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Phytochrome-mediated Germination Responses in -Irradiated Lettuce Seeds ¹

^a Photobiology Group, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby 2, British Columbia, Canada

Sublethal doses of -radiation and far red light have some-what analogous, red light reversible, effects on the germination of lettuce seeds (Lactuca sativa L. var. Grand Rapids). However, the mechanism by which -radiation retards germination appears to differ from that of far red light. Compared to controls, -radiation retarded germination for the first 24 hours; but after 36 or 48 hours of imbibition gemination of treated seeds was higher than that of the controls, whether or not the -irradiated seeds received red or far red light. The effects of -radiation are more pronounced in seeds containing 15% water at the time of treatment than in those containing only 7% water. The promotive action of red light is operative in the presumed absence of cell division in -treated seeds.