Role of red light in hair-whorl formation induced by blue light in Acetabularia mediterranea

After a pre-treatment with red light, hair formation at the growing tip of the siphonaceous green alga Acetabularia mediterranea Lamour. (= A. acetabulum (L.) Silva) can be induced by a pulse of blue light. Red light is needed again after the inductive blue-light pulse if the new whorl of hairs is to develop within the next 24 h. In order to investigate the role of this red light, the duration of the red irradiation was varied and combined with periods of darkness. The response of hair-whorl formation was dependent on the total amount of red light, regardless of whether the red irradiation followed the blue pulse immediately or was separated from it by a period of darkness. Furthermore, periods of exposure to the photosynthesis inhibitor 3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1-1dimethylurea had a similar effect to darkness. Both observations indicate that this red irradiation acts as a light source for photosynthesis. Whether or not the red light had an additional effect via phytochrome was tested in another type of experiment. The dependence of hair-whorl formation on red-light irradiance in the presence of simultaneous far-red irradiation was determined for the pre-irradiation period as well as for the irradiation period after the blue pulse. In both experiments, far-red light caused a small promotion of hair-whorl formation when low irradiances of red light were used. However, these differences were attributable to a low level of photosynthetic activity (which in fact was measurable) caused by red light reflected in the growth chamber. Furthermore, lowering the proportion of active phytochrome by far-red light would be expected to suppress hair-whorl formation. The influence of far-red light was also tested in a strain of Acetabularia mediterranea that developed hair whorls in about 20% of cells even when kept in complete darkness after the blue-light pulse. Far-red irradiation had no effect. These results strongly indicate that phytochrome is not involved in hair-whorl formation. Rather it is concluded that the effects of red light are caused by photosynthesis.Abbreviation DCMU 3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea     

Action spectra for fruiting of the mushroom Coprinus congregatus

Spectral sensitivity for photostimulated and photoinhibited phases of the development of Coprinus congregatus Bull. ex Fr. was determined from 405–730 nm. The cultures were exposed during 12 h to a constant number of incident quanta. Spectral sensitivity for photoinduction of primordia formation, for photoinhibition of primordia development and for photomaturation of primordia was quite similar, suggesting a common photoreceptor during fruit-body morphogenesis. A defined action spectrum for the photoinhibitory effect of a light break during the inductive night was determined from 407–690 nm. The most effective wavelengths were in the blue (445 nm). Wavelengths longer than 510 nm were ineffective. The general shape of this action spectrum was similar to those obtained for many blue light responses in which a flavoprotein was postulated to be the photoreceptor.     

Discovery of signaling effect of UV-B/C light in the extended UV-A/blue-type action spectra for step-down and step-up photophobic responses in the unicellular flagellate algaEuglena gracilis

Summary Cultures of unicellular algal flagellateEuglena gracilis grown in different conditions were subjected to action spectroscopy for step-down and step-up photophobic responses, respectively. The spectral region was extended into the UV-B/C as well as in the UV-A and visible regions with the Okazaki Large Spectrograph as the monochromatic light source. The photophobic responses of the cells were measured with an individual-cell assay method with the aid of a computerized video motion analyzer. In the UV-A and visible regions, the shapes of the action spectra were the so-called UV-A/blue type. In the newly studied UV-B/C region, new action peaks were found at 270 nm for the step-down response and at 280 nm for the step-up one. The absorption spectrum of flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD) appeared to fit the action spectrum for the step-up response, whereas the shape of the step-down action spectrum, which has a UV-A peak (at 370 nm) higher than the blue peak (at 450 nm), appeared to be mimicked by the absorption spectrum of a mixed solution of 6-biopterin and FAD. These observations might also account for the fact that the UV-B/C peak wavelength at 270 nm of the action spectrum for the step-down response is shorter by 10 nm than the action spectrum for the step-up response at 280 nm.Abbreviations FAD flavin adenine dinucleotide - FWHM spectral full width at half maximum - NIBB National Institute for Basic Biology - OLS Okazaki Large Spectrograph - PFB paraflagellar body - UV-A ultraviolet light of spectral region between 320 and 400 nm - UV-B/C ultraviolet light of spectral region between 190 and 320 nm     

