Internode length and anatomical changes in Pisum genotypes crys and cryc in response to extended daylength and applied gibberellin A1

Dwarf pea (Pisum sativum L.) plants with genotypes cry^c and cry^s responded differently when an 8 h photoperiod (8 h daylight, 16 h dark) was extended to 24 h (8 h daylight, 16 h incandescent light). Genotype cry^c showed up to a 4-fold increase in internode length, sustained by increases in both cell length (particularly of epidermal cells) and cell number (particularly of cortical cells) while cry^s plants showed up to a 2-fold increase in internode length sustained mostly by an increase in cell number. Under an 8 h (daylight) photoperiod the two genotypes did not differ in their sensitivity to applied gibberellin A₁ (GA₁) and they showed a similar pattern of response. GA₁ significantly increased internode length, cell length and cell number in both genotypes. Incandescent light did not increase the size of the response to GA₁ except for cry^s plants at high dose rates of GA₁ (29–58 nmol). At saturating doses of GA₁ the two genotypes attained a similar peak internode length; incandescent light increased the peak by about 40%. GA₁ increased the rate of leaf appearance by up to 33% while incandescent light reduced the rate by 4–7%. The elongation response of the more mature internodes of cry^c plants to GA₁ or incandescent light was due primarily to an increase in cell length whereas increased cell number made a significant contribution in the case of internodes which were relatively immature at the time the stimulus was applied. The progressive increase in internode length of both genotypes during ontogeny was due primarily to an increase in cell number. In conclusion, alleles cry^c and cry^s (background le La) do not confer a difference in sensitivity to GA₁ and the increase in internode length in response to incandescent light is probably not the result of a real or perceived increase in GA₁ level. Allele cry^s may partially block a phytochrome mediated response to light and the key difference between genotypes cry^s and cry^c may lie in the greater elongation (extensibility?) of cry^c epidermal cells in incandescent light.     

The influence of spectral quality on the internodal response of intact bean plants to brassins

The response of pinto bean ( Phaseolus vulgaris L.) plants to single application of brassins (10 μg) in the second-internode assay was determined under equal levels (90 μE m⁻² s⁻¹) of photosynthetically active radiation in a controlled environment provided by cool-white fluorescent (CWF) lamps, incandescent (INC) lamps, or a combination of the two sources. Treatment of the second internode with brassins produced a characteristic swelling of the treated internode irrespective of the spectral source used. However, the increase in radial growth of the upper portion of brassin-treated internodes from plants grown under INC lamps was more than 50% greater than those of plants grown under CWF lamps for 7 days. Spectral quality also had a marked effect on the rate and extent of internode elongation. Brassin-treated internodes of plants grown for 7 days under CWF lamps were more than twice as long as those of control plants, whereas those from INC or CWF + INC grown plants were significantly shorter than those of control plants. The effect of brassins was largely confined to the treated internode.     

Photoreactions Controlling Flowering of Chrysanthemum morifolium (Ramat. and Hemfl.) Illuminated with Fluorescent Lamps

Flowering of chrysanthemum plants under short photoperiods, as is well known, is prevented when the plants are illuminated near the middle of the long night. Such illumination inhibits flowering whether it is given continuously or intermittently, and whether it comes from incandescent or from fluorescent lamps. We discovered, however, that fluorescent light applied intermittently (cyclically) throughout the entire 16-hour long night was far less inhibitory than when applied during only part of this dark period. By contrast, incandescent filament illumination is strongly inhibitory under these conditions. The cycles of fluorescent light usually lasted 15 minutes, 1.5 minutes of light followed by 13.5 minutes of dark. When such cycles were applied for only 12 hours, leaving 4 hours of uninterrupted darkness in each long night, inhibition of flowering was complete again.     

