period of illumination at 
any time after the first day. A method was then developed by 
which the seeds were illuminated for five minutes after twenty- 
four hours of imbibition in the dark, and then dried. Seeds thus 
treated germinated well in darkness under all temperature condi- 
tions, and our germination problem was solved. 
Many more such examples could be cited all of which would 
prove the one point already made, namely that no desert agricul- 
ture is possible without collaboration of a germination laboratory 
where the germination conditions of the seeds involved may be 
investigated. The reasons are obvious. The seeds of most desert 