Characterization of arylalkylamine N-acetyltransferase (AANAT) activities and action spectrum for suppression in the band-legged cricket, Dianemobius nigrofasciatus (Orthoptera: Gryllidae)

Arylalkylamine N-acetyltransferase (AANAT), constituting a large family of enzymes, catalyzes the transacetylation from acetyl-CoA to monoamine substrates, although homology among species is not very high. AANAT in vertebrates is photosensitive and mediates circadian regulation. Here, we analyzed AANAT of the cricket, Dianemobius nigrofasciatus. The central nervous system contained AANAT activity. The optimum pHs were 6.0 (a minor peak) and 10.5 (a major peak) with crude enzyme solution. We analyzed the kinetics at pH 10.5 using the sample containing collective AANAT activities, which we term AANAT. Lineweaver-Burk plot and secondary plot yielded a K_m for tryptamine as substrate of 0.42 µM, and a V_max of 9.39 nmol/mg protein/min. The apparent K_m for acetyl-CoA was 59.9 µM and the V_max was 8.14 nmol/mg protein/min. AANAT of D. nigrofasciatus was light-sensitive. The activity was higher at night-time than at day-time as in vertebrates. To investigate most effective wavelengths on AANAT activity, a series of monochromatic lights was applied (350, 400, 450, 500, 550, 600 and 650 nm). AANAT showed the highest sensitivity to around 450 nm and 550 nm. 450 nm light was more effective than 550 nm light. Therefore, the most effective light affecting AANAT activity is blue light, which corresponds to the absorption spectrum of blue wave (BW)-opsin.     

Action Spectrum of Coccolith Formation

The action spectrum of coccolith formation in Coccolithus huxleyi was determined by measuring the uptake of carbon-14 in coccoliths in four-hour experiments as a function of light intensity at each of seven wavelengths. An action spectrum | of photosynthetic carbon assimilation was obtained at the same time. The coccolith action spectrum had peaks at wavelengths of about 440 nm and 670 nm. probably corresponding to the regions of maximum cellular absorption and carbon assimilation. However, blue light appeared to be relatively more efficient in coccolith formation than in carbon assimilation. The results suggest that light-dependent coccolith formation may be catalyzed by two photochemical reactions, one mediated by chloroplast pigments and the other by some pigment absorbing specifically in the blue part of the spectrum.     

Blue- and red-light action in photoorientation of chloroplasts in Adiantum protonemata

An action spectrum for the low-fluencerate response of chloroplast movement in protonemata of the fern Adiantum capillus-veneris L. was determined using polarized light vibrating perpendicularly to the protonema axis. The spectrum had several peaks in the blue region around 450 nm and one in the red region at 680 nm, the blue peaks being higher than the red one. The red-light action was suppressed by nonpolarized far-red light given simultaneously or alternately, whereas the bluelight action was not. Chloroplast movement was also induced by a local irradiation with a narrow beam of monochromatic light. A beam of blue light at low energy fluence rates (7.3·10^-3-1.0 W m^-2) caused movement of the chloroplasts to the beam area (positive response), while one at high fluence rates (10 W m^-2 and higher) caused movement to outside of the beam area (negative response). A red beam caused a positive response at fluence rates up to 100 W m^-2, but a negative response at very high fluence rates (230 and 470 W m^-2). When a far-red beam was combined with total background irradiation with red light at fluence rates causing a low-fluence-rate response in whole cells, chloroplasts moved out of the beam area. When blue light was used as background irradiation, however, a narrow far-red beam had no effect on chloroplast distribution. These results indicate that the light-oriented movement of Adiantum chloroplasts is caused by red and blue light, mediated by phytochrome and another, unidentified photoreceptor(s), respectively. This movement depends on a local gradient of the far-red-absorbing form of phytochrome or of a photoexcited blue-light photoreceptor, and it includes positive and negative responses for both red and blue light.Abbreviations BL blue light - FR far-red light - Pfr far-red-absorbing form of phytochrome - Pr red-absorbing form of phytochrome - R red light - UV ultraviolet     

