AMMONIUM ION-INDUCED CHANGES IN FORM AND HYDROXYPROLINE CONTENT OF WALL PROTEIN IN THE LIVERWORT,GYMNOCOLEA INFLATA

Ammonium ion induces phenovariation in Gymnocolea inflata (Huds.) Dum. (Lophoziaceae) similar in nature to that induced in representatives of four other families of leafy liverworts by antagonists of hydroxyproline-protein metabolism. That is, in the presence of ammonium ion, ventral leaves developed and the lateral leaf morphology and the branching pattern of the plants changed. These changes, which reflect altered patterns of morphogenesis, were correlated with statistically significant (P ≥ 0.01) differences in peptidyl-hydroxyproline between normal and NH₄⁺-induced phenovariant plants. The results support the hypothesis that cell wall-associated hydroxyproline-protein plays a morphoregulatory role and that any of a number of factors, genetic, epigenetic or environmental, that could alter the synthesis/distribution of this moiety could cause changes in form.