Influence of Root and Content on the Temperature Response of Net and Uptake in Chilling Sensitive and Chilling Resistant Lycopersicon Taxa

We studied the influence of internal ammonium and nitrate contenton the temperature response of ammonium and nitrate uptake inboth chilling sensitive and chilling resistant tomatoes. Threetaxa were examined: Lycopersicon esculentum Mill. cv. T-5, achilling sensitive cultivar, Lycopersicon hirsutum Humb. andBompl. LA 1264, a wild, chilling sensitive accession from thelowlands of Ecuador, and Lycopersicon hirsutum LA1778, a chillingresistant accession from the highlands of Peru. Short exposures(4 h) of L. esculentum cv. T-5 to chilling temperatures irreversiblyinhibited ammonium absorption for at least 6 h. Nitrate absorptionin this taxon and ammonium and nitrate absorption in the L.hirsutum accessions recovered fully and immediately from suchexposures. The chilling resistant accession, L. hirsutum LA1778,showed a lower Q₁₀ for ammonium absorption (1?54?0?10, mean?s.e.)than its chilling sensitive relatives, L. hirsutum LA1264 (2?37?0?35)and L. esculentum cv. T-5 (1?92?0?11). The temperature responseof nitrate absorption depended on internal nitrate status; plantsgrown at high levels of ammonium and nitrate (200 mmol m^–3)showed higher Q₁₀'s for nitrate uptake (2?29?0?10) than thosedepleted of internal (1?86?0?12). Key words: Lycopersicon, ammonium, nitrate, temperature response, chilling     

Proline and Polyamine Involvement in Chilling Tolerance of Maize Suspension Cultures

We have assessed the effect of various medium supplements inpromoting the ability of maize (Zea mays L.) inbred FR27rhmsuspension cultures to grow following a period of 4 °C chillingstress. Following a 4 week exposure to 4 °C in culture mediumwithout proline, no cell growth occurred upon subsequent incubationat 28°C for 2 weeks. This inhibition was reversed when 3to 48 mol m^–3 proline or 0.1 mol m^–3 putrescineor 0.01 mol m^–3 spermidine were present in the mediumduring the chilling stress. On the other hand, suspensions weremade more sensitive to 4°C by blocking polyamine biosynthesiswith 1.0 mol m^–3 methylglyoxal bis (guanylhydrazone) (MGBG)or a combination of 1.0 mol m^–3 difluoromethylornithine(DFMO) and 1.0 mol m^–3 difluoromethylarginine (DFMA).The addition of 10 mol m^–3 putrescine to the suspensioncontaining DFMO and DFMA prevented the increased chilling sensitivity.Electrolyte leakage studies conducted to assess membrane integrityafter 4 weeks at 4°C and a 2 week regrowth period showedthat cells treated with no polyamines (control), 0.01 mol m^–3spermidine, 1.0 mol m^–3 putrescine, or 1.0 mol m^–3MGBG lost 43, 32, 14, and 100% of the total electrolyte pool,respectively. These results suggest that proline and polyaminesare beneficial for inducing chilling tolerance in FR27rhm suspension. Key words: Proline, polyamine, chilling stress     

Effects of Leaf Chilling on Thylakoid Functions, Measured at Room Temperature, in Cucumis sativus L. and Oryza sativa L.

Photosynthetic functions in leaves of cucumber (Cucumis sativusL.) and rice (Oryza sativa L.) were examined before and aftervarious chilling treatments. Cucumber leaves lost the capacityfor the photosynthetic oxygen evolution after chilling at 0°Cin the dark for 48 h. Thyla-koids isolated from such leaveswere not able to reduce dichloroindophenol (DCIP), but the additionof diphenylcarbazide (DPC), an electron donor to PS II, restoredthe ability to reduce DCIP, indicating that the site of damageis in the water-splitting machinery of PS II. In moderate light (500 jumol quanta m^–2s^–1), chillingof cucumber leaves at 5°C for 5 h was sufficient to inducethe complete loss of the capacity for photosynthetic oxygenevolution. Electron transport rates measured in thylakoids wereunaltered, but thylakoids were totally permeable to protons.Since the addition of dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCCD) restoredcoupling and the capacity for proton uptake, the primary siteof damage was deduced to be in the ATPase. In rice, both chilling treatments had barely any effect on thylakoidfunctions, although some negative effects was apparent in photosynthesisin leaves. ¹Present address: Department of Botany, Faculty of Science,University of Tokyo, Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113 Japan. ²Present address: Department of Botany, Duke University, Durham,NC 27706, U.S.A. (Received January 11, 1989; Accepted June 12, 1989)     

