Seeds of maize and in fact those of the majority of spermatophytes
normally do not germinate during their period of development. Dormancy
during this period is as essential to the perpetuation of the species
as the ability to germinate after development has been completed. In
maize, however, it has been found that the presence in the germplasm of
various genetic factors results in germination, before the seed is mature,
in certain definite proportions of the seeds. This condition has been reported
and described by LINDSTROM (1923), EYSTER (1924a, 1924b), and
by the writer (MANGELSDORF 1923, 1926). In the paper last cited, evidence
was presented to show that a number of genetic factors are involved
in the inheritance of premature germination in maize; that these factors
operate at various stages in the development of the seed and differ in
some of their effects. All are alike, however, in forcing the seed to germinate
before development has been completed and hence, under natural
conditions, are ultimately lethal in effect.