On Endospermic Respiration in Certain Seeds, 
BY 
FREDERICK STOWARD, M.Sc. (Birm.). 
Contents. 
SECTION PAGE 
1. Introduction . . . .415 
2. Material and Methods of Experiment . . . . . . . . . .418 
3. Experiments with seeds of Hordeum 419 
• 4. Table. Experimental Data, Hordeut?i 421 
5. Experiments with seeds of Zea . . . . . . . . . . . .427 
6. Table. Experimental Data, Zea 428 
7. Experiments with seeds of Ricinus 432 
8. Table. Experimental Data, Ricinus 432 
9. Influence of Temperature on Respiratory Activity . . . . . . . *433 
10. Table. Comparative average output of C 0 2 by seeds and their component parts . . 434 
11. Relative magnitude of the C 0 2 output by the seed and its component parts . . . 434 
12. Non re-established Experiments 437 
13. Re-established Experiments ............ 438 
14. Effect of Diminished Pressure on the C 0 2 output 439 
15. Experiments with Chloroform-steeped material 440 
16. Experiments with Toluene-steeped material ......... 442 
17. Experiments with 4 % Formaldehyde-steeped material 442 
18. The possible diffusion of respiratory enzymes from the embryo and aleurone layer to the 
endosperm during steeping or germination 443 
19. The Respiratory quotient 443 
20. Antiseptic steeping solutions : certain effects observed 444 
21. Experiments to check possible errors due to apparatus 446 
22. Conclusion 447 
Literature 448 
1. Introduction. 
A NUMBER of experiments bearing on the nature of the amyliferous 
cells of the endosperm of the Gramineae have from time to time been 
undertaken indirectly with the apparent object of ascertaining whether 
these cells do or do not possess vitality. 
The experimental determination of this point is a matter of consider- 
able difficulty ; these cells in the mature endosperm do not apparently 
undergo the usual process of cell-division when the seed is placed under 
conditions favourable to germination, and further the application of 
plasmolysing agents as a test for vitality is impracticable. 
[Annals of Botany, Vol. XXII. No. LXXXVII. July, 1908.] 
