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Abstract

In this investigation the working out and the standardisation of the x-ray contrast method for determination of the germinability of Picea abies (L.) Karst. seed is described. Eighty-four samples from different countries and with various germination values were used for the study. Treatment of a sample with a 40 per cent solution of sodium iodide for 15 minutes at room temperature was found to be suitable for calculating its germinability. Seeds with both embryo and endosperm free of impregnation or those with embryo unimpregnated and the endosperm impregnated in not more than 25 per cent of its projected area on the x-ray film were considered as germinable. The development of the embryo and the endosperm was also taken into consideration for determining the germinabilitj of a seed. The results of the germinability of the samples calculated by the x-ray contrast method were found to agree well with their germination percentages on Jacobsen apparatus, which were used as the standard in this study.