Am.  Jour.  Pharm. 
July,  1906. 
Studies  in  Plant  Mutation. 
315 
representing  a  single  trial  in  most  cases,  indicate  that  the  action  of 
the  alkaloid  favors  a  constant  form  and  hinders  a  variable  form,  and 
that  in  general  the  principle  of  a  family  aids  the  diastatic  action  of 
species  of  that  family. 
On  the  basis  of  the  preceding  results  germination  tests  were 
started  with  the  thought  that  strychnine  in  aiding  the  diastatic 
activity  of  Solanaceae  also  stimulates  the  germination  of  the  seeds 
of  that  family. 
Schizanthus,  100  seeds.  After  38  hrs.      48  hrs.  64  hrs.  81  hrs.  109  hrs.      128  hrs. 
Water  control  ...  18  26  38  47  58 
Brucine,  o'2%  ...   3  5  7  14  16 
Strychnine,  0-2%  .  .23  19  35  57  65 
Scopolamine,  o'i%  .7  9  16  23  23 
Atropine,  o'2%  .  .  .   1  6  13  26  33 
Hyoscy  amine,  o'i%    5  ;?  6  8  8  11 
Strychnine  appears  to  slightly  better  advantage  than  water  control. 
Tomato,  100  seeds.   38  hrs.  48  hrs.  64  hrs.  81  hrs.  104  hrs.      128  hrs. 
Water  control  .  .  .  o  3  45  74  87 
Brucine   o  o  4  38  80 
Strychnine    .  .  .  .  o  40  77  85  90 
Scopolamine  .  .  .  .  o  5  46  70  85 
Atropine   o  o  34  89  87 
Hyoscyamine   .  .  .  o  3  16  53  53  89 
Stimulating  effect  of  strychnine  clearly  evident. 
Egg-plant,  100  seeds.    38  hrs.           48  hrs.  64  hrs.  81  hrs.  109  hrs. 
Water  control  .  .  .  o  o  o  o  discarded 
Brucine   o  o  o  3  10 
Strychnine    .  .  .  .  o  o  1  19  37 
Scopolamine  .  .  .  .  o  o  o  o  discarded 
Atropine   o  o  o  13  24 
Hyoscyamine    .  .  .  o  o  2  4  13 
Mould  in  every  case,  but  effect  of  strychnine  still  apparent. 
Red  pepper,  100  seeds.— Germinations  after  109  hours.  109  hrs.      128  hrs. 
Water  control   o  o 
Brucine   .  o  o 
Strychnine   o  o 
Scopolamine  ',   7  7 
Atropine   4  4 
Hyoscyamine   8  8 
Scopolamine,  hyoscyamine,  and  atropine  are  all  alkaloids  of  Atropa 
Belladonna.  Hyoscyamine  and  scopolamine  aid;  atropine  in  less 
degree. 
