Perl, M., Agricultural Research Organization, Volcani Center, Bet Dagan, 50250, Israel

Ripening and dormancy-breakage of peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) seeds are accompanied by an increase, followed by a decrease, in the ability to accumulate ATP (from AMP + phospho-enolpyruvate (PEP)) in the embryonic axes as well as in the cotyledonary segment powder. A similar increase and decrease profile in the concentrations of the ATP precursors (AMP + ADP) in the embryonic axes and in the cotyledonary segments is noted during dormancy breakage. The ability of the seeds to germinate during the ripening process (after dormancy-breakage treatment) seems to correlate with the decrease in the ability to accumulate ATP in the embryo, while dormancy breakage seems to be correlated with the same phenomenon in the cotyledon.Imbibition of seeds (as whole seeds or as embryonic axes and cotyledonary segments separately) causes a 10-40-fold increase in the ability to accumulate ATP from AMP and PEP, and a decrease in the concentrations of the precursors of ATP. Ethylene has a stimulatory effect on ATP accumulation in embryonic axes during imbibition. © 1982 Oxford University Press.