Seed Dormancy in Red Rice : VI. Monocarboxylic Acids: A New Class of pH-Dependent Germination Stimulants

The weak acid character of many previously identified, but otherwise chemically dissimilar, dormancy-breaking compounds may contribute to their physiological activity. To test this idea, short chain monocarboxylic acids of one to six carbons, for which no previous reports of such activity exist, were incubated with dormant, dehulled red rice (Oryza sativa) seeds. Greater than 90% germination was observed after 24 hours of imbibition with 19 millimolar formic, 53 millimolar acetic, 20 millimolar propionic, 28 millimolar butyric, 20 millimolar valeric, or 16 millimolar caproic acid followed by 7 to 14 days incubation on water at 30 degrees C. Dormancy-breaking activity was pH-dependent. Incubation medium pH values that favored formation of the protonated species resulted in the highest germination percentages. There was no promotive effect of medium pH itself in the range of 3 to 7. In contrast, germination of intact seeds was less than 40% in the presence of 55 millimolar monocarboxylic acids at pH 3, unless seeds were partially dry-afterripened. The pH-dependent activity of these acids was maintained during afterripening of intact seeds. The results are consistent with the idea that the dissociable proton of weak acids is responsible for their dormancy-breaking activity. Many other weak acids may break seed dormancy but have been over-looked due to the rigid pH dependence necessary for activity.