The Effect of an Incandescent Supplement on the Growth of Tomato Plants in Low Light

Young tomato plants were grown at low light flux densities (21W m^-2 for 8 h days) in growth cabinets under three types offluorescent lamps or under a fluorescent/incandescent mixedsource. Whilst net assimilation rates under the fluorescentlamps were in agreement with those calculated from the lampcharacteristics and the photosynthetic action spectrum, therate under the mixed source was about 20 per cent higher thanexpected. Relative growth rates and relative leaf area growthrates were also higher and leaf area ratios lower under thefluorescent/incandescent lamp combination than under the purefluorescent sources. Small differences in stem elongation, leaftemperature and dry weight distribution which were associatedwith the addition of incandescent radiation were not consideredto be responsible for these increases. When the light flux densityfrom the mixed source was reduced by 20 per cent, the plantgrowth parameters were then similar to those in fluorescentlight alone.     

The role of endogenous gibberellin-like substances and inhibitors in the growth of pea internodes

Third internodes or whole stems of 7-days old etiolated pea plants were extracted and the content of gibberellin-like substances and inhibitors has been determined. Extracts were found to contain four or five different gibberellin-like substances, some of which are chromatographically similar to GA₃. The content of gibberellins has been high in young internodes and decreased along with the internodes elongation. Brief red light irradiation brings about quantitative changes in gibberellin content, depending also on the length of internodes. The extracts contain acidic and neutral inhibitors which interfere with the response to GA₃. The content of the inhibitors does not seem to be affected by the ageing of internodes or by the light treatment.     

Complementary action of Gibberellic acid and auxins in Pea internode extension

Gibberellic acid (GA) induced extension of green pea-stem sectionsin light only if an auxin was also present. Of the auxins tested3-indolylacetic acid, 2-methyl-4-chloro-phenoxyacetic acid,2: 4-dichloro-phenoxyacetic acid and I-naphthylacetic acid wereeffective in increasing extension of sections and in elicit-inga response to GA. Excised internodes from plants pre-treatedwith GA extended appreciably faster in vitro than those fromuntreated plants only if an auxin was supplied in the incubationmedium. This and other evidence suggests that in the intactplant GA elicits a growth-response only in the presence of auxin.By comparing growth-rates of excised internodes in vitro andof intact internodes in vivo under comparable conditions, usinguntreated plants and plants pre-treated with GA, evidence hasbeen obtained that in untreated plants growth-rate is somehowlimited to a level below that made potentially possible by theendogenous auxin supply; treatment with GA appears to releasethe plant from this state of inhibition. Growth of intact peainternodes is considered to be regulated by a three-factor system,consisting of auxin, an inhibitory system, and a hormone withphysiological properties similar to those of GA.     

Latitudinal cline of requirement for far‐red light for the photoperiodic control of budset and extension growth in Picea abies (Norway spruce)

To test for the effects of far‐red light on preventing budset in Picea abies , seedlings of six populations originating from latitudes between 67°N and 47°N were grown for 4–8 weeks in continuous incandescent (metal halogen) light at 300 µmol m⁻² s⁻¹ and 20°C and then transferred, at the same temperature, to a daily regime of 8 h incandescent light (300 µmol m⁻² s⁻¹) followed by 16 h cool white fluorescent light (40 µmol m⁻² s⁻¹). (Cool white lamps are deficient in far‐red light, with a R/FR ratio of 7.5 compared with 2.0 for the incandescent lamps.) All the seedlings from 67° and 80% of those from 64° stopped extension growth and set terminal buds within 28 days of the change of regime. The seedlings from 61° and further south continued growing, as did control seedlings from 67° grown as above but with incandescent light at 20 µmol m⁻² s⁻¹ replacing cool white illumination. To distinguish between a clinal and ecotypic pattern of variation, the interval between 64° and 59° was investigated by growing populations originating from that area in the same regimes as before. After 28 days in the cool white day‐extension regime, the percentage budset was 86 for the population from 64°, 0 for the population from 59° and 25–50 for the intermediate populations; i.e. the populations showed a clinal variation in requirement for far‐red light according to latitude. Thus northern populations of Picea abies appear to behave as 'light‐dominant' plants for the photoperiodic control of extension growth and budset, whereas the more southern populations behave as 'dark‐dominant' plants.     

