Abstract
Germination of Panicum capillare L. caryopses induced by solutions of ethanol and ethyl ether was prevented by application of pressure >1 MPa during the period of exposure to the anesthetic. This effect of pressure indicates that germination is correlated with expansion at a site of anesthetic action in a cell membrane. The effects of several other anesthetics were measured on germination of P. capillare seeds. Ethanol, chloroform, and ethyl ether had the highest activity. Methanol and isopropanol were inactive. The effective compounds are thought to distribute preferentially to lipid-solution interfaces in cell membranes of the seeds.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bretscher, M.S. (1973) Membrane structure: some general principles. Science 181, 622–629
Fink, B.R. (ed.) (1975) Molecular mechanisms of anesthesia. Raven Press, New York
Johnson, F.H., Eyring, H. (1970) The kinetic basis of pressure effects in biology and medicine. In: High pressure effects on cellular processes, pp. 1–44, Zimmerman, A.M., ed. Academic Press, New York
Johnson, F.H., Flagler, E.A. (1951) Hydrostatic pressure reversal of narcosis in tadpoles. Science 112, 91–92
LeChatlier, H.L. (1885) Sur les lois de la dissolution. C. R. Acad. Sci. (Paris) 100, 441–444
Miller, K.W. (1975) The pressure reversal of anesthesia and the critical volume hypothesis. In: molecular mechanism of anesthesia, pp. 341–351, Fink, B.R., ed. Raven Press, New York
Pimentel, G.C., McClellan, A.L. (1960) The hydrogen bond. Freeman and Co, San Francisco
Richards, C.D. (1978) Anesthetics and membranes. In: Biochemistry of cell walls and membranes, pp. 157–220. Metcalf, J.C., ed. Univ. Park Press, Baltimore
Seeman, P (1975) The membrane expansion theory of anesthesia. In: Molecular mechanisms of anesthesia, pp. 243–251, Fink, B.R., ed. Raven Press, New York
Taylorson, R.B., Hendricks, S.B. (1979) Overcoming dormancy in seeds with ethanol and other anesthetics. Planta 145, 507–510
Vegis, A (1965) Die Bedeutung von physikalischen und chemischen Außenfaktoren bei der Induktion und Beendigung von Ruhezuständen bei Organen und Geweben höherer Pflanzen. Encycl. Plant Physiol. vol. XV, pt. 2, 534–668, Ruhland, W., ed. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York
Weintraub, M. (1950) Leaf movement in Mimosa pudica L. New Phytol. 50, 357–382
Woodbury, J.W., D'Arrigo, J.S., Eyring, H. (1975) Physiological mechanisms of general anesthesia. Synaptic blockade. In: Molecular mechanisms of anesthesia, pp. 53–87, Fink, B.R., ed. Raven Press, New York
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Hendricks, S.B., Taylorson, R.B. Reversal by pressure of seed germination promoted by anesthetics. Planta 149, 108–111 (1980). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00380869
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00380869