Changes in levels of isocitrate lyase, malate synthase, and catalase have been investigated during germination of flax (Liu,m usitatissiumn L.) in the presence and absence of itaconate. Germination was accompanied by a rapid increase in these enzymes during the first 3 days. The presence of 38 miHmolar itaconate inhibited the incidence of seed germination and the growth of embryo axes as well as Plant Materials. The following were used: flax (Linum usitatissimum), corn (Zea mays), soybean (Glycine hispida), green gram (Vigna glabra), black eyed bean (Vigna sinensis), fenugreek (Trigonella foenumgraecum), alfalfa (Medicago sativa), lentil (Lens culinaris), and wheat (Triticum aestivum L.).Germination and Seedling Growth. Flax seeds variety Varansi local from an Indian cultivar was used for detailed studies. Seeds were germinated essentially as described by Khan et al. (9). Seeds were surface-sterilized for 5 s in 0.01% (w/v) HgCl2 solution, washed with sterile distilled H20, and transferred to sterile Petri dishes lined with moistened filter paper and incubated at 25 C.For the treatment with itaconate, seeds were soaked in an appropriate concentration of the inhibitor for 6 h at 4 C, and the seeds then transferred to Petri dishes containing 10 ml of test solution. Respective controls received the same treatment, except that water was used instead of inhibitor solution. The zero time of the germination period in all of these experiments was 6 h after the initiation of seed imbibition. In separate experiments we have shown that no marked change in enzyme activities was observed during the imbibition period at 4 C. For enzyme assays done on seeds incubated in the presence or absence of itaconate, seeds were selected at random prior to germination. Postgermination assays were conducted only on seeds in which the embryo axis had emerged.Preparation of Extracts. For the preparation of crude enzyme extract, seedlings were harvested and washed with deionized H20 followed by glass-distilled H20. The