Long-term Chilling of Young Tomato Plants under Low Light. VI. Differential Chilling Sensitivity of Ribulose-1,5-Bisphosphate Carboxylase/Oxygenase is Linked to the Oxidation of Cysteine Residues

During long-term chilling under non-photoinhibitory conditions,ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase of the chilling-sensitive,cultivated tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) lost a substantialamount of titrable sulfhydryl groups, both in the native andin the dissociated state, while the content of disulfide bondsincreased. In contrast, accessible cysteine residues of theenzyme isolated from chilling-tolerant, high-altitude linesof L. peruvianum (Mill.) were only inferiorly affected duringchilling stress. (Received November 30, 1994; Accepted April 3, 1995)     

Effects of Chilling, Light and Nitrogen-containing Compounds on Germination, Rate of Germination and Seed Imbibition of Clematis vitalba L.

Effects of chilling (5 °C) period, light and applied nitrogen(N) on germination (%), rate of germination (d to 50% of totalgermination; T_50%) and seed imbibition were examined inClematisvitalba L. In the absence of chilling, light and N, germinationwas minimal (3%). When applied alone, both chilling and N increasedgermination. Chilling for 12 weeks increased germination to64%, and 2.5 mM NO^-₃or NH⁺₄increased germination to 10–12%.Light did not increase germination when applied alone, but didwhen applied in combination with chilling and/or N. Half theseed germinated when light was combined with 2.5 mM NO^-₃or NH⁺₄.The influence of chilling, light and/or N on germination wasgreater when combined, than when either factor was applied alone.Both oxidized (NO^-₃) and reduced (NH⁺₄) forms of N increasedgermination, but non-N-containing compounds did not, suggestingthe response was due to N and not ionic or osmotic effects. Without additional N, T_50%decreased from 16–20 d at zerochilling, to around 5 d at 8 and 12 weeks chilling. AlthoughT_50%was not influenced by an increase in NO^-₃or NH⁺₄from 0.5to 5.0 mM , it did increase with additional applied N thereafter.However, the magnitude of the N effect was small compared tothat of chilling. Like germination, seed imbibition increasedwith a longer chilling period, but in contrast imbibition decreasedslightly with increased applied NO^-₃or NH⁺₄. It is argued thatincreased imbibition is not directly related to an increasein total germination, but that it may be related to the rateof germination. Possible mechanisms involved in the reductionin dormancy ofC. vitalba seed are discussed. Clematis vitalba L.; germination; dormancy; imbibition; rate of germination; chilling; light; nitrate; ammonium; nitrogen; phytochrome     

Mapping a novel heat-stable resistance to Meloidogyne in Lycopersicon peruvianum

 The root-knot nematode heat-stable resistance locus from L. peruvianum LA2157 was mapped on chromosome 6. All wild tomato LA2157 entries and the LA2157 S₁ progeny tested were resistant to Mi-avirulent Meloidogyne spp. isolates at 32°C, indicating that the self-compatible accession is homozygous for heat-stable nematode resistance. The novel resistance locus was mapped on a RFLP linkage map; this map was based on a segregating F₂ population obtained from the interspecific F₁ between L. esculentum cv ‘Solentos’ and L. peruvianum LA2157. The inheritance of the heat-stable resistance was evaluated in 100 F₃ lines derived from one F₁ interspecific hybrid. The genotype of the resistance locus of the individual F₂ plants was based on the phenotypic classification of their F₃ lines, and the data were used to map the resistance locus on the arm of chromosome 6 with the closest linkage to TG178. The position of the novel heat-stable resistance of LA2157 was localized in the resistance genes’ cluster close to the location of gene Mi-1. Cuttings of the F₃ lines expressed resistance to Mi-1-avirulent M. incognita and M. javanica biotypes at 25°C and at 32°C (a temperature at which Mi-1 resistance is not expressed). There was no difference in the segregating population for expression of heat-unstable resistance and heat-stable resistance to Mi-1-avirulent Meloidogyne spp. However, LA2157 and cuttings of the above F₃ lines were susceptible to a Mi-1-virulent M. incognita isolate at 30°C and to a M. hapla isolate at 25°C. Received: 6 July 1998 / Accepted: 28 July 1998     