Oleic acid metabolism: A biochemical marker for studying photoregulation of epicotyl elongation in Vigna unguiculata

Oleic acid metabolism can be considered to be an indicator of growth photoregulation in cowpea ( Vigna unguiculata Westphal cv. M53) epicotyls. Phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine are the two lipid classes concerned in the photoregulation of oleic acid accumulation. The incorporation of radioactive precursors in internodes of whole plants has shown that there is de novo synthesis of these phospholipids during the light dependent growth process.
The variations in oleic acid content were used to study the photocontrol of elongation in segments excised from the apical part of the epicotyl. In this system, as in whole plants, oleic acid was the only fatty acid showing significant variation related to the light/dark treatments. Differences in photoresponse between excised intenode segments and internodes in whole plants are discussed.     

Population differentiation for plasticity to light in an annual herb: Adaptation and cost

Phenotypic plasticity allows plants to cope with environmental heterogeneity. Environmental variation among populations may select for differentiation in plasticity. To test this idea, we used the annual plant Geranium carolinianum, which inhabits old fields that are densely vegetated and lack canopy cover and wood margins with tree shade but less neighbor shade. Individuals from three populations of each habitat were planted in natural low and high light environments, and morphological traits important for light acquisition were measured. Old-field plants were more plastic, with greater elongation of petioles and internodes in low light than those from wood margins. This larger shade avoidance response suggests evolution of greater plasticity to neighbor shade than to the tree canopy. Fitness of old-field plants was high across both light environments, whereas fitness of wood-margin plants was reduced in low light. Selection favored longer internodes in low than high light. Finally, plasticity for internode length was negatively associated with fitness in high light, suggesting a cost of plasticity for this trait. Together these results indicate that shade-avoidance plasticity of petiole and internode length is adaptive. However, greater elongation of internode length may be constrained by the cost of plasticity expressed in high light. The evolution of plasticity appears to reflect a balance between its adaptive nature and its cost to fitness.     

Effect of light source on the microbiological desulfurization in a photobioreactor

Removal rates of a toxic pollutant-hydrogen sulfide were investigated using several light sources in photosynthetic desulfurization. An incandescent bulb has a broad spectrum starting from about 400?nm but emits most of its light energy beyond 800?nm as heat. LED₇₁₀ among those sources saved energy considerably comparing with the incandescent light, but the scattering and absorption was a problem in light transmission within the deep region of a bioreactor due to its own weak light intensity. Fluorescent light was inefficient in desulfurization in comparison with light sources illuminating with wide wavelength range, because of the weak transmittance at the peak wavelength of 460?nm. A combination of LED₇₁₀ and fluorescent lamp was estimated as an optimal light source in this study.     

Phytochromabhängige Veränderungen des Wachstums und der Ionenaufnahme etiolierter Erbsenkeimlinge

Summary Inhibition of internodial growth of pea seedlings by light is compensated for by increased growth of leaves. At a given time the sum of fresh weight of internodes plus the product of fresh weight of leaves times a certain factor is constant in darkness or with different periods of light. This correlation may reflect a competition of internodes and leaves for materials delivered at a lightindependent rate from the cotyledons. This hypothesis was tested by immersing roots of pea seedlings into ⁸⁶Rb labelled K-solutions for one day in darkness, removing the plants from the solutions, exposing the seedlings to near or far red light and measuring the radioactivity and fresh weights of leaves and internodes separately. Radioactivity and fresh-weight were both dependent on phytochrome; i.e. inhibition of ion uptake and of growth in internodes and promotion of both processes in leaves by near red light as compared to dark or far red controls are mediated by phytochrome.Short time experiments of ion uptake by the roots show that K transport into the shoot organs is promoted by light after a lag phase of somewhat more than one hour. This interval corresponds well to the lag phase of the light induced growth inhibition of internodes.Seedlings deprived of cotyledons and roots grow well in water but exhibit no difference in growth rate of leaves and internodes in light and darkness. Light dependence is restored if the seedlings are submersed in approximately 3% sucrose solutions. This result seems to indicate that the influence of light on growth rates of leaves and internodes is dependent on the uptake of material by the cell. It seems possible that in the etiolated pea seedling light promotes growth of leaves by promoting uptake and hampers growth of internodes by inhibiting uptake of essential growth material delivered from the cotyledons.     

