CALCIUM HYPOCHLORITE AS A SEED STERILIZER 
Immersion 
Seed Hours 
Phleum pratense L y}/^ 
Zea Mays L 10 
Vicia villosa Roth. (100 seeds) . . 6 
Raphanus sativus L 6 
Brassica oleracea L 11 
Linum usitatissimum L 11 
Pisum sativum L 
Media. Pfeffer's Solution ^ Strength to which was 
Added in Separate Lots 
Saccharose, glucose, levulose, maltose and 
lactose each 2%. 
Glucose, levulose, maltose and saccharose 
2%. One series in the laboratory and 
one in the greenhouse. 
Lactose, maltose, saccharose, 1% each. 
Sterilization not always successful. 
Lactose, maltose, dextrose, and sac- 
charose, each 1%. 
One series in greenhouse and one in 
laboratory on saccharose, maltose, 
levulose, lactose, each in four concen- 
trations from one tenth percent to 2%. 
Maltose and lactose each i %. 
Saccharose, lactose, maltose, glucose 
each 1% and checks. 
Satisfactory sterilization was secured in every case with the 
exception of the vetch seed. In certain experiments where only a 
few vetch seeds were employed no contaminations occurred in the 
cultures except occasionally where it was clearly evident that con- 
tamination was due to causes other than the failure of the hypochlorite. 
In certain experiments on the influence of sugars on respiration, 100 
seeds were required for each culture chamber. Failure to sterilize 
occurred in 20 out of 40 trials and in each case it was due to intro- 
duction of one or more dead seed along with others. 
The considerable number of experiments made in which this method 
of seed sterilization has been employed and in which sterile plantlets 
have been secured and maintained over a period of thirty days or 
more conclusively demonstrate the efficiency of the method as an 
aid for securing sterile plantlets. The ease of operation and the fact 
that the solution does not injure the seed except after long exposure 
to the hypochlorite solution make the method particularly desirable. 
The effect of the solution is probably due to the hypochlorous acid, 
as suggested by Hooker, which acts as the toxic agent. In conclusion 
it should be added that the method not only offers a way for securing 
sterile plantlets for physiological experiment but also for eradicating 
such plant diseases as may be controlled by treating the seed. 
