2 BULLEIIX 1011, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, 



similar experiments with maize embryos from which the plumules 

 had been dissected, he succeeded in obtaining an extensive develop- 

 ment of adventitious roots, but without the appearance of chloro- 

 phyll in the scuteilum and without any extension of that organ or 

 the formation of adventitious buds. Plants more than a month old 

 showed an excellent system of roots but were without stem or leaves. 

 The isolated scuteilum was incapable of independent growth. 



Blociszewski (2), in experiments with maize, rye, oats, clover, peas, 

 and lupines, found the isolated cotyledons were capable of inde- 

 pendent growth but formed only roots. Only that portion of the 

 cotyledon to which the embryonic plant had been attached formed 

 roots. Plants from isolated embryos were weak in the early stages 

 of growth, but developed normally as soon as favorable conditions 

 prevailed and were scarcely distinguishable from plants from entire 

 seeds. 



Wollny (-9) conducted both laboratory and field experiments with 

 peas, vetches, and rye. The field experiments are of special interest 

 because they were conducted under ordinary agricultural conditions 

 and were carried through to the maturity of the plants. He found 

 that the removal of one-third to two-thirds of the cotyledons or 

 endosperm of the seeds decreased the growth and } T ield of the plants. 

 The reduction in growth and in yield was in direct proportion to the 

 amount of food reserves removed from the seeds. 



Stingl (6'), working with rye, wheat, oats, and barley, found that 

 the isolated embryos did not develop into normal plants. Artificially 

 nourished embryos generally did not develop so well as plants grown 

 from normal seeds. In general, oat endosperms used as nutriment for 

 rye, wheat, and barley embryos exercised an unfavorable influence, 

 whereas in no instance was a like unfavorable influence observed 

 when oat embryos were nourished with endosperms of rye, wheat, 

 and barley. 



Delassus (3), experimenting with beans, vetch, and lupines, from 

 which he removed various proportions of the cotyledons, obtained 

 results similar to those of Wollny. The height of plants, the num- 

 ber and dimensions of the leaves, the number of flowers per foot of 

 vine, ana 1 the number and size of fruits were all reduced. The disease 

 resistance was lessened. 



Dubard and Urbain (4) concluded from then experiments with 

 the castor bean, maize, beans, and carrot that the albumen is never 

 indispensable to the development of the young plant. Nevertheless, 

 the influence of the albumen is favorable and appears to be particu- 

 larly useful during the first days of germination. 



Urbain (7) describes in detail experiments with Ricinus, Nigella, 

 and Papaver and states that other experiments with maize and oats 

 gave analogous results. He summarizes the effects of suppressing 



