Spectra of photons emitted from germinating seeds

Summary Photon emitted in the visible and near ultraviolet range by germinating soya seeds has been measured by means of a low-noise photomultiplier coupled to a data acquisition system. The photon energy spectrum, determined by means of a set of optical filters, shows two main contributions in the red and UV bands. Results show that both the radiation intensity and its spectrum change during germination according to seed physiological conditions. The photon emission of seeds at rest changes with their germinability. The UV component at the germination beginning is a factor 6 larger for living seeds than for the devitalized ones. This result can be interpreted as an experimental evidence of the existence of mitogenetic radiation. The authors of this paper have agreed to not receive the proofs for correction.