Chilling Injury in Cotton {Gossypium hirsutum L.): Light Requirement for the Reduction of Injury and for the Protective Effect of Abscisic Acid

Pretreatment by darkness increased chilling (4°C) injuryin whole cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) seedlings and isolatedcotyledonary tissue. Addition of sucrose in the dark periodprevented the effect of darkness. Application of the photosyntheticinhibitor DCMU in light simulated the effect of darkness. ABA(10^–5 M) decreased chilling injury when applied in lightas a pretreatment before the onset of chilling. The same pretreatmentin darkness was almost ineffective, unless sucrose was added.ABA applied in light together with DCMU was ineffective in decreasingchilling injury. Lower light intensity resulted in increasedchilling injury and a decreased effect of ABA in the preventionof chilling injury. The antimicrotubular drug colchicine increased the chillinginjury. Pretreatment with ABA in light decreased the chillingand colchicine injury while the same pretreatment in darknesswas ineffective. These results suggest that a deficiency of a photosyntheticproduct increases the chilling sensitivity of the tissue. ABAapparently increases chilling resistance through a metabolicprocess which depends on photosynthetic activity. ³ Incumbent of the Seagram Chair in Plant Sciences (Received November 20, 1980; Accepted January 31, 1981)     

Chilling injury in cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) : Effects of antimicrotubular drugs

When exposed to 4°C for more than three days, intact cotton(Gossypium hirsutum L.) seedlings and isolated cotyledonarydiscs suffered chilling injury as shown by the leakage of electrolytesfrom the tissue and the development of necrotic areas. Applicationof antimicrotubular drugs such as colchicine, demecolcine orpodophyllotoxin during chilling significantly accelerated andenhanced tissue damage. Lumicolchicine, the stereoisomer ofcolchicine, was ineffective. Non-chilled tissues showed hardlyany damage when treated with the same levels of antimicrotubulardrugs. Prior treatment with 10^–5 M abscisic acid (ABA)prevented the appearance of symptoms of damage caused by chillingand the antimicrotubular drugs during the first 2 to 3 daysand greatly reduced it at later stages. Our present resultssuggest that chilling damage may be due at least in part, tothe cold-induced disassembly of microtubules. Furthermore, themode of action of ABA might be related to factors which influencethe physiological stability of the microtubule network. ¹Preliminary report of this work was presented at the 10th InternationalConference on Plant Growth Substances, Madison, Wisconsin, 1979. ³Incumbent of the Seagram Chair in Plant Sciences. (Received April 15, 1980; )     

Carbon Exchange Rate of Intact Individual Soya Bean Pods. 2. Ontogeny of Temperature Sensitivity

Diurnal temperature fluctuations induced change in soya bean-pod[Glycine max (L.) Merr.] carbon exchange rate (CER, where positiveCER represents CO₂ evolution). CER appeared to depend linearlyon temperature. Linear regressions of CER on temperature interceptedthe temperature axis at 5°C (i.e. zero CER at 5°C).Slopes of these regressions (i.e. temperature sensitivity) changedover the season. The CER-temperature sensitivity coefficient,K, (calculated from observed values of CER. pod temperatureand temperature intercept) rose from less than 0·02 mgCO₂ h^–1 pod^–1 °C^–1 during early pod-flll,peaked at over 0·04 mg CO₂ h^–1 pod^–1 °C^–1at mid pod-fill, and then declined during late pod-fill andmaturation. Glycine max (L.) Merr., Soya bean, carbon exchange rate, temperature     

Phospholipid, Sterol Composition and Ethylene Production in Relation to Choline-Induced Chill-Tolerance in Mung Bean (Vigna radiata L. Wilcz.) During a Chill-Warm Cycle

