Smoke Compounds Compensate for Light Irrespective of Its Spectrum in Positively Photoblastic German Chamomile Seeds, Although Red Light Is Crucial

German chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla L.) is not only considered a weed but also an important crop cultivated for the pharmaceutical industry. Chamomile seeds are positively photoblastic and must be sown on the soil surface. However, heavy rainfall can bury the seeds, resulting in uneven germination and partial yield loss. To address both agricultural and scientific aspects, we applied various light sources with different spectra ranging from 400 to 720 nm versus darkness, as well as smoke compounds formulated in smoke water (SW), to chamomile seeds. Our results indicate that a high proportion of red light within the spectrum is crucial for seed germination and seedling establishment. Fluorescent lamps were the least effective due to their high blue light content, highlighting the need to use white or red LEDs in experiments with chamomile seeds. The smoke compounds present in SW compensated for the absence of light, increasing seed germination by 20% in the dark, and their mode of action was additive to light, suggesting that they share the same signaling pathway. The effect of SW on seeds was stimulatory regardless of the light regime, suggesting that smoke formulations may act as a priming factor for chamomile seeds.

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Publication Details

Journal
Agronomy
Published
2025-03-13
DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15030700
Citations
2
Primary Topic
Light effects on plants
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
3.50
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article

Smoke Compounds Compensate for Light Irrespective of Its Spectrum in Positively Photoblastic German Chamomile Seeds, Although Red Light Is Crucial

Sławomir Michałek, R. Bączek‐Kwinta
2 citations
Agronomy
Light effects on plants
3.50
article

Smoke Compounds Compensate for Light Irrespective of Its Spectrum in Positively Photoblastic German Chamomile Seeds, Although Red Light Is Crucial

Sławomir Michałek, R. Bączek‐Kwinta
article en
2 citations

Abstract

German chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla L.) is not only considered a weed but also an important crop cultivated for the pharmaceutical industry. Chamomile seeds are positively photoblastic and must be sown on the soil surface. However, heavy rainfall can bury the seeds, resulting in uneven germination and partial yield loss. To address both agricultural and scientific aspects, we applied various light sources with different spectra ranging from 400 to 720 nm versus darkness, as well as smoke compounds formulated in smoke water (SW), to chamomile seeds. Our results indicate that a high proportion of red light within the spectrum is crucial for seed germination and seedling establishment. Fluorescent lamps were the least effective due to their high blue light content, highlighting the need to use white or red LEDs in experiments with chamomile seeds. The smoke compounds present in SW compensated for the absence of light, increasing seed germination by 20% in the dark, and their mode of action was additive to light, suggesting that they share the same signaling pathway. The effect of SW on seeds was stimulatory regardless of the light regime, suggesting that smoke formulations may act as a priming factor for chamomile seeds.

AgronomyVol. 15(3)
University of Life Sciences in Lublin (PL), University of Agriculture in Krakow (PL)
Openalex Percentile: Top 9%
Light effects on plants
3.50
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Smoke Compounds Compensate for Light Irrespective of Its Spectrum in Positively Photoblastic German Chamomile Seeds, Although Red Light Is Crucial — Sławomir Michałek, R. Bączek‐Kwinta · Agronomy (2025) | TGRS Research Map | TGRS