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Investigating the effect of different wavelengths of light on germination of Cicer arietinum

Name

ESS
Professor
October 4, 2014

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INTRODUCTION
Chickpea (Cicer arietinum) is a dicot and hypogeal plant. The plant propagates
through viable seeds which are considered to have germinated after emerging from the
ground and concentrates most of its energies on the cotyledons thereby making them large.
Initially, the seed absorbs water and swells at the optimal temperature of 28-33C after which
the radicle starts emerging followed by the plumule, which moves upwards (Singh and
Diwakar 28; Brndel 12). During the germination process, the epicotyls, which is a region
above the cotyledon, elongates and causes vertical growth on the plumule. This growth
produces an upright shoot with leaves, whereas the radicle grows downwards to produce the
roots (Chory et al. 12066). The vertical growth in germination of chickpea seeds happens at a
notably first rate. When the chickpea seeds lack sufficient luminous power in the form of
light, it responds by developing a weak but long stem (Kvaalen and Maigull 437; Khan and
Ungar 279).
The effects of light in the germination of seeds and growth of seedlings have been
extensively researched (Fankhauser and Chory 203). The presence of light in the area of
germination could influence germination in some seeds whereas its presence may result in
inhibition (Batty 23; Dove 14). In 2011, Anchalee reported his findings by stating that lights
of different wavelengths could result in different effects on various germination parameters of
Nepenthes mirabilis. Various types of visible light for example green (510nm), red (660nm),
blue (475nm), yellow (570nm) and white (400-700nm) can be used to promote seeds
germination on some selected seeds (Jones and Jones 56; Khan and Salman 131). Anchalee
concluded that although the germination of seeds was influenced by red and white lights, the
effect resulting from red light could not be match with any other. Thus, the aim of this
experiment was to investigate the effects different wavelengths of visible light on the

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germinability of Cicer arietinum. Out of this experiment, a light that promotes germination
will be identified.

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PLANNING
Research Question:
Does the wavelength of ambient light affect the germination of Cicer arietinum?
Hypothesis:
1. The colour of light available affects ambient temperatures thereby influence the rate
of germination of Cicer arietinum
Variables:
Controlled Input Variables
Controlled Variable
1. Temperature
2. Amount of Water
3. Number of seeds
4. Type of seeds

5. Age of seeds
6. Nutrients and water

Means of Control
Setting the temperature in
the Seed Germinator to
25oC.
Addition on 5ml of water
daily
Counting (12 seeds of
Cicer arietinum per petri
dish)
Selection of clean
undented seeds of Cicer
arietinum

Reason for Control

Temperature influences
the process of
germination
Moisture is required for
germination process
Ensure fair comparison of
different wavelengths

Establish the date of

harvest
Similar Whatman no. 1
paper and 0.5ml of water
added daily

Ensure viability

To ensure high chances of

germination

To promote germination
of Cicer arietinum seeds

Independent Input Variable:

1. Wavelength of light in the germinator
Dependent Output Variable:
1. Mean Germination Time which is a factor of number of germinated seeds per beaker
as counted at intervals of 24 hours and number of days to final germination

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Procedure
Materials and Methods
In this study, the experiment was carried out to evaluate the effect of types of light. To
achieve the different light wavelengths; electric lights were used to generated red (630740nm), green (520-570nm), blue (450-495nm), yellow (570-580nm) and white fluorescent
lights. The investigation was done in the university biology laboratory on designated benches
along the wall covering a period of 2 weeks.
Material and Equipment
1. 60 Chickpea Seeds (12 seeds in each petri dish)
2. Red electric light (650nm)
3. Blue electric light (450nm)
4. Yellow electric light (580nm)
5. Green electric light (500nm)
6. Fluorescent electric light (400-700nm)
7. 5 Petri Dishes
8. Measuring cylinder (0.5ml accuracy)
9. 15 cm ruler
10. Thermometer (0.5oC accuracy)
11. Whatman no. 1 paper
12. Seed germinator 25 1 C.
Steps for setting up the Experiment
1. Sixty clean and even chickpea seeds were carefully selected from a sample bought
from the market
2. Twelve seeds out of the selected sixty were placed on a Whatman no. 1 paper in the
five Petri dishes
3. 10mL of distilled water was slowly added along the outer edges of petri dishes