Transient reduction of responsiveness of blue-light-mediated hair-whorl morphogenesis inAcetabularia mediterranea induced by blue light

After a prolonged period of red light the formation of a new whorl of lateral hairs can be induced inAcetabularia mediterranea Lamouroux (=A. acetabulum (L.) Silva) by a pulse of blue light. It has previously been shown that the response to blue light obeys the law of reciprocity. In this paper we demonstrate that the responses to blue light are additive only within 10 min after the onset of blue-light treatment, since the responsiveness of the cells is also affected by blue light. One hour after a short blue-light pulse the response to a second blue-light pulse has come to a minimum. After that, the responsiveness is restored in a refractory period of several hours. The fluenceresponse curves for hair-whorl formation at the time of minimum responsiveness are shifted parallel to the original fluence-response curves without preirradiation. Again, the law of reciprocity applies. This indicates an increased light requirement only for the same degree of hair-formation response. The sensitivity to blue light of the reduction of responsiveness response is higher by a factor of about 50 than the induction of hairformation response.     

干旱胁迫下雷竹叶片叶绿素的高光谱响应特征及含量估算

植物叶片的反射光谱特征与叶绿素含量密切相关。以重要的笋用竹种雷竹(Phyllostachys violascens)为研究对象,采用盆栽及控水试验方法研究了2年生雷竹在干旱胁迫条件下冠层叶片反射光谱的响应特征,分析了叶片叶绿素含量与不同波段光谱反射率一阶微分值以及光谱特征参数之间的相关关系,并以雷竹叶绿素含量敏感波段及构建的植被指数与叶绿素含量进行了拟合。结果表明,重度缺水处理后雷竹叶片叶绿素含量显著降低,在可见光区叶片光谱反射率随叶绿素含量的降低而增加,以波长493、639、693、756 nm等处的光谱反射率一阶微分值与叶绿素含量的相关性较高。雷竹叶片叶绿素含量与光谱特征参数如绿峰反射率、红谷反射率、蓝边面积、绿峰面积之间的相关性较高。与已有的植被指数相比基于雷竹叶绿素含量敏感波段修正后的植被指数与叶绿素含量相关性优于原植被指数。基于反射率一阶微分值构建的多元回归方程以及修正的绿色归一化植被指数(m GNDVI)构建的回归方程拟合效果较好,为雷竹叶绿素含量的较优估算方程。研究结果可以为雷竹叶绿素含量的快速无损测定以及季节性干旱条件下雷竹林的科学经营及灾后评估提供依据。     

Wavelength-specific photosynthetic responses of Halophila johnsonii from marine-influenced versus river-influenced habitats

The seagrass Halophila johnsonii Eiseman grows from the upper intertidal to 3 m depths in habitats ranging from near-marine inlets to tidal riverine. These habitats have distinct optical characteristics, primarily due to variable concentrations of watershed-derived chromophoric dissolved organic matter (CDOM), which increases the attenuation of short-wavelength (blue and UV) light. H. johnsonii contains a suite of flavonoids that are thought to serve as UV-protective pigments (UVP). In this study, photosynthetic responses at specific wavelengths were compared between plants from a river-influenced high-CDOM habitat (Oleta River) and those from an adjacent marine, low-CDOM environment (Haulover Inlet) in Florida. Oxygen flux was used to measure dark respiration and photosynthesis under near-constant radiant energy at nine specific wavelengths from 340 to 730 nm. Riverine plants had higher gross photosynthetic rates and quantum efficiencies than inlet plants at the shortest wavelengths (350, 400 and 450 nm), while inlet plant photosynthetic rates and quantum efficiencies were higher at the two longest wavelengths measured (694 and 730 nm). Riverine plants also exhibited greater variation in photosynthetic responses across the spectrum and more variable pigment levels among replicates. Chlorophyll a and b concentrations were significantly greater in riverine plants suggesting that they were more shade-acclimated compared to the marine populations. Differences in wavelength-specific photosynthetic responses and chlorophyll levels indicate that the riverine plants were blue-shade acclimated. The higher and more variable UVP levels in the riverine population were not consistent with shade acclimation; however, these flavonoid pigments may protect chloroplasts from photodamage during short-term, high intensity irradiance conditions that occur over the course of tidal cycles at this highly fluctuating riverine site.     

