Question

Which light is most effective in seed germination?

• A. Green
• B. Far red
• C. Red
• D. Blue

Answer 1

The correct option is C Red

Many seeds are insensitive to light, but in a number of species, germination is stimulated or inhibited by exposure to continuous or short periods of illumination. So stimulated are many grasses, lettuce, fireweed, peppergrass, mullein, evening primrose, yellow dock, loosestrife, and Chinese lantern plant. Corn, the smaller cereals, and many legumes, such as beans and clover, germinate as well in light as in darkness.
Inhibition by light is found in chive, garlic, and several other species of the lily family, jimsonweed, fennel flower. Sometimes, imbibed (wet) seeds that do not germinate at all in darkness may be fully promoted by only a few seconds or minutes of exposure to white light or to karrikin. The best-studied case of this type, and one that is a milestone in plant physiology, concerns seeds of the Grand Rapids variety of lettuce, which is stimulated to germination by red light (wavelength about 660 nanometres) but inhibited by far-red light (wavelength about 730 nanometres). Red light inhibits stem elongation and lateral root formation but stimulates leaf expansion, chloroplast development, red flower coloration, and spore germination. Such stimulation by red light can be reversed by exposure to far-red light. So, red light is most effective in seed germination compared to green, blue and far red light.
Therefore, the correct answer is option C.