Mung bean (Vigna radiata L. Wilcz. cv. Berken) seedlings wereraised hydroponically in 0, 5 and 15 mol m^–3 choline.Fourteen-day-old plants were chilled at 5°C (under lightconditions) for 24 h and then returned to warm conditions fora further 24 h. Primary leaf lamina tissue was used for thedetermination of phospholipid, mole ratio of sterol to phospholipid(ST/PL), sterol composition, and ethylene-forming enzyme (EFE)activity for the various choline-temperature treatments employed.Chilling caused an irreversible loss of lipid in the absence,of choline. Differential loss of lipid resulted in an increasein ST/PL and a decline in the mole ratio of sitosterol to stigmasterol(S/S). There was no recovery of EFE activity following chillingin the absence of choline. Choline (5 and 15 mol m^–3)enhanced phospholipid and sterol levels prior to chilling andmaintained lipid levels throughout the chill-warm cycle, withoutany significant change in ST/PL. At 5.0 mol m^–3 choline,the chilling-induced decline in S/S was reduced, while at 15mol m^–3 S/S increased following chilling. Choline treatment,though reducing EFE activity prior to chilling, allowed recoveryof EFE activity following transfer of plants from chilling towarm conditions. Key words: Chill sensitivity, choline, phospholipid, sterol ethylene forming enzyme, Vigna radiata     

Polyamine Titre in Relation to Chill-Sensitivity in Phaseolus sp.

Guye, M G., Vigh, L. and Wilson, J. M. 1986. Polyamine titrein relation to chill-sensitivity in Phaseolus sp.—J. exp.Bot. 37: 1036–1043. Endogenous levels of the polyamines putrescine, spermidine andspermine were quantified in the primary leaves of five cultivarsof bean (Phaseolus sp.) differing in their ‘wilting response’to a chilling exposure of 5 ?C for 24 h. Levels of polyamines prior to chilling treatment did not appearto be correlated with chill-tolerance as levels in the non-chilledcontrols were highest in cultivars of medium chill-sensitivity.Plants grown under a vapour saturation deficit (VSD) of 8?4gm^–3 day/6?1 g m^–3 night exhibited a mild hardeningas compared to plants grown under a VSD of 5?7 gm^–3 day/4?1gm^–3 night, as the former showed less wilting on chilling.Hardening at high VSD had the effect of slightly lowering theputrescine content of non-chilled tissue but total polyaminecontent remained unchanged. However, on chilling, the largestrelative increase in polyamine levels, in particular that ofputrescine, occurred in hardened plants. There was also a significantrelative increase in putrescine titre in response to chillingin non-hardened genotypes of high chill-tolerance, whereas morechill-sensitive genotypes remained unchanged or slightly declinedin putrescine content on chilling. Relative changes in putrescine content rather than absolutelevels appears to be correlated with chill-tolerance. Theseresults are discussed in view of present knowledge on the adaptivesignificance of stress-induced changes in polyamines, especiallywith regard to membrane stability Key words: Chilling, polyamines, Phaseolus sp.     

ABA Levels and Effects in Chilled and Hardened Phaseolus vulgaris

Leaf abscisic acid (ABA) levels of chilled P. vulgaris weremeasured after 18 h chilling at 5°C, at a saturation deficitof 1.24 g m^–3 (SD), and after chilling in a water-saturatedatmosphere. Changes were also followed during a chill hardeningperiod of 4 d at 12°C, 2.1 g m^–3 SD. It was foundthat hardening resulted in an almost 5. fold increase in ABAlevels after 3 d at 12°C, and this decreased to approximatelycontrol levels on the fourth day. Subsequent chilling of hardenedplants produced no change in ABA levels from that of controlplants (22° C). In contrast, non-hardened plants chilledat 1.24 g m^–3 SD had ABA levels almost 3 times the levelof control plants. However, chilling in a water-saturated atmosphereresulted in a decrease in ABA levels. In addition, the response of leaf diffusion resistance (LDR)to exogenous ABA fed via the transpiration stream was measuredat 5 ° C and 22° C in hardened and non-hardened plants.Use of tritium-labelled ABA was made to calculate the stomatalsensitivity to ABA. It was found that exogenous ABA caused anincreased in LDR at 22°C in both hardened and non-hardenedplants. However, the sensitivity of the hardened plants to ABAwas greater in terms of rate of closure and amount of ABA requiredto close the stomata. At 5°C, however, ABA caused stomatalopening and the maintainance of open stomata in non-hardenedplants. In hardened plants, ABA caused stomatal closure at 5°C.These results are discussed in relation to the locking-openresponse of chilled P. vulgaris stomata. Key words: Chilling, Stomata, ABA, Phaseolus vulgaris     

