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- F. Shishikura, K. Hayakawa, Y. Hayakawa, M. Inagaki, K. Nakao, K. Nogami, T. Sakai, T. Tanaka
LEBRA, Funabashi, Japan
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The radiation sources commonly used in plant applications are commercially available lamps developed for human lighting applications (fluorescent, metal halide, high-pressure sodium, incandescent, light-emitting diode, and laser diode). In contrast, free-electron lasers (FELs) such as LEBRA-FEL produce high-energy, tunable pulse radiation and thus are promising radiation sources for photochemical research. An advantage of LEBRA-FEL is that the peak intensity ranges from 0.35 to 6.5 microns which are wavelengths coinciding with the absorption peaks of living organisms. Previously, we established a microscopic irradiation technique for delivering visible FEL light to single cells through a tapered glass rod (< 10 microns). However, it is still unclear whether LEBRA-FEL can produce sufficient radiant energy at wavelengths effective for triggering photochemical reactions in living organisms. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of LEBRA-FEL in lettuce-seed germination tests. Results show promotion by red light and inhibition by far-red light, indicating that LEBRA-FEL can be used to control lettuce-seed germination.
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