Interactions of light and a temperature shift on seed germination
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Updated: Aug 8, 2026

A Gusseted Thermogradient Table to Control Soil Temperatures for Evaluating Plant Growth and Monitoring Soil Processes
Published on: October 22, 2016
1Plant Science Research Division, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Beltsville, Maryland 20705.
Abstract:
Germination of Rumex obtusifolius L. seeds is potentiated to an observable degree in 2 minutes by a single shift in temperature from 20 to 35 C. Half-maximal potentiation requires less than 32 minutes at the higher temperature. Similar sensitivities to shifts in temperature were observed for seeds of Barbarea vulgaris, R.Br. B. verna (Mill.) Asch., and Lepidium virginicum L. A shift in temperature interacts strongly with change in form of phytochrome induced by light on germination of the four kinds of seeds. The potentiated effects for R. obtusifolius are only moderately affected by 40 mum cycloheximide. Both the temperature shift and light actions are apparently independent of processes of synthesis necessary for growth.
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