Beiträge zur Biologie der Pflanzen

Abstract

IN the concluding part of the second volume of the well-known Beiträge three out of four papers are devoted to fungi and Bacteria, one only being physiological. This physiological paper is by Dr. Just, on the action of high temperatures upon the preservation and germination of seeds. The experiments, which are described in minute detail, were made with Nobbe's germinating apparatus and a thermostat. Horstmann's thermostat, which was the one employed for all temperatures up to 60° C., is described and figured at p. 348, and consists essentially of a closed vessel with triple walls, the space between the inner and middle plate filled with water, the outer containing air. For higher temperatures a simple tin plate thermostat was employed, the space being filled with water for temperatures up to 100° Cent. and with glycerine or oil for higher temperatures. The source of heat was always a gas-flame with the usual thermo-regulator. Numerous tabulated results are given of experiments upon moist and dry seeds at various temperatures, and it was found, as might be anticipated, that perfectly dry seeds can withstand a high temperature, even between 120° and 125° Cent., without injury.

Beiträge zur Biologie der Pflanzen.

Herausgegeben von Dr. Ferdinand Cohn. Vol. ii. part 3, with 5 plates; vol. iii. parts 1 and 2, with 15 plates. (Breslau: J. U. Kern, 1877, 1879, and 1880.)