Kinetics of Leaf Growth in Lolium temulentum at Optimal and Chilling Temperatures

Lolium temulentum plants were grown at 20 °C, under an 8-hdaylength, in a controlled-environment chamber, and the kineticsof leaf expansion were observed by measuring the movement ofan optical grid attached to the fourth leaf. The leaf emerged23–24 d after sowing and was fully expanded 9–10d later. Extension rate was maximal between the second and fifthdays after emergence and declined markedly thereafter. Duringthe rapid growth phase the rate of elongation exhibited a distinctdiurnal rhythm, fluctuating between 1.9 to 2.3 mm h^–1in the light period, and 1.3 to 1.7 mm h^–1 in the dark.A circadian oscillation with a period of about 27 h was observedin leaves elongating in continuous darkness. When plants weretransferred to 5 °C soon after emergence of the fourth leafthere was an immediate reduction in rate of growth to about22 per cent of the rate at 20 °C: the Q₁₀ for the mean elongationrate in the range 20–5 °C was 3.7. When plants weretransferred from 20 to 2 °C at fourth leaf emergence, meanextension rate declined to less than 5 per cent, correspondingto a Q₁₀ in the range 5–2 °C of more than 300. Furthermore,growth at 2 °C was confined almost entirely to the darkphase of the photoperiod cycle. The responsive tissue was shownto be a small area of expanding leafless than 1.5 cm above theshoot apex and the possible mechanisms underlying low temperatureeffects in this region are discussed. Lolium temulentum L., leaf growth, auxanometer, low temperature, diurnal rhythm     

Aluminium and the Hydraulic Conductivity of Quercus rubra L. Root Systems

Two hydroponic experiments were conducted to determine the effectsof brief and prolonged AI³⁺ exposures on the hydraulic conductivity(Lp) of northern red oak (Quercus rubra L.) root systems. RootLp was determined using the pressure chamber method of Fiscus(1977). In the first experiment, 28- to 40-d-old seedlings weretreated for 4 d with complete nutrient solutions containingone of three Al concentrations (0.04, 1.85 or 3.71 mol m^–3)and either 0 or 50 mmol m^–3 P. Neither Lp nor daily transpirationwas affected by treatment. In Experiment II, seedlings were grown for 48–63 d incomplete solutions containing one of three Al concentrations(0, 0.75 or 2.00 mol m^–3) and either 10 or 250 mmol m^–3Ca. Lp and leaf area to root length ratio (LA/RL) were reducedwhen (AI³⁺/ Ca²⁺), the solution activity ratio, was 2.9 andhigher. Lp and LA/RL were also negatively correlated with Alconcentration and Al/Ca concentration ratio in the roots. Lpwas positively correlated with LA/RL in both experiments. Itis unclear whether Lp in the second experiment was reduced directlyby solution and root chemistry or whether Lp changed in responseto altered leaf/root balance. Key words: Al phytotoxicity, Al x Ca interaction, Quercus rubra, root hydraulic conductivity     

The Effect of Chilling and Moisture Status on the Germination, Desiccation Tolerance and Longevity ofAesculus hippocastanumL. Seed

Effects of 2 °C chilling on the threshold moisture contentsand water potentials for various physiological processes wereestimated forAesculus hippocastanumL. seed. Seed harvested atthe time of maximum seed fall exhibited a dual response to drying:partial drying from near 50% to 32–40% moisture contentprogressively increased germination percentage (at 16 °C)up to various peak values; further desiccation was detrimental,confirming that the seeds are ‘recalcitrant’. Themoisture content for optimum germination was increased by atleast 10% as the chilling period was raised from 0 to 9 weeks.A negative linear relationship was found between log₁₀mean timeto germinate and probit final germination, regardless of pre-treatment,indicating that partial desiccation and chilling are interchangeablein promoting germination of hydrated seed. For nearly fullyhydrated seeds, increasing the chilling period from 6 to 26weeks increased the viability-loss onset point for desiccationinjury from near 40% to about 48% moisture content without alteringthe drying rates of seed tissues. Extending moist chilling invarious seed lots from 0 to 26 weeks decreased subsequent longevityat 16 °C. For 26-week-chilled seeds longevity (the periodto lose one probit of germination) differed above and belowa threshold moisture content of 48%. It remained constant inthe moisture-content range 48–38%, but increased progressivelyas moisture content was raised above 48%. This threshold moisturecontent coincided with the value above which chilled seed pre-germinatedin storage. The results indicate that post-harvest desiccationand chilling alter the water relations of various physiologicalprocesses and a schematic summary is presented which relatesthe results to an axis water sorption isotherm.Copyright 1998Annals of Botany Company Aesculus hippocastanumL., horse chestnut, chilling, moisture content, water potential, desiccation tolerance, longevity, recalcitrant seed, embryo axis, maturation, germination.     

