Potassium-dependent increase in RNA and protein synthesis in the early phase of incubation of the thermodormant Phacelia tanacetifolia seeds

The seeds of Phacelia tanacetifolia Benth. cv Bleu Clair incubated at 30°C in the dark did not germinate and did not activate K+ uptake capacity. The administration of 1 millimolar K+ in the early phase of incubation stimulated RNA and protein synthesis. The possible role of K+ in promoting the marcromolecular syntheses during the early phase of germination is discussed.