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Mode of Action of Gibberellic Acid and Light on Lettuce Seed Germination ^1,2

^a New York State Agricultural Experiment Station, Cornell University, Geneva, New York 14456

The seeds of lettuce (Lactuca sativa L. cv. Grand Rapids) germinate in darkness at 25 C when treated by gibberellic acid (GA₃) for 1 hour following 2 hours of imbibition. The time of GA₃ application influences the rate and the final percentage of seeds that germinate. In contrast, red light illumination given at different times affects only the rate and not the final germination percentage. The early process(es) of germination initiated by GA₃ or light treatment can be arrested by subjecting the treated seeds to a nongerminative temperature of 35 C. The results suggest differences in the mode of action of light and GA₃ during germination. They indicate that different kinds of processes are involved in the biochemical control of germination.

¹ This work was supported in part by grants from the Herman Frasch Foundation and the American Seed Research Foundation.

² Approved by the Director of the New York State Agricultural Experiment Station as Journal Series Paper No. 3060.