Mouvements nycthéméraux foliaires chez le Cassia fasciculata inversé dans le champ de la pesanteur

Nyctinastic movements of leaves of Cassia fasciculata inversed in the field of gravity. Plants of Cassia fasciculata Michx, were grown under controlled conditions with a diurnal rhythm of 14 h light and 10 h dark. The nyctinastic movements performed by the leaves were observed by time lapse photography, on plants inverted in the field of gravity and compared to those recorded on plants remaining in natural position. The movements were observed on leaves from which the petiolar gland has been removed as well as on leaves in which it has been preserved. In plants inverted in the field of gravity, the leaflet movements were not disturbed but the petiolar ones were opposite to those observed on plants in natural position and smaller in amplitude (52 and 15 degrees difference between maximum and minimum positions respectively). This was not influenced by the removal of the petiolar gland. Inverting plants greatly shortened duration of closing and time spent maximally closed while increasing both duration of opening and time spent maximally opened. Removal of the petiolar gland did not influence the opening-closing schedule of the plants in normal position but in inverted plants it caused marked changes in this schedule. These results are discussed in connection with what is known about IAA. K⁺ and amyloplasts and their role in causing changes in pulvinus turgor.