ABSTRACT
The global importance of the sprouting problem is perhaps not always realized but, in fact, all continents and all cereal crops may be effected more or less frequently. The characterization of the numerous isoenzymes, revealed by modern analytical techniques, is in many respects an unsolved problem. The physiology of the control of dormancy and germination is a field of obvious importance in this context. Ian Gordon presented a very stimulating introduction to this point at the Cambridge-conference and gave his very personal views on this obviously rather complicated subject. Another practical problem concerns the finding of suitable genes for sprouting resistance and their introduction into current breeding material. A thorough screening of existing collections of wild types and cultivated forms will certainly reveal further sources of useful genes for the improvement of sprouting resistance along different pathways.
