| Abstract: | Effects of cyclodextrins on germinating barley seeds and on the growth of micropropagated strawberry plants were investigated. Treatment of barley seeds with α- or β-cyclodextrins resulted in a similar delay of germination as reported earlier [1]. The delay of germination occurred with agarose-immobilized as well as with free cyclodextrins. Since penetration of immobilized cyclodextrins into the seeds is limited, it was concluded that the delay resulted from complexation of growth factors. Soluble cyclodextrins caused a growth retardation with micropropagated strawberry plants and certain morphological changes resembling the ones observed when the action of auxins is enhanced in the respect to cytokinins. |