Action spectra for photosynthetic adaptation in Scenedesmus obliquus

Photosynthetic adaptation of the unicellular green alga Scenedemus obliquus to different light conditions was investigated with respect to chlorophyll synthesis. Cultures were grown under white light (20 W · m^–2) from fluorescent lamps and were then transferred and subjected to the actual adaptation regime which consisted of a 24-h irradiation by different fluence rates and wavelengths. Fluence rate-response curves for chlorophyll synthesis were measured between 4 · 10^–2 and 1 · 10² W · m^–2. In white light from incandescent lamps, in blue and red light the fluence rate-response curves for chlorophyll (Chl) a and also for Chl b were bell-shaped. In red light the threshold was about the same as under blue light. The maximal amounts of Chl a and b were about twofold increased under blue light relative to the values obtained with red light. Action spectra for the stimulation of chlorophyll synthesis (Chl a + Chl b) as well as those for the separate chlorophylls showed two maxima near 450 and 500 nm. However, the action spectrum for Chl b synthesis demonstrated a considerably higher value in the 450-nm peak. Experiments with the photosynthesis inhibitor 3-(3,4-dichlorphenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea (DCMU) indicated that photosynthetic energy supply supported the photostimulation of chlorophyll synthesis. The action spectra indicate the cooperation of two photoreceptors. The 460-nm peak is attributed to the typical blue-light receptor, being more active in Chl b formation. The peak at 500 nm may represent carotenoproteins acting as an accessory pigment system.Abbreviations PCV packed cell volume - Chl total amount of chlorophyll - Chl a, b chlorophyll a, b - DCMU 3-(3,4-dichlorphenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea This project was supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft. We thank Ms. K. Bölte for technical assistance.     

光谱和光强度对棕榈蓟马雌成虫行为反应的影响

室内研究了光谱、光强度对棕榈蓟马雌成虫的趋、避光行为的影响。结果显示:在340—605 nm波谱内棕榈蓟马雌成虫对14个单色光刺激的趋光行为反应为多峰型。其中蓝光483 nm处峰最高,趋光反应率达34.96%,其次为绿光498—524 nm、562—582 nm、紫外光340 nm处;其避光行为反应共有3个峰,其中紫外光380 nm处最高,避光率18.08%,另外2个峰分别在橙光605 nm、紫光420 nm处。在趋光率较高的单色光(340、483、524、582 nm)和避光率较高的单色光(380、605 nm)以及白光刺激下,棕榈蓟马雌成虫的趋光率随光强增强的增强而提高,而避光率则随着光强的增强而降低;光强最弱时仍均有一定趋光率,最强时均未出现高端平台。因此:棕榈蓟马雌成虫对不同单色光具有明显的选择性,光谱和光强度对其趋光行为和避光行为有较大影响,光强度的影响作用与波长因素有关。     

Characteristics of the relative maximum in the decay of delayed light emission from Pothos leaf following far-red excitation

Following illumination with wavelengths longer than 700 nm, the intensity of light emission from Pothos aurea leaf falls for 1 min and then increases to a maximum after 2 min in the dark. The spectrum of this minute-range liminescence matches that of prompt fluorescence excited at the same wavelength, but differs from that of prompt or minute-range delayed emission excited by wavelengths shorter than 700 nm. This emission is less sensitive to heat damage than millisecond delayed emission, and may originate from photosystem I.     

Action spectra for changes in the “high irradiance reaction” in hypocotyls of Sinapis alba L.

