A Research into the Amyloclastic Secretory Capacities 
of the Embryo and Aleurone Layer of Hordeum with 
Special Reference to the Question of the Vitality 
and Auto-depletion of the Endosperm. 
PART I. 
BY 
F. STOWARD. 
Contents of Part I. 
PAGE 
I. Introduction : Material. Aims and methods of investigation. Sterilization of material. 
Preparation of sterilized objects for cultural purposes, and investigation of their relative 
amylolytic secretory or generative capacity. Method of establishing and conducting 
cultures ................ 799 
IT. Culture Media and Substrata. Determination of relative amyloclastic secretory 
or generative capacities of the structural parts of the seed. Method of investigation of 
material and culture media for amylase. Method of determining copper-reducing 
power. Soluble starches employed ......... . 806 
III. Amyloclastic Secretory Capacity of the Embryo of Barley. . . .811 
IV. Amyloclastic Secretory Capacity of the Aleurone Layer of Barley . 817 
IV a. The Relative Amyloclastic Secretory and Self-depletive Capacities of 
the Endosperm and the Inner Endosperm of Barley .824 
IV b. Cultures of Endosperms and Inner Endosperms on Moist Calcium Sulphate 837 
I. Introduction. 
T HE statement that the digestion and the ultimate depletion of the 
storage-reserve materials of the endosperms of cereal seeds, during 
the progress of the germinative process, is induced by enzymes, meets with 
universal acceptance. 
Considerable divergence of opinion, however, exists as to whether the 
digestive phenomena observed are to be ascribed solely to the action of 
enzymes which arise as secretions either of the embryo or aleurone layer, or 
to both, or whether digestion and ultimate depletion of the reserve contents 
of the inner endosperm 1 are induced solely by enzymes which originate in 
or are generated by this tissue itself. That is to say, whether the inner 
1 The term ‘ inner endosperm ’, employed throughout in this paper, signifies that portion of the 
endosperm which remains when the endosperm is completely divested of its aleurone layer. 
[Annals of Botany, Vol. XXV. No. XCIX. July, 1911.] 
3 G 2 
