Abstract

Growth of the seedling is in- fluenced by the nature and relative amounts of the food reserves of the seed, as well as by differences in the external environment such as light and darkness, and the presence and absence of nitrates in the nutrient solntion. When the seedlings are grown without nitrogen from an outside source the following responses have been found: (a) Seeds having a high nitrogen and relatively lowcarbon content produce seedlings with a large top in proportion to the roots. (b) Seeds having a low nitrogen and high carbon content) produce seedlings with a relatively small top in proportion to the size and weight of the roots. (c) Seeds intermediate in the proportions of their reserves of carbon and nitrogen produce seedlings with intermediate proportions of shoots to roots.

Keywords: