Metabolism of C-Maltose in Avena fatua Seeds During Germination.

Non-dormant and dormant seeds of Avena fatua metabolize (14)C-maltose in different ways: in non-dormant seeds, (14)C-maltose administered to the endosperm is readily converted to sucrose in the scutellum and translocated to the embryo; in dormant seeds, little sucrose is synthesized from (14)C-maltose, and maltose and glucose tend to accumulate in the endosperm. It is suggested that biosynthesis of sucrose is essential for effective transport of the endosperm reserve to the embryonic axis in germinating seeds.