Abstract
Pulsed light and nitrate exhibit an interactive effect on the germination ofPaulownia tomentosa Steud. seeds that require long periods of light irradiation. Two pulses of red light (R), separated by an adequately long dark interval, substitute for continuous prolonged irradiation. A far-red (FR) pulse given at the beginning of the dark interval inhibits germination, while it has no effect if given at the end. The requirement for certain ratios of the far-red-absorbing form of phytochrome/total phytochrome (Pfr/Ptot) differs when a FR+R-pulse is given as the first or second of two pulses (FR+R or R) separated by a dark interval. An equal decrease of the Pfr/Ptot ratio leads to a more pronounced decrease in germination when the pulse of the same FR+R ratio is given as the second pulse at the end of the dark interval. The length of dark interval between light pulses needed for maximal germination, differed in (i) seeds with a natural requirement for long periods of light irradiation from that in (ii) seeds with their long light requirement imposed by two weeks of imbibition in darkness or by (iii) imbibition in 40% heavy water. However, a single R pulse was sufficient to induce a high percentage of germination if the seeds were supplied with KNO3 (10 mM) from the onset of imbibition up to the onset of light. This effect decreased with a delayed time of application, and was prevented if FR preceded the KNO3 application.
Similar content being viewed by others
Abbreviations
- GA3 :
-
gibberellic acid
- FR:
-
far-red light
- Pfr :
-
farred-absorbing form of phytochrome
- R:
-
red light
References
Borthwick, H.A., Toole, E.H., Toole, V.K. (1964) Phytochrome control ofPaulownia seed germination. Isr. J. Bot.13, 122–133
De Petter, E., Van Wiemeersch, L., Rethy, R., Dedonder, A., Fredericq, H., De Greef, J., Steyaert, H., Stevens, H. (1985) Probit analysis of low and very-low fluence responses of phytochrome-controlledKalanchoe blossfeldiana seed germination. Photochem. Photobiol.42, 697–703
De Petter, E., Van Wiemeersch, L., Dedonder, A., Rethy, R., Fredericq, H., De Greef, J.A. (1987) Mathematical approach to effects of repeated treatments in the study of very low fluence, low fluence and high fluence germination responses. Physiol. Plant.72, 36–41
Ensminger, P.A., Ikuma, H. (1987) Photoinduced seed germination ofOenothera biennis L. II. Analysis of the photoinduction period. Plant Physiol.85, 885–891
Georghiou, K., Thanos, C.A. (1983) Phytochrome control of skotodormancy release in Grand Rapids lettuce achenes. Physiol. Plant.57, 352–356
Grubišić, D., Konjević, R. (1986) The effect of deuterium oxide on light-sensitivePaulownia tomentosa seed germination. Plant Sci.48, 37–42
Grubišić, D., Nešković, M., Konjević, R. (1985) Changes in light sensitivity ofPaulownia tomentosa andP. fortunei seeds. Plant Sci.39, 13–16
Haupt, W. (1985) Effects of nutrients and light pretreatment on phytochrome-mediated fern-spore germination. Planta164, 63–68
Hilhorst, H.W.M., Karssen, C.M. (1989) Nitrate reductase independent stimulation of seed germination inSisymbrium officinale L. (hedge mustard) by light and nitrate. Ann. Bot.63, 131–137
Hilhorst, H.W.M., Smith, A.I., Karssen, C.M. (1986) Gibberellin-biosynthesis and-sensitivity mediated stimulation of seed germination ofSisymbrium officinale by red light and nitrate. Physiol. Plant.67, 285–290
Hilton, J.R. (1985) The influence of light and potassium nitrate on the dormancy and germination ofAvena fatua L seed stored buried under natural conditions. J. Exp. Bot.36, 974–979
Hilton, J.R., Thomas, J.A. (1986) Regulation of pregerminative rates of respiration in seeds of various weed species by potassium nitrate. J. Exp. Bot.37, 1516–1524
Hu, S. (1959) A monograph of the genusPaulownia. Quart. J. Taiwan Museum12, 1–54
Raghavan, V. (1971) Phytochrome control of germination of the spores ofAsplenium nidus. Plant Physiol.48, 100–102
Roberts, E.H. (1969) Seed dormancy and oxidation processes. In: Dormancy and survival. Society for Experimental Biology, Symp. No. 23, pp. 161–192, Woolhouse, H.W., ed. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK
Roberts, E.H. (1973) Oxidative processes and the control of seed germination. In: Seed ecology, pp. 189–218, Heydecker, W., ed. Butterworths, London
Roberts, E.H., Benjamin, S.K. (1979) The interaction of light, nitrate and alternating temperature on the germination ofChenopodium album, Capsella bursa-pastoris andPoa annua before and after chilling. Seed Sci. Technol.7, 379–392
Roberts, E.H., Smith, R.D. (1977) Dormancy and the pentose phosphate pathway. In: The physiology and biochemistry of seed development, dormancy and germination, pp. 323–346, Khan, A.A., ed. Elsevier, Amsterdam
Tang, R.C., Carpenter, S.B., Wittwer, R.F., Graves, D.H. (1980)Paulownia: a crop tree for wood products and reclamation of surface-mined land. South. J. Appl. Forestry4, 19–24
Vincent, E.M., Roberts, E.H. (1977) The interaction of light, nitrate and alternating temperature in promoting the germination of dormant seeds of common weed species. Seed Sci. Technol.5, 659–670
Vincent, E.M., Roberts, E.H. (1979) The influence of chilling, light and nitrate on the germination of dormant seeds of common weed species. Seed Sci. Technol.7, 3–14
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
We dedicate this paper to Professor Hans Mohr on the occasion of his 60th birthday
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Grubišić, D., Konjević, R. Light and nitrate interaction in phytochrome-controlled germination ofPaulownia tomentosa seeds. Planta 181, 239–243 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02411545
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02411545