HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by James, E. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by James, E. Agricola Articles by James, E.

Limitations of Glutamic Acid Decarboxylase Activity for Estimating Viability in Beans (Phaseolus Vulgaris L.)¹

Glutamica cid decarboxylase activity (GADAi)n whole beans stored at 32.2 C and 85 to 90% relative humidity, and on the axes and cotyledons of viable and deteriorated seeds of five varieties of beans, was determined by a manometric method for measuring the evolution of CO₂. GADA in some varieties remained at a high level in seeds which had lost viability. Correlation between GADA and germinations yielded coefficients ranging from +0.39 N.S. for ‘Tendercrop’ to +0.89** for ‘Taylor’. Determinations of GADA on the cotyledons and axes showed that the cotyledons contributed 87% of the activity in viable seeds and 91% in deteriorated seeds. The low correlation coefficients and the continuing high activity in the cotyledons limit the use of GADA in determining quality in the varieties used.

Key Words: seeds • enzymes • storage

² Botanist, Crops Research Division, Agricultural Research Service, U. S. Department of Agriculture, Fort Collins, Colo. 80521

Received for publication October 25, 1967.