The Carbon Economy of Rubus chamaemorus L. II. Respiration

Respiratory activity and seasonal changes in carbohydrate contentof the storage organs of Rubus chamaemorus L. have been investigated.Leaf dark respiration rate increases in a non-linear mannerfrom 0·7 mg CO₂ evolved dm^–2 h^–1 at 0 °Cto 4·6 rng CO₂ evolved dm^–2 hh^–1 at 30 °C.Root and rhizome respiration rates increase from 1 µ1O₂ uptake g^–1 fresh weight h^–1 at 0.7 ° C to10 µ10, uptake g^–1 f. wt h^–1 at 20 °C.Rhizome carbohydrate reserves decline from a September peakof 33 per cent alcohol insoluble d. wt to 16 per cent in May. The circumpolar distribution of R. chamaemorus is discussedin relation to the evidence presented here and in the precedingpaper of the series.     

Long-Term Chilling of Young Tomato Plants under Low Light. III. Leaf Development as Reflected by Photosynthesis Parameters

Young tomato plants were exposed to two weeks of chilling undernon-photoinhibiting or mild photoinhibiting conditions. Thedevelopment of the leaves was studied under chilling and controlconditions by measuring several physiological parameters. Agradual decrease of the efficiency of the photosynthetic apparatuswith maturation and ageing occurred in unchilled plants. Thiswas reflected by gradual changes in CO₂-saturated photosynthesisand protein and rubisco contents. Except for senescing leaves,a correlation close to 1 : 1 was observed between maximum rubiscoactivity and CO₂-saturated photosynthesis. Chlorophyll (Chl)contents and photochemical chlorophyll fluorescence quenchingshowed strong decreases only in the last phase of senescencein the oldest leaves. In plants chilled under non-photoinhibitingconditions (10C, 100–150 µE m^–2 s^–1or 6C, 30–50 µE m^-2 s^–1), a similar patternof ageing was observed, and no indications were found for aninduction of protein or rubisco degradation by chilling. Sincethese plants stopped growing in the cold, they revealed lowertotal photosynthetic capacities than unchilled plants of thesame size. When the chilling conditions were mildly photoinhibitory(6C, 100–150 µE m^–2 s^–1), a much strongerdepression of rubisco activity and photosynthetic capacity wasfound in all leaves, which was partly reversible in the youngones. This decrease in CO₂fixation capacity, in turn, led toa higher susceptibility of the chilled plants to photoinhibitionat 20C. It is concluded that the decrease of both photosyntheticcapacity and growth after long-term chilling in tomato is aconsequence of the preceeding ageing and senescing of the leavesduring chilling, in contrast to chilling-tolerant species withthe ability for acclimation to low temperatures. (Received April 26, 1993; Accepted September 7, 1993)     

Selection of Plant Cell Lines with Enhanced Chilling Resistance

Cell cultures of Nicotiana sylvestris and Capsicum annuum, bothwithout and following exposure to the mutagen, EMS, have beensubmitted to chilling for 21 days at –3°C and +5°Crespectively and the cell lines derived from the surviving cellstested for their subsequent resistance to the chilling treatment.Some of the cell lines when again submitted to the chillingstress showed no enhanced survival, others retained their resistanceafter an extended period of growth at 24°C. The applicationof the mutagen promoted the isolation of such stable resistantcell lines. Studies of the response of the respiratory activityof isolated mitochondria to temperature from a resistant andfrom a sensitive cell line of C. annuum revealed a differencesimilar to that previously reported from studies on isolatedmitochondria from chilling-sensitive and chilling-resistantplants of various species.     

