Laser technology is widely applied today. In plant breeding, it is of particular interest due to its biostimulation effect which in various species is reflected in the noticeable increase in germination energy and capacity subsequent to presowing treatment of seeds by helium-neon laser rays. However, the influence of laser rays upon the germination of seeds of conifers, especially on the growth of seedlings from these treated seeds, has not yet been investigated thoroughly enough. In our experiment, dry (experiment I) and prewaked (experiment II) spruce seeds were treated by rays of helium-neon laser of LG-52 and only dry spruce seeds (experiment III) by special laser apparatus "Lvov-1". In each version of the experiment, the seeds were treated for a different number of times. Untreated seeds were used as control samples. Subsequent to treatment, germination (germination % and germination energy) and rate of germination in the laboratory were determined; in sowing experiment the growth of one-year seedlings obtained from treated seeds was determined on the basis of their height and diameter of the root collar. The results demonstrated insufficient sensitivity of dry spruce seeds to a weak doses of helium-neon laser rays. Neither was directly noticed the influence of laser rays upon the growth of seedlings. The influence of laser rays upon soaked seeds was, however, somewhat clearer, though generally a retarding character of both the germination process of seeds and of the growth of seedlings was noticed. Treatment of dry seeds and those of relatively low germination capacity by laser rays of laser apparatus "Lvov-1" had, however, a noticeably stimulating influence upon increase in the germination energy and rate of germination of seeds as well as upon improvement in the growth of seedlings.
