The importance of liquid-seed contact during the germination of Medicago tribuloides Desr.

At a given matric potential, rates of uptake of water and rates of seed germination on a suction plate apparatus were increased by improving the degree of contact between liquid water and seed. The conclusion of Collis-George and Sands (1962) that small matric potentials, as such, influence the rate of seed germination is critically reviewed in the light of the present investigation. The rate of germination of seeds was not influenced by small pressure potentials, which like matric potentials are a non-osmotic component of the total water potential.