Contrasting seed germination responses to red and far-red light in Leptospermum scoparium and Melicytus ramiflorus

Abstract

Effects of red light (R) and far-red light (FR), and selected photon flux densities (PFD) of photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) on seed germination in the photoblastic, primary colonising species Leptospermum scoparium J. R. et G. Forst. and the late secondary successional Melicytus ramiflorus J. R. et G. Forst. were studied. A continuous R dose response curve forL. scoparium germination was developed, unifying data from experiments using long-term exposure to PAR with those following short-term exposure to R. The threshold R dose needed to effect germination was ~0.1 mmol m ^–2 , and the response was saturated at 1000 mmol m ^–2 . Stimulation of germination by R was reversed by a subsequent exposure to FR. These features are consistent with a low-fluence response mediated by phytochrome B. FR reversal of germination was achieved at a dose two orders of magnitude lower than that of R required to induce initial germination. However, when both R and FR were provided simultaneously, the FR dose needed to even partially inhibit germination (34% compared to > 95% in controls) was two orders of magnitude higher than the R dose (R:FR ratio = 0.007). Germination in L. scoparium was also stimulated in up to 12% of seed upon diurnal exposure to FR, or by green light (~2 mol m ^–2 ), indicating a very-low-fluence response mediated by phytochrome A also operating in this species. In contrast, seed germination in M. ramiflorus was relatively unresponsive to R, and secondary dormancy was induced by high PFD (515 mol m ^–2 s ^–1 ).