[Histochemical localization of alcohol dehydrogenase during the aging of seeds].

Alcohol dehydrogenase activity has been demonstrated in section of fresh and aged pea seeds, both air-dried and during germination. The activity in the various tissues has been observed using nitro-blue tetrazolium. From the comparison a general decrease appear in aged pea seeds and a tendency to a shift in the peaks of alcohol deydrogenase activity in the considered tissues (epidermis upper and lower, hypodermis, storage parenchyma and vascular system). The procambial zone forms the tracheary elements during germination, but in aged seeds this occur only rarely. The experiments here reported confirm the hypothesis that seed ageing includes changes in enzyme activity and in morphogenetic pathways.