Convexity of the Photosynthetic Light-Response Curve in Relation to Intensity and Direction of Light during Growth

Photosynthesis in the intermediate light range is most efficient when the convexity of the photosynthetic light-response curve is high. Factors determining the convexity were examined for intact leaves using Salix sp. and for a plant cell culture using the green microalga Coccomyxa sp. It was found that the leaf had lower convexity than diluted plant cells because the light gradient through the leaf was not fully matched by a corresponding gradient in photosynthetic capacity. The degree to which the leaf gradients were matched was quantified by measuring photosynthesis at both leaf surfaces using modulated fluorescence. Two principal growth conditions were identified as those causing mismatch of leaf gradients and lowering of the convexity relative to cells. The first was growth under low light, where leaves did not develop any noteworthy gradient in photosynthetic capacity. This led to decreased convexity, particularly in old leaves with high chlorophyll content and, hence, steep light gradients. Second and less conspicuous was growth under high light conditions when light was given bilaterally rather than unilaterally, which yielded leaves of high photosynthetic capacity at both surfaces. Two situations were also identified that caused the convexity to decrease at the chloroplast level: (a) increased light during growth, for both leaves and cells, and (b) increased CO2 concentration during measurement of high-light-grown leaves. These changes of the intrinsic convexity were interpreted to indicate that the convexity declines with increased capacity of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase relative to the capacity of electron transport.     

Analysis of UDP-Sugar Content in Cucumber Cotyledons in Relation to Growth Rate

UDP-sugar content in cucumber cotyledons grown with or withoutadded zeatin was measured by a newly established method usinghigh performance liquid chromatography and gas-liquid chromatography.With zeatin the growth rate was twice that of the control, andUDP-sugar content was 1.5-fold that of the control. (Received June 6, 1984; Accepted September 27, 1984)     

Light Effects on Mitochondrial Photosensitizers in Relation to Retinal Degeneration

The retina captures and converts light between 400–760 nm into electrical signals that are sent to the brain by way of the optic nerve and in the process helps to translate these electrical signals into what is known as vision. The same light that allows vision to occur is nevertheless also potentially toxic to retinal cells in certain situations. The shorter wavelengths of light are known to interact with chromophores in photoreceptors and pigment epithelial cells to cause oxidative stress and severe damage. Indeed it is generally accepted that short wavelength light effects is one cause for loss of photoreceptor function in age-related macular degeneration. Recent studies have demonstrated that light may be a contributing factor for the death of retinal ganglion cells in certain situations. Light as impinging on the retina, especially the short wavelength form, affect mitochondrial chromophores and can result in neurone death. Importantly ganglion cell axons within the eye are laden with mitochondria and unlike the outer retina are not protected from short wavelength light by macular pigments. It has therefore been proposed that when ganglion cell function is already compromised, as in glaucoma, then light impinging on their mitochondria might be a contributor to their eventual demise.     

Growth and Osmoregulation of Chaetoceros muelleri in Relation to Salinity

The growth and osmoregulation of Chaetoceros muelleri Lemmermann(Bacillariophyceae) were investigated as a function of salinity.This centric diatom grew well over a wide range of salinityand required concentrations of NaCl above 10 mM for growth.Using gas chromatography- mass spectroscopy (GC-MS) analysisof cell extracts, we demonstrated that the alga contains anisomer of cyclohexanetetrol. The level of this isomer increasedwith increasing salinity. Levels of free amino acids also increasedwith increasing salinity, and quantitative determination withan amino acid analyzer revealed that the level of glutamic acidincreased the most with increases in salinity. Levels of intracellularK⁺ and Cl^– also increased significantly with increasesin salinity. Thus, in C. muelleri, not only organic solutessuch as the cyclohexanetetrol isomer and glutamic acid, butalso inorganic solutes such as K⁺ and Cl^– contribute toosmoregulation. (Received November 7, 1994; Accepted April 10, 1995)     

Light Intensity and Substrate Availability in Relation to Tracheid Development in Picea sitchensis

Assimilation and growth of Picea sitchensis seedlings maintainedat three light intensities were examined in relation to previously-reporteddata on tracheid development in this species. Increases in photosynthetic efficiency with decreased lightlevel failed to compensate completely for reduced total amountsof incident radiation as judged from assimilate distributionpattern and growth rate. Incorporation of assimilate into reservesand new growth declined with decreased light level, while theextent of turnover materials generally increased. Most treatment differences in relative dry weight distributionappeared to result from a combination of differences in growthrate and changes in growth pattern. The proportion of dry weightin branches and roots increased with increased light intensitywhile that in stems and the hypocotyl decreased At the two highest light levels tested, both absolute stem growthrate and total wall accumulation appeared to be independentof substrate availability. This situation contrasts with thatobserved in older material and it is suggested that the initialindependence reflects the temporary existence of a high ratioof functional foliage to stem and cambial material during thefirst year of growth. Since tracheid diameter showed a consistent, positive relationshipwith assimilate status, it is suggested that substrate levelcan exert an important modifying influence on cell expansion.     

