Gibberellin‐biosynthesis and ‐sensitivity mediated stimulation of seed germination of Sisymbrium officinale by red light and nitrate

Abstract

Light stimulated seed germination of Sisymbrium officinale (L.) Scop, (hedge mustard) by means of two different mechanisms. Light effect I was absolutely dependent on the simultaneous presence of nitrate. Without nitrate, red (R) irradiated seeds did not escape from the antagonizing action of far‐red (FR) irradiation. The data indicated that nitrate acted as a cofactor at the level of the FR absorbing form of phy‐tochrome (Pfr). The combined action of R and nitrate could be replaced by addition of the gibberellins 4 and 7 (GA,4+7). This action could be inhibited by the growth re‐tardant tetcyclacis, an inhibitor to GA biosynthesis in cell free systems and intact plants. The action of tetcyclacis was fully neutralized by GA4+7. It is concluded that the combination of R and nitrate stimulated GA biosynthesis. Omission of nitrate from the incubation medium enabled the study of light effects apart from G A biosynthesis. In such conditions R stimulated the sensitivity to GA4+7, (light effect II). The two light effects could also be distinguished by their different reactions to the temperature of a pre‐treatment in water and darkness. The sensitivity to R and nitrate was subject to breaking and induction of dormancy. Both processes were stimulated at rising temperatures. Due to a different optimum, breaking of dormancy prevailed at lower temperatures and induction of secondary dormancy at more elevated temperatures. The sensitivity to GA4+7 rose and fell in a comparable way during dark incubation at a broad range of temperatures. The capacity of light to stimulate GA4+7, action did not diminish at higher temperatures, it even tended to rise. The study indicated that seed germination is regulated by an increase in both the levels of GAs and the sensitivity to GAs.