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Abstract
Early stages of germination in PINUS PINEA L. var. FRAGILIS Du Hamel. — The main stages of the hydration process preceeding germination and accompaning root elongation have been observed in Pinus pinea L. seeds, by means of vital colours (Congo red, neutral red, acid fuchsine).
The results are as follows:
a) water penetrates easily through the outer shell of the seed reaching its deepest layer which is less permeable to water. Two or three days were required in our experience for water could overcome this barrier.
b) The inner shell (known as « soft shell ») is almost water-proof and seems to draw water towards the micropilar pole of the seed, so that the first region of the seed which sucks up water is the micropile.
c) Through the micropile water enters the seed and imbibes the column, the pericolumn and the endosperm cells.
The endosperm swells with water until the seed shell blows up, because of the inside pressure. At this time water freely penetrates the seed everywhere.
In natural conditions we may infer that the first tissues which take contact with the soil water are the column and pericolumn. As a certain amount of time is required for penetration of water as far as the column (two or three days in experience conditions) germination starts only after a given amount of water is available in the soil for a certain period of time.
When seed hydration is performed the embryo root starts elongating and gets out of the seed.
The behaviour of the column, the pericolumn and the root cap during the early stages of germination are dexcribed.