Phytochrome Regulation of Seed Germination

Abstract

Seed germination assays consist of counting the number of germinated seeds, defined as seeds in which the radicle has ruptured the endosperm and emerged from the seed coat. In Arabidopsis seed germination assays, Arabidopsis seeds are surface-sterilized, plated on agar plates containing test compounds, and incubated at specific temperatures under specific light conditions, after which the germinated seeds are counted, either with the naked eye or under a microscope. This chapter describes step-by-step protocols for Arabidopsis seed germination assays under phytochrome-dependent conditions.