光对水稻非光合组织谷氨酰胺合成酶同工酶表达的影响

以前的研究表明,高等植物叶绿体谷氨酰胺合成酶（GS2）受光调节,但叶片胞液GS（GS1）和非光合作用组织中的GS很少受光的影响,在本报道中,笔者运用GS活性染色和Western blotting研究了光对非光合作用组织水稻根GS同工酶表达的影响,在阳光的直接照射下以及在室内不同光照强度下,可以很清楚地观察到GSra和GS rb的活性带及其蛋白质带,但是,当用尼龙网档住阳光的直接照射下,GSrb的活性带和蛋白质带消失,当阳光被尼龙网遮挡住后,其光强度仍然比室内光照强度大得多,表明光照强度不是影响GSrb表达的主要因素,当分析生长在暗处以及生长在光／暗转换下的水稻幼苗根GS同工酶变化时,仍然可以观察到GSrb的在,在所有实验条件下,GSra都未发生明显变化,这些结果提示,光对GSrb表达的影响可能是由某些光谱相互作用所产生的未知因素造成的。     

Influence of light and kairomone baiting systems on trap collections of biting midges in southern Sweden

Effective surveillance is essential for protecting livestock from Culicoides biting midges and the viruses they transmit. The objective of this study was to determine how the baiting system used in traps (UV, incandescent light, incandescent light with CO₂, and incandescent light with CO₂ and 1‐octen‐3‐ol) influences estimates of midge population abundance, parity, and diel activity. This was achieved through a standardized trapping protocol conducted in three habitats in Sweden. UV light traps caught the most Culicoides species and more C. obsoletus complex females than incandescent light traps. Traps baited with CO₂ plus 1‐octen‐3‐ol caught more female C. impunctatus than incandescent light traps. No consistent effect of bait type was found on C. obsoletus parity rate, as estimated from the proportion of midges with presence or absence of pigmentation. Midge activity, as reflected by trap catches, peaked between ‐3 h and +3 h relative to sunset, with UV traps catching significantly more female C. obsoletus complex and C. impunctatus at and after sunset than before sunset. We conclude that baiting system can influence biting midge collections, even using identical traps. Effective surveillance may require more than one bait type and kairomones to attract species that do not feed exclusively on cattle.     

THE EFFECT OF LIGHT ON THE CELLULAR COMPONENTS OF POLARIZED GROWTH IN BEAN INTERNODES

First internodes of light-grown bean seedlings exposed to supplementary red and far-red light and those of dark-grown seedlings were sectioned and studied to determine the effects of irradiation on the cellular components of polarized growth. Cell counts and measurements of epidermis, cortex, and pith are given. Increased length of internodes of far-red-treated plants was caused by both increased rate and increased duration of cell elongation. The effect of far-red light is interpreted as a reversal of the accelerating effect of light upon cell maturation. It is suggested that investigations of the mechanism of the red, far-red response of stems be concerned with the processes involved in cell elongation. In darkness, rate and duration of cell division as well as rate and duration of cell elongation were greater than in any of the irradiated plants, indicating that only part of the photocontrol of stem elongation is mediated through the red, far-red system.     

Photocontrol of stem elongation in plant neighbourhoods: effects of photon fluence rate under natural conditions of radiation

