Light Quality during Seed Imbibition Affects Germination and Sprout Growth of Soybean

Soybean seeds were treated with blue, red and far-red lights for 0, 6, 12, and 24 hours during 24-hour imbibition before culture for 6 days. The soybean sprouts raised were classified by their hypocotyl lengths; normal (＞4cm), abnormal (＜4cm) and non-germination, and their lateral roots, hypocotyl diameters and component dry weights were measured. Red light treatment and dark imbibition reduced the abnormal soybean sprouts more than far-red and blue light treatments, meaning that the former treatments produced more commercial sprouts. The lateral roots were more formed in blue light and dark imbibition than the other light treatments, but were completely blocked by any light treatment lasted during the whole imbibition. Although any light quality treatment did not influence their primary root lengths, blue light one lengthened the hypocotyl more than the others treated during the imbibition, and far-red light enlarged its diameter. Despite this morphological change, component, total or economic yield was not significantly different among the light quality treatments during the imbibition.