Detailed action spectra are presented for the inhibition of hypocotyl extension in dark-grown Sinapis alba L. seedlings by continuous (24 h) narrow waveband monochromatic light between 336 nm and 783 nm. The results show four distinct wavebands of major inhibitory action; these are centred in the ultra-violet (_max=367 nm), blue (_max=446 nm), red (_max=653 nm) and far-red (_max=712 nm) wavebands. Previous irradiation of the plants with red light (which also decreases Ptot) causes decreased inhibitory action by all wavelengths except those responsible for the red light inhibitory response. Pre-irradiation did not alter the wavelength of the action maxima. It is concluded that ultra-violet and blue light act mainly on a photoreceptor which is different from phytochrome.Abbreviations B blue - D dark - FR far-red - HIR high irradiance reaction - HW half power bandwith - Pr R absorbing form of phytochrome - Pfr FR absorbing form of phytochrome - Ptot total phytochrome=Pr+Pfr - R red - UV ultra violet     

Photoisomerization of lycopene during carotenogenesis in mutant C-6D of Scenedesmus obliquus

Mutant C-6D of the unicellular green alga Scenedesmus obliquus has lost the ability to form cyclic carotenoids during heterotrophic growth in the dark. In the dark it accumulates acyclic intermediates, i.e. lycopene, neurosporene and ζ-carotene. The lycopene and two neurosporene forms were identified to be cis-isomers. Upon transfer to light, intermediates decrease and a normal set of carotenoids is synthesized. Inhibition of the cyclization reaction by nicotine reveals a lightinduced isomerization of cis-lycopene to trans-lycopene. Since the spectral characteristics of these two isomers differ drastically the isomerization can be followed in vivo by measuring a light-induced absorbance change. This absorbance change has its maximum at 520 nm and shows fast kinetics under high light intensities reaching a saturation level after about 2 min. Fluence-response curves for this absorbance change were performed for different wavelengths of actinic light. From the linear parts of these curves an action spectrum was caculated showing maxima at 670, 630 and 440 nm originating from chlorophyll and a maximum at shorter wavelengths (400–510 nm) which is interpreted to derive from ζ-carotene. A model for the light regulation of carotenogenesis in mutant C-6D is presented and the relation to the so-called 520-change observed in many plants is discussed.     

Action spectra of the light-growth response of Phycomyces

The light-growth response of Phycomyces blakesleeanus (Burgeff) is a transient change in elongation rate of the sporangiophore caused by a change in light intensity. Previous investigators have found that the light-growth response has many features in common with phototropism; the major difference is that only the light-growth response is adaptive. In order to better understand the light-growth response and its relationship to phototropism, we have developed a novel experimental protocol for determining light-growth-response action spectra and have examined the effect of the reference wavelength and intensity on the shape of the action spectrum. The null-point action spectrum obtained with broadband-blue reference light has a small peak near 400 nm, a flat region from 430 nm to 470 nm, and an approximately linear decline in the logarithm of relative effectiveness above 490 nm. The shape of the action spectrum is different when 450-nm reference light is used, as has been shown previously for the phototropic-balance action spectrum. However, the action spectrum of the light-growth response differs from that for phototropic balance, even when the same reference light (450 nm) is used. Moreover, for the light-growth response, the relative effectiveness of 383-nm light decreases as the intensity of the 450-nm reference light increases; this trend is the opposite of that previously found for phototropic balance. The dependence of the lightgrowth-response action spectrum on the reference wavelength, its difference from the phototropic-balance action spectrum, and the reference-intensity dependence of the relative effectiveness at 383 nm may be attributable to dichroic effects of the oriented photoreceptor(s), and to transduction processes that are unique to the light-growth response.I dedicated to Masaki Furuya on the occasion of his 65th birthdayThis work was supported by a grant from the National Institutes of Health (GM29707) to E.D. Lipson. Anuradha Palit, Promod Pratap, and Benjamin Horwitz participated in the early phases of this work. We thank Leonid Fukshansky and Benjamin Horwitz for helpful discussions, David Durant for computer programming, and Steven Block for providing us with a C-language program of Reinsch's procedure for cubic spline interpolation. One of us (R.S.) gratefully acknowledges a junior faculty fellowship leave from the Department of Physics at Yale University.     

