Phytochrome controls achene germination in Bidens pilosa L. (Asteraceae) by very low fluence response

Abstract

Achene without ornament of the tegument were light insensitive with germination under all tested light conditions. Achene with verrucose ornament of the tegument presented low germination under darkness and high germination under light conditions. By pre-incubation at 36° C for remotion of pre-existing Pfr and by comparison of results of counting of dark germinating achenes at the end of experiment and daily under dim green safe light (0.001mumol m-2 s-1 nm-1) we concluded that germination was controlled by phytochrome through very low fluence response.