The effect of red light, ABA, and K+ on the growth of Datura ferox embryos and their relations with photocontrol of germination

• Published in: Botanical gazette (Chicago, Ill.) Vol. 146; no. 4; pp. 472 - 476
• Main Authors: Sanchez, R.A, Miguel, L.C. de
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Chicago, IL The University of Chicago Press 01-12-1985; University of Chicago Press
• Subjects: ABA; ACIDE ABSCISSIQUE; ACIDO ABSCISICO; Biological and medical sciences; CRECIMIENTO; CROISSANCE; DATURA; EMBRION; EMBRYO; EMBRYON; Embryos; Endosperm; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; GERMINACION; GERMINATION; Germination and dormancy; GRAINE; GROWTH; ION; IONES; IONS; Irradiation; LIGHT; Low temperature; LUMIERE; LUZ; Plant growth; Plant physiology and development; Plants; POTASIO; POTASSIUM; Seed germination; SEEDS; SEMILLA; Water uptake; Light effect; Embryo; Seeds; Germination; Red light; Dormancy; Dicotyledones; Angiospermae; Phytochrome; Abscisic acid; Spermatophyta; Solanaceae; Potassium
• ISSN: 0006-8071; 1940-1205
• DOI: 10.1086/337549

The growth rate of embryos isolated from dormant Datura ferox seeds was reduced 75% by 0.5 M mannitol. With mannitol + 20 mM KCl, the growth rate increased, but no significant difference was observed between embryos irradiated with red (R) and far-red (FR) light. When 0.5 M mannitol + 1 μM abscisic acid were included in the incubation medium, the response to K+was negligible, but the growth rate increased significantly with R irradiation. Measurements of the K+content of endosperm and embryo of intact seeds at different times before and after R irradiation showed no differences from the dark-incubated controls until 24 h after the radicle emerged. There was no change in the relative K+content of the cotyledonary and radicle ends of the embryos. These data do not support the possibility of a light-dependent K+transport as a key factor in the photocontrol of germination in D. ferox seeds.