Material. Seeds of clover, peas, beans, alfalfa, cowpeas, corn, wheat, rye, and oats.

Apparatus. Sprouting-chamber, Geneva seed-tester.

Germination is often interfered with by the drying out of the soil. The seeds of all dicotyledons suffer considerably from drying out, while the cereals and, in general, the seeds of all monocotyledons suffer but little. There are, however, a few exceptions, as corn, clover, beans, peas, etc.

1. Count out one hundred seeds each of clover, peas, beans, alfalfa, cowpeas, corn, wheat, rye, and oats. Place them in a Geneva seed-tester and allow them to germinate from twenty-four to forty-eight hours. Now remove the tester from the germinating-chamber, pour out the water, and spread the cloths out so that the seeds will dry for twenty-four hours, or until they are well dried, then pour water in the tester, and again wet the seeds thoroughly and place them in the germinating-chamber. Do this several times and note the results. At the same time carry on a check for each seed which has been treated in the normal way to compare with the others. What difference is seen in the germination? Do all the seeds respond alike? If not, why? What seeds are injured the most by drying out? What ones are not injured? Study carefully each sample and determine why some seeds are injured and some are not. Has the construction of the seed anything to do with the drying out? Tabulate and discuss your results fully.

The Effect Of Drought On Germinating Seeds. Student's Notes And Report

Table of Results