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4. Each of the five Petri dishes were labelled with the colour of light to be subjected to
and date of experiment noted on the sides.
5. The labelled Petri dishes containing Whatman no. 1 paper and five seeds each were
placed inside a seed germinator and temperature set at 25 1 C.
6. The petri dishes were removed from the germinator at intervals of 6 hours to monitor
the number of germinated seeds
7. The number of germinated seeds in each Petri dish were recorded until when no more
germination could be seen after 14 days
8. On the daily inspection, seeds were considered to have germinated if the radicle
emerged from the seed coat and have attained a length of about 1mm.

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RESULTS
The parameter for testing germination was Mean Germination Time, MGT which is obtained
according to the formula (AOSA. 1991):
MGT =

Dn
n

Whereby, n is the number of seeds whose radicle had emerged to 1mm or more on a given
day D, which is counted from the first day of germination.
During the week, the data relating number of germinated Cicer arietinum seeds in the
four beakers were collected at intervals of 24 hours starting from day 1. Table 1 below
summarizes the raw data obtained from the experiment which represent the number of seeds
which had germinated at the time of counting in the 24-hour intervals. Table 2 shows the
calculated germination parameter, Mean Germination Time, MGT for each treatment,
including control experiment.
Table 1 No. of germinated seeds per day

Colour and
wavelengths
Blue 450nm
Green 500nm
Yellow 580nm
Red 650nm
White light

2
0
0
0

0
0
0

0
0

0
0

No. of Germinated Seeds per day

Day
3
4
5
6
7
0
1
4
4
5
0
1
3
4
4
0
1
2
3
3
1
1

3
2

4
3

5
4

5
5

8
5
4
5
7
6

9
6
6
7
8

10
6
7
7
8

11
7
7
8
10

12 13 14
9
9 10
9 10 11
8 11 11
11 11 12
10

10

11

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To calculate Mean Germination Time, Ms Excel was used and outcome displayed as
below;
Table 2 Excel Extract for calculating Mean Germination Time

Red
n D
Dn n
1
0
0
1
4
1
4
3
4
2
8
4
5
3
15
4
5
4
20
4
6
5
30
6
6
6
36
7
7
7
49
7
9
8
72
9
9
9
81 10
10
10 100 11
66 Dn= 415 66

MGT
=

6.3

White
Yellow
Blue
Green
D
Dn n D
Dn
n D
Dn n D
Dn
0
0
1
0
0
1
0
0
1
0
0
1
3
2
1
2
3
1
3
2
1
2
2
8
3
2
6
4
2
8
3
2
6
3
12
3
3
9
5
3
15
4
3
12
4
16
5
4
20
5
4
20
5
4
20
5
30
7
5
35
7
5
35
6
5
30
6
42
7
6
42
8
6
48
7
6
42
7
49
8
7
56
8
7
56
9
7
63
8
72
8
8
64 10
8
80
9
8
72
9
90 11
9
99 11
9
99 10
9
90
10 110 11
10
110 11
10 110 10
10
100
Dn= 432 66 Dn=
443 12
11 132 11
11
121
85 Dn=
606 77 Dn=
558
MGT
=

6.55

MGT
=

MGT
=

6.71

MGT
=

7.13

Table 3 Mean Germination Time, MGT of Cicer arietinum at different wavelengths

Colour
Red 650nm
White light 400-700nm

Wavelength
600nm
400-700nm

Yellow 580nm

570nm

Green 500nm
Blue 475nm

510nm
475nm

No. of days to first

germination

Mean Germination
Time
3
6.30
3
6.55
4
6.71
4
4

7.13
7.25

7.247

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Mean Germination Time per Wavelength