Abstract. We investigated the effects of photon fluence rate on internode elongation in fully de-etiolated plants growing under sunlight. Our goal was to find out whether perception by the stems of fluence rate changes related to canopy density may be involved in the modulation of internode growth in canopies formed by plants of similar stature (e.g. crop stands). Using Datura ferox L. and Sinapis alba L. seedlings growing under natural radiation, we found that internode elongation is promoted by localized shading. This effect was observed with internodes receiving light with a high (>0.9) or a low (0.3) red (R) to far-red (FR) photon ratio. Selective removal of the different wavebands from the light impinging on the internodes showed that part of the response to fluence rate is due to photons in the R + FR range. The blue (B) component, most likely acting through a specific photoreceptor, also inhibited elongation. However, changes in the fluence rate of B light did not have detectable effects on the response of the internodes to R:FR ratio. Fibre-optic studies and measurements with integrating-cylinder sensors in even-aged populations of seedlings showed that both the quality and quantity of radiation received by the stems are profoundly influenced by changes in canopy density. When density is very low (leaf area index = LAI ≥ 1) only the R:FR ratio is reduced, due to FR reflected from nearby leaves. In the LAI range of 1 to 2, though a large proportion of the leaf area is still receiving full sunlight, the photon fluence rate at the stem level drops dramatically. These results suggest that in even-aged populations of LAI > 1 elongation growth is promoted by the low R:FR ratio and the reduced fluence rate. Perception of these two factors at the stem level may elicit morphological adaptations in the canopy before the onset of severe competition among neighbours for the resource of light.     

Internode Length in Pisum: Variation in Response to a Daylength Extension with Incandescent Light

Lines representing a range of internode length and floweringgenotypes in Pisum sativum L. were grown in 8 h of daylightfollowed by either 16 h of darkness or incandescent light. Thestem elongation response index (RI = length in 24 h ÷length in 8 h) was least in the very short internode nana types,which are grossly deficient in gibberellins (GAs), and the verylong internode slender types, which behave as if saturated withGAs. The common tall (genotype Le) and dwarf (le) types (lepartially blocks conversion of GA₂₀ to the active form, GA₁)were all markedly responsive but the peak RI (based on the mostresponsive internode) was less in tall lines (1.79 to 2.78)than in dwarf lines (2.32 to 5.01) and the peak RI tended tooccur about three to four internodes earlier in tall than indwarf lines. The cry⁸ mutation reduced the RI. (Duplicate lengthloci La and Cry are probably concerned with GA reception.) Amongle dwarf lines, genotype La cry⁸, was generally less responsivethan La Cry, La cry^c and la Cry. Data from crosses showed thaton either an le La or le la background cry⁸ segregates had alower RI than cry⁸ segregates. On an le la background, cry⁸plants were shorter than cry^c plants, cry⁸ was partially dominantto cry⁸ and segregation was clear only in long days. On an lela background, cry^c plants were shorter than cry^c plants, cry⁸was partially dominant to cry⁸ and segregation was clear inlong or short days. The very high peak RI (5.0) of the microcryptodwarfline, L57, appeared to result, in part, from a marked foreshorteningof internodes 4 to 10 in the 8 h regime. In the 24 h regimeL57 (lm) had a fairly similar growth pattern to normal (Lm)cryptodwarf types. The peak RI tended to occur at a lower internode in early thanlate flowering lines, especially among dwarf types, and genotypeswith a day neutral flowering habit (genotype sn or dne) wereless responsive than their photoperiodic counterparts (Sn Dne). White fluorescent light, given as a daylength extension, wasmuch less effective than incandescent light at stimulating stemelongation suggesting control through the phytochrome equilibrium(P_tr/P_total). Pisum sativum, garden pea, daylength extension, flowering, genotype, gibberellin, hormone receptor, incandescent light, internode length, phytochrome, stem elongation     

Light Moderates the Induction of Phosphoenolpyruvate Carboxylase by NaCl and Abscisic Acid in Mesembryanthemum crystallinum

