Exposure to light controls the germination of seeds and the direction of growth of plants.
In an investigation the seeds of plantains (a type of banana) were exposed to light.
The seeds were first exposed to red light and then to far-red light.
The percentage of seeds that germinated when exposed to different periods of red and far-red light was recorded.
The results are shown in the table.
Exposure to red light / min | Percentage germination (%) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Exposure to far-red light / seconds | |||||||
1 | 5 | 10 | 15 | 30 | 60 | 960 | |
32 | 100 | 20 | 14 | 6 | 4 | 6 | 10 |
16 | 92 | 30 | 40 | 28 | 30 | 33 | 20 |
8 | 100 | 62 | 50 | 57 | 44 | 47 | 56 |
4 | 100 | 67 | 60 | 57 | 40 | 37 | 92 |
Comment on the effect of red and far-red light on the germination of these seeds and the processes that occur in their cells.
Use the information in the table to support your answer.
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