Inhibition of aggregation by light in the cellular slime mold Dictyostelium discoideum

Aggregation of Dictyostelium amoebae is inhibited by light. White light intensities 10² W · cm^-2 cause an inhibition which reaches a saturation at 2 · 10³ W · cm^-2. The action spectrum, based on photon fluence-response curves, shows a major peak around 405 nm and extends through most of the visible spectrum with a secondary maximum at about 530 nm. The action spectrum of the inhibition of aggregation resembles the action spectrum of accumulations of amoebae in light traps and the action spectrum of photodispersal from light traps; it does not resemble the action spectrum of phototaxis in pseudoplasmodia.     

光谱对东亚小花蝽趋光行为的影响

利用行为学方法研究了340—605nm波谱内14个单色光对东亚小花蝽Orius sauteri(Poppius)成虫的趋、避光行为的影响。结果显示:(1)各单色光均能引起东亚小花蝽成虫趋光行为反应,雌、雄虫的趋光行为反应曲线均为多峰型,峰间主次明显。趋光行为反应率较高的区域有3个,分别是紫外区(340、360 nm和380 nm)、绿光区(524 nm)和橙红光区(582 nm雄虫此处不高、605 nm);(2)各单色光都能引起东亚小花蝽成虫避光行为反应,雌虫避光行为反应曲线为多峰型,避光行为反应率最高的区域为蓝光近紫外区(400 nm),雄虫避光行为曲线为波浪形,避光行为反应率最高的区域为蓝光区(483 nm)。(3)性别对趋光行为反应趋势影响不大,但对趋、避光反应率有较大影响。雌虫趋光反应率最高为47.50%(380 nm),雄虫最高为35.00%(360 nm);雌虫避反应率最高为19.17%(400 nm),雄虫避光反应率最高为11.25%(483 nm)。结果表明:光谱对其趋光行为有一定影响,不同波长之间有较大差异;性别对其光谱行为反应有较大影响。     

Eine fördernde Wirkung von Blaulicht auf die Carotinoidbildung einer gelben Chlorella-Mutante

Summary In growing as well as in resting cells of a chlorophyll-free yellow mutant of Chlorella vulgaris (211-11h/20) synthesis of carotenoids is enhanced by blue light. Permanent irradiation is necessary to maintain the effect (Fig. 2). At wavelengths around 454 nm the additional carotenoid production is half-saturated at about 1000 erg cm^-2s^-1 and saturated at about 4000 erg cm^-2s^-1 (Fig. 3). An action spectrum exhibits highest efficiency of wavelengths around 465 and 370 nm, a minimum near 400 nm and inefficacy of yellow, red and far-red light (Fig. 4). This wavelength dependence resembles those of light enhanced O₂-uptake, carbohydrate consumption and gain of organically bound nitrogen by the organism.     

Nature of light requirement for the flowering of Chenopodium rubrum L. (Ecotype 60° 47′N)

It has been shown that induction of flowering in Chenopodium rubrum L. (ecotype 60° 47 N) seedlings in BCJ light conditions is intensity dependent (Cumming, 1969, Canad. J. Bot. 47, 1247–1250) and that, this intensity dependence is not based on photosynthesis (Sawhney and Cumming, 1971, Can. J. Bot. 49, 2133–2137). Since BCJ light emits a high proportion of energy in the far-red, and the High Energy Reaction (HER) has its action maxima in the far-red and blue regions of the spectrum, we tested the involvement of HER in the light induction of flowering in C. rubrum. Our results show that optimum intensities of blue light are effective in inducing flowering in C. rubrum. Red light exposure does not lead to flower induction. We suggest the HER may be involved in the flower induction of C. rubrum in light. However, when high energy in blue and/or farred is provided in presence of energy between 500–700 nm wavebands, there is no flowering in C. rubrum. We suggest that flower inducing activity of HER may be counteracted by flower inhibitory action of red wavebands.This paper constitutes a part of a Ph. D. thesis submitted to the University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario