Effect of Temperature, Oxygen, and Gibberellic Acid on the Development of Photosensitivity in Oldenlandia corymbosa L. Seeds during Their Incubation in Darkness

Two successive phases can be distinguished in the development of the responsiveness to light in Oldenlandia corymbosa L. seeds during their incubation in darkness. During phase I, the responsiveness to light increases with time if there is sufficient O(2), and the higher the temperature, the faster the increase. This phase is stimulated by gibberellic acid. During the following phase (II), seeds remain responsive to light at 10 or 20 degrees C, but lose their responsiveness at higher temperature (>/=30 degrees C). This second phase depends on O(2): loss of responsiveness is accelerated at lower O(2) concentration. Phase II is only slightly affected by gibberellic acid. The results are discussed in terms of variation of phytochrome and of a reaction along the transduction chain initiated by phototransformation of this pigment, which is finally expressed in germination.