Summary Sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) can release dormancy of imbibed wild oat (Avena fatua L.) seeds. Treatments found effective included (i) immersing intact seeds in 800 mm NaOCl for 1 h followed by incubation on 5 × 10−4m gibberellin A3(GA3); (ii) immersing dehulled seeds in 800 mm NaOCl for 1 min followed by incubation on 5 × 10−4m GA3; (iii) immersion of dehulled seeds in much lower concentrations of NaOCl, e.g. 13 4 mm for 3 h followed by incubation on water; or (iv) incubating dehulled seeds on a low concentration of NaOCl. Based on the concentrations of each of the reagents required to produce equivalent responses, NaOCl is approximately 4–6 times more effective than hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) in triggering the onset of germination, and 6 times as effective in causing growth inhibition in the roots. These results suggest the modes of action of NaOCl and H2O2 in the termination of dormancy reside in a modification of the properties of the hull and seed coat membranes, and in the provision of additional oxygen to the seed.

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