Mean Germination Time

7.50
7.00
6.50
6.00
5.50

Mean Germination Time

Light Wavelength

DISCUSSION
Light is a critical component of plant growth through photosynthesis and production
of carbohydrates which are necessary for structural development. The inquiry in to the effects
of light has been widely investigated. In this experiment, lights of varying wavelengths were
investigated and it became evident that red light of wavelength 660nm enhances Cicer
arietinum seed germination with a Mean Germination Time of 6.3 as compared to other blue,
green, and yellow whose Mean Germination Time were 7.25, 7.13, and 6.71 days
respectively. The MGT of white light whose wavelength range from 400 to700nm was6.55
days. These finding indicate that red light influenced the germination of Cicer arietinum in a
faster pace than those of other lights and white light.
EVALUATION

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The research question has been answered by the findings of this research and
conclusion drawn that red and white lights promote germination of chickpea seeds. The fact
that the analysis was based on a single experiment makes it credibility weak as a source of
knowledge. A similar investigation has to be redone in varying conditions and substantial
improvements on the equipment and methodology of data collection. Notably, by counting
the number of germinated seeds alone per day with total disregard to the quality of growth is
insufficient. A detailed investigation of the impact of temperature seeds germination should
consider such attributes as vertical growth, radicle growth, size of cotyledon, and any unique
growth (Covell et al.705; Del Monte and Tarquis, 2087).
Another critical aspect of this experiment is the risk of systematic errors associated
with the size of specimens used for each colour beaker. A selection of 12 seeds per sample is
not sufficient to support the conclusions drawn. It is evident that the experiment is isolated
from any normal occurrence scenario, and the results may be highly subjective to the
prevailing laboratory condition.
The evaluation points highlighted above makes this experiment a pointer into further
investigation through literature search or laboratory experiments with the aim of supporting
or dismissing the findings. Therefore, it is highly recommended that an improved version of a
similar experiment should be carried out.
Limitation
One experiment
is not sufficient

Why

In order to make reliable

conclusion,, more than one similar
experiments are needed
Disregard of
The colour of light have extensive
quality of growth effect on seed germination other
than the number of germinated
seeds
CONCLUSION

Possible Improvement
Run five more similar
experiments and compare results
Consider measuring vertical
growth, radicle growth, size of
cotyledon, and any unique growth
in subsequent experiments

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The experiment managed to establish that light plays a critical role in influencing
germination of Cicer arietinum. The Cicer arietinum seeds responded to various light
wavelengths (Red 650nm, White light 400-700nm, Yellow 580nm, Green 500nm, and Blue
475nm) with maximum development as per the ambient light (Kusterer n.p.; Kvaalen and
Maigull 437). Seedlings which were subjected to white and red germinated faster whereas
those in blue and green lights were slower (Barnes 365, Hoyt n.p.).

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Works Cited
Jala, Anchalee. "Effects of Different Light Treatments on the Germination of Nepenthes
mirabilis." International Transaction Journal of Engineering, Management, &
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Association of Official Seed Analysis (AOSA). 1991. Rules for testing seeds. J. Seed
Technol. 12.1 (1991): 18-19.
Barnes, William, H. Effects of Coloured Light on Seed Germination. Barnes, H. W.
International Plant Propagators' Society, combined proceedings 57 (2007): 364-370.
Batty, David. The Effect of Light on Germination and Seedlings. Journal from Thompson
& Morgan, 3.2 (Spring 1989): 21-25.
Brndel, Markus. Effect of temperatures on dormancy and germination in three species in
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Chory, J., M Chatterjee, R K Cook, T Elich, C Fankhauser, J Li, P Nagpal, M Neff, A
Pepper, D Poole, J Reed, and V Vitart. From seed germination to flowering, light
controls plant development via the pigment phytochrome. Proceedings of the
National Academy of Sciences 93.22 (1996): 12066-12071.
Covell, S., et al. The influence of temperature on seed germination rate in grain legumes I. A
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Del Monte, J. P., and A. M. Tarquis. The role of temperature in the seed germination of two
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