Temporal Changes in Swimming Direction during the Phototactic Orientation of Individual Cells in Cryptomonas sp.

The response of individual Cryptomonas cells to continuous lightwas recorded using infrared video-micrography. Swimming directionsand temporal shifts in swimming direction of each cell weremeasured. White light of 0.1–1 W m^–2 elicited apositive phototactic orientation, but did not induce any photophobicresponse. Light of 100 W m^–2 induced a photophobic responseat the onset of actinic irradiation, but did not induce positivephototactic orientation. No correlation between positive phototacticorientation and photophobic response was found in this species.The direction toward the light source was defined as 0°,and the direction away from the source as 180°. Within 2s after the onset of lateral monochromatic light of 570 nm at0.1 W m^–2, cells which were swimming in a direction ofless than 120° predominantly shifted their course towardthe light source. Cells swimming in directions of larger than120° shifted their course as randomly as those in the dark.Thus, for phototactic orientation, the cells must perceive thelight from their anterior side. (Received July 29, 1985; Accepted November 4, 1985)     

Quantal Response of Seed Germination in Seven Genera of Cruciferae to White Light of Varying Photon Flux Density and Photoperiod

The response of the germination of seeds of Barbarea vema (Mill.)Aschers, Brassica chinensis L., Brassica juncea (L.) Czern.& Coss., Brassica oleracea L. var. gongylodes L., Camelinasaliva (L.) Crantz, Eruca saliva Mill., Lepidium sativum L.,Nasturtium officinale R. Br., and Rorippa palustris (L.) Besserto white fluorescent light of different photon flux densitiesapplied for different daily durations in a diurnal alternatingtemperature regime of 20 °C/30 °C (16 h/8 h) was quantifiedby linear relations between probit percentage germination andthe logarithm of photon dose, the product of photon flux densityand duration. The low energy reaction, in which increasing dosepromotes germination, was detected in all the seed populationsbut in Barbarea vema and Brassica Juncea the lowest photon doseapplied (10^–5–2 and 10^{–5 7} mol m^–2 d^–1,respectively) was sufficient to saturate the response. Comparisons,where possible, between photoperiods demonstrated reciprocity,i.e. germination was proportional to photon dose irrespectiveof photoperiod, for the low energy reaction in Brassica oleracea(1 min d^–1 to 1 h d^–1), Camelina saliva (1 min d^–1to 8 h d^–1), Eruca saliva (1 min d^–1 to 24 h d^–1),Lepidium sativum (I min d^–1 to 8 h d^–1) and Rorippapalustris (1 min d^–1 to 8 h d^–1), but not in Brassicachinensis and Nasturtium officinale. The high irradiance reaction,in which increasing dose inhibits germination, was detectedin Barbarea vema, Brassica chinensis, Brassica juncea, Brassicaoleracea, and Camelina saliva. The minimum dose at which inhibitionwas detected was lO^–0–3 mol m^–2 d^–1.These results are discussed in the context of devising optimallight regimes for laboratory tests intended to maximize germination The response of germination to photon dose was also quantifiedwith 3 x 10^–4 M GA₂, co-applied (Brassica chinensis, Camelinasaliva, and Lepidium sativum) and with 2 x 10^–2 M potassiumnitrate co-applied (Brassica chinensis). In the latter casepotassium nitrate had no effect in the dark and inhibited germinationin the light, but GA₂, promoted germination substantially inall three species. Variation amongst seeds in the minimum photondose required to stimulate germination was not affected by co-applicationof GA₂, in Brassica chinensis and Camelina saliva, whereas seedsof Lepidium salivum showed a narrower distribution of sensitivitiesto the low energy reaction in the presence of GA₂ Barbarea vema (Mill.) Aschers, Brassica chinensis L., Brassica juncea (L.) Czern. & Coss., Brassica oleracea L. var. gongylodes L., Camelina saliva (L.) Crantz, Eruca saliva Mill., Lepidium satiaum L., Nasturtium officinale R. Br., Rorippa palustris (L.) Besser, Cruciferae, light, gibberellic acid, seed germination, seed dormancy