1921] CHOATE—WHEAT GERMINATION 415 
factor. No statement is made in regard to the variety of wheat 
used. Table II is the summary of results, as given by LECLERC 
and BREAZEALE. 
TABLE II 
Part of plant and age Sees eicteth mes 
For 100 seeds 
SUR BORE. ces es. aa ee ee ° 96 
SORE key A ee ee 98.6 60 
RORY E ees cee ks oe OO 192.4 53 
Pag MEM tar yar enm NODE tie o28 Meas 193.8 60 
SOAR ck an ee ee 148.0 50 
POO Ci Nae ee ea os 253-7 42 
Ts BANA Mee PENNE Moyen IRE ned re 267.0 46 
Total plants 
OAS iio 246.6 IIo 
SUP eo oe ue iets sees 446.1 05 
PUY oe a ea 461.7 106 
Proteins—Although both embryo and endosperm in the 
ungerminated grain give protein reaction, the storage proteins 
are known to exist only in the endosperm. During germination 
these are broken down, and at the end of seven days the nearly 
exhausted remnant of the endosperm gives only a very slight 
protein reaction. At this time, however, the aleurone layer is 
still intact, apparently unchanged. 
No satisfactory microchemical tests are known for the derived 
proteins such as proteoses and peptones, .so that no determination 
could be made for these substances. Some of the amino acids can 
be crystallized out of the tissue and the crystals identified by their 
chemical and optical properties. The first amino compound to be 
identified is asparagine, which was observed in the coleoptile on 
the fourth day and slightly later in the root. After the first appear- 
ance of asparagine in the coleoptile it accumulates there rapidly. 
A further discussion of the amino compounds in the seedling will 
be found in a later paragraph. At all times a marked protein 
reaction is obtainable in the stem and root tip, especially the 
latter (text fig. 1). 
Oxidizing enzymes.—At no time was oxidase found in any part 
of the germinating seedling, but peroxidase and catalase were 
