Germination of lettuce seeds was inhibited by 6-methoxy-2-benzoxazolinone (MBOA) at concentrations greater than 0.03 mmol/L. MBOA also inhibited the induction of Alpha-amylase activity in the lettuce seeds at concentrations greater than 0.03 mmol/L. These two concentration-response curves for the germination and Alpha-amylase indicate that the percentage of the germination was positively correlated with the activity of Alpha-amylase in the seeds. Lettuce seeds germinated around 18 h after incubation and inhibition of Alpha-amylase by MBOA occurred within 6 h after seed incubation. These results show that MBOA may inhibit the germination of lettuce seeds by inhibiting the induction of Alpha-amylase activity.
