The paper proposes the classification of seeds in relation to the forms of phytochrome instead of classical photoblastism. On the basis of published data all seeds have phytochrome and the term photoblastism should be replaced by forms of phytochrome that control germination: 1. Positive photoblastic seeds have phyB (and, to a lesser extent, phyD and phyE) controlling the germination process through Low Fluence Responses (LFR); 2. Negative photoblastic seeds have phyA controlling germination through High Irradiance Responses (HIR) and, when the pre-existing Pfr level is high enough to induce germination in darkness, through LFR by phyB; and 3. light insensitive seeds have phyA controlling germination through Very Low Fluence Responses (VLFR).
Seed classification; photoblastism; phytochrome forms; mode of action