Abstract
This experiment was performed to determine the role of phytochrome in lettuce seed germination. In order to conduct this experiment three different types of Grand Rapids lettuce seeds were chosen: Waldmann, Concept, and Two Star. Each of these seeds were exposed to the following regulated courses of light exposure for ten minutes after they had imbibed for five minutes: Red, White, Far Red, and Darkness. It was hypothesized that the seeds would germinate in both red and white light, but germination would not take place under far red light or darkness. The results were that exposure to the white light produced the highest percentage of germination rates in the Waldermann variety of lettuce seed followed by exposure to the red light. Neither the concept nor the two star lettuce seed germinated. As suspected, the seeds that were exposed to darkness produced the percentage of germination. The far red light also failed to produce any germination in the Waldermann …show more content…
A total of four petri dishes were removed in the dark, using only a green safelight. They were then labeled with the variety of seed, group name or initials, the date, and the light treatment. Filter paper was added to each pert dish and then 2-3 dropperfuls of water were added to each plate so that the filter paper was very moist for germination. Then 25 lettuce seeds were placed into each dish. The light regimens were White, Red, Far-Red, and Darkness. Each dish was exposed to their labeled light regimen for 10 minutes. They were kept level and wrapped in foil immediately after exposure. After 48 hours, the seeds were revisited and the total number of seeds germinated in each dish was determined, then figured into a percentage. All the information was gathered together and put into