In Mesembryanthemum crystallinum, phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase is synthesized de novo in response to osmotic stress, as part of the switch from C₃-photosynthesis to Crassulacean acid metabolism. To better understand the environmental signals involved in this pathway, we have investigated the effects of light on the induced expression of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase mRNA and protein in response to stress by 400 millimolar NaCl or 10 micromolar abscisic acid in hydroponically grown plants. When plants were grown in high-intensity fluorescent or incandescent light (850 microeinsteins per square meter per second), NaCl and abscisic acid induced approximately an eightfold accumulation of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase mRNA when compared to untreated controls. Levels of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase protein were high in these abscisic acid- and NaCl-treated plants, and detectable in the unstressed control. Growth in high-intensity incandescent (red) light resulted in approximately twofold higher levels of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase mRNA in the untreated plants when compared to control plants grown in high-intensity fluorescent light. In low light (300 microeinsteins per square meter per second fluorescent), only NaCl induced mRNA levels significantly above the untreated controls. Low light grown abscisic acid- and NaCl-treated plants contained a small amount of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase protein, whereas the (untreated) control plants did not contain detectable amounts of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase. Environmental stimuli, such as light and osmotic stress, exert a combined effect on gene expression in this facultative halophyte.     

The reflectance properties of plant internodes modify elongation responses to lateral far-red radiation

The quality and quantity of light reflected from Nicotinia tabacum L. internodes was monitored as the angle of incidence was varied. Reflectance of incident light, which was either normal or longitudinal to the internode axis, was investigated. Increasing the angle of incidence caused a greater proportion of incident light to be reflected. Light striking N. tabacum internodes was always modified prior to reflection, and smaller incident angles produced greater modification of the reflected light quality. At larger angles, interactions with the internode were reduced. As a parallel investigation, the extension growth rate of light-grown Sinapis alba L. seedlings was monitored continuously using sensitive linear displacement transducers. When the angle of illumination by fibre-optic probes, presenting far-red light to the growing internode, was changed from 0° to 45°, an increase was observed in stem extension rate. There is a possibility that this rate increase was the result of a fall in the red:far-red ratio (R:FR) present inside the plant internode as the angle of incidence was altered. However, it is more likely that it was due to the larger surface area of stem being illuminated. The consequences of these observations are discussed in relation to the potential influence of such modified reflections on canopy light environments and resultant shade responses which may occur when light of known R:FR impinges on plant internodes at angles other than 0°. The possibility is discussed that plants may perceive the quality of reflected radiation from neighbouring plants to be substantially different dependent upon the angle at which it is reflected.     

Specially Constructed Growth Cabinets for Simulation of the Spectral Photon Distributions Found Under Natural Vegetation Canopies

This report describes specially constructed cabinets in whichthe spectral photon distributions found in nature and undervegetation canopies were simulated. Simulation was achievedby the use of various combinations of incandescent and fluorescentlight sources. Undesirable wavelengths, especially those inthe infrared region of the spectrum, were effectively filteredout before reaching the growing area, without using refrigeration.It was possible to grow plants under various conditions of temperature,day/night temperatures, photoperiod, light quality and quantity,end-of-day light, and night-breaks.     

THE DEPENDENCE OF FLOWERING IN SEVERAL LONG-DAY PLANTS ON THE SPECTRAL COMPOSITION OF LIGHT EXTENDING THE PHOTOPERIOD

The results of experiments in which the length, time, and spectral composition of photoperiod extensions and light breaks were varied are presented. The plants used included Hyoscyamus niger L. (annual henbane); Beta vulgaris L. (annual sugar beet); Hordeum vulgare L. (barley); Anethum graveolens L. (dill); Lolium temulentum L. (darnel); and Petunia hybrida Vilm. (petunia). Brief light breaks in the middle of each night failed to cause flower induction. Extended breaks and 8-hr extensions of the photoperiod were effective, particularly those with light from BCJ, rubyred, or incandescent lamps. For all lamp types and species, 8-hr extensions prior to each daylight period were more effective than those given at the end of each day. Four-hour light breaks were most effective when given in the middle of each night. The flowering caused by 4-hr breaks with BCJ light from 8 pm to 12 pm was suppressed when the BCJ light was preceded by 4 hr of fluorescent light. When light from BCJ or fluorescent lamps was interpolated for 2 hr at various times during 8-hr extensions with light from the other type of lamp, BCJ light stimulated flowering the most, and fluorescent light inhibited it the most, when interpolated at the end of the daylight period. These results are discussed, and a model of how phytochrome participates in the flowering of long-day plants is presented.