Seeds Without a Lag Phase of Respiration

An analysis of the respiratory pattern published for Avena fatua during imbibition, germination and subsequent growth reveals the absence of a lag phase in oxygen uptake (Fig. 5.3 B). Several other seeds exhibit a similar feature (Table 5.1). There is no simple explanation for this lack of a lag phase, and we are not aware of any attempts in the literature to distinguish critically between seeds with and without a lag phase. It could be that the latter do not pass through a period of temporary anaerobiosis and there are no restrictions imposed by the seed coat or perhaps their efficient mitochondrial respiratory systems become established early to effect continuity of oxygen uptake. The matter is obviously worthy of further research, even if only to make sure in those instances where the lag phase seems to be absent that this is not due to a lack of measurements at the critical time period. 

Sources of Substrate for Respiration Prior to Reserve Mobilization 

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