Letters to Editor
nature 111, 49-50 (13 January 1923) | doi:10.1038/111049d0
Effect of Moonlight on the Germination of Seeds
ELIZABETH SIDNEY SEMMENS
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DURING the summer of 1921 I investigated the effect of moonlight on the germination of seeds, and the results seemed to indicate a greatly increased velocity of germination. In order to determine whether this might be due to the effect of the moonlight on the diastase, a small quantity of mustard seed was crushed, and weighed quantities, after mixing with known amounts of water, were exposed to moonlight in Petrie dishes, controls set alongside being covered. Estimation with Fehling's solution of the sugar produced showed that there was an increased yield of about 15 per cent, caused by the moonlight.