Gibberellins in Relation to Growth and Flowering in Pharbitis nil Chois

Flowering can be modified by gibberellins (GAs) in Pharbitis nil Chois. in a complex fashion depending on GA type, dosage, and the timing of treatment relative to a single inductive dark period. Promotion of flowering occurs when GAs are applied 11 to 17 hours before a single inductive dark period. When applied 24 hours later the same GA dosage is inhibitory. Thus, depending on their activity and the timing of application there is an optimum dose for promotion of flowering by any GA, with an excessive dose resulting in inhibition. Those GAs highly promotory for flowering at low doses are also most effective for stem elongation (2,2-dimethyl GA₄ GA₃₂ > GA₃ > GA₅ > GA₇ > GA₄). However, the effect of GAs on stem elongation contrasts markedly with that on flowering. A 10- to 50-fold greater dose is required for maximum promotion of stem elongation, and the response is not influenced by time of application relative to the inductive dark period. These differing responses of flowering and stem elongation raise questions about the use of relatively stable, highly bioactive GAs such as GA₃ to probe the flowering response. It is proposed that the `ideal' GAs for promoting flowering may be highly bioactive but with only a short lifetime in the plant and, hence, will have little or no effect on stem elongation.     

绒毛番龙眼对生长光强的形态和生理适应

在100％、50％、25％和8％自然光强下栽培绒毛番龙眼幼苗并研究了其对光环境的适应。100％生长光强下绒毛番龙眼通过增大叶片悬挂角(midrib angle,MA)和比叶重(lamina mass per unit area,LMA),减少叶氮在捕光组分中的分配等降低光能捕获;通过增加类胡萝卜素含量增加热耗散。虽如此,还是发生了比较严重的光抑制,加之叶氮在光合机构中的分配最少,导致光合能力最低,长势最差。8％生长光强下绒毛番龙眼通过降低MA、LMA以及叶片技转,增加叶氮在捕光组分中的分配等提高光能捕获能力,光能转换及利用效率较高,热耗散水平较低,但由于环境光较弱,限制了光合碳同化,植株生长也较慢。50％和25％生长光强下绒毛番龙眼有较强的光能捕获、利用和耗散能力,在几种光处理中长势最好。     

Pressure Sensitivity of Streptococcal Growth in Relation to Catabolism

The sensitivity of Streptococcus faecalis growth to hydrostatic pressures ranging up to 550 atm was found to depend on the source of adenosine triphosphate for growth. Barotolerance of cultures growing in a complex medium with ribose as major catabolite appeared to be determined primarily by the pressure sensitivity of ribose-degrading enzymes. Apparent activation volumes for growth were nearly identical to those for lactate production from ribose, and yield coefficients per mole of ribose degraded were relatively independent of pressure. In contrast, cultures with glucose as main catabolite were less sensitive to pressure; glycolysis was less severely restricted under high pressure than was growth, and yield coefficients declined with pressure, especially above 400 atm. Thus, two distinct types of barotolerance could be defined-one dominated by catabolic reactions and one dominated by noncatabolic reactions. The results of experiments with a series of other catabolites further supported the view that catabolic reactions can determine streptococcal barotolerance. We also found that growing, glucose-degrading cultures increased in volume under pressure in the same manner that they do at 1 atm. Thus, it appeared that the bacterium has no alternative means of carrying out glycolysis under pressure without dilatation. Also, the observation that cultures grown under pressure did not contain abnormally large or morphologically deformed cells suggested that pressure did not inhibit cell division more than cell growth.     

Growth Cycle Metabolism of Plants in Relation to Flowering

An examination of the percentages of total carbohydrate, nitrogen (Kjeldahl) and ash has been made at various times in the growth cycle in six plants of varying growth habit. The time of formation of the flower initial in four species (fumitory, leek, radish and yellow water-lily) corresponds to a maximum in the curve showing percentage of total carbohydrate plus percentage of ash in the whole plant. The other two species (pea and bean) make their flower initials very early in the growth cycle, at a time when the amounts of carbohydrate plus ash are high because of the attachment of the plant to the large seed. These two species therefore also make their flower initials at a virtual maximum of carbohydrate plus ash. All six species of plants studied have mobile carbohydrate. The distribution of nutrients after flowering is discussed.     

Auxin Content and Auxin Catabolism in Relation to the Growth Polarity

The auxin level in the root fragments of carrot cultivated in vitro is inversely related to the auxin-oxidase activity. In the morphological basal region, auxin catabolism is low and, in consequence, auxin content is high. This accumulation of the endogenous auxin leads to the induction of callus. In such new tissues, IAA-oxidase activity is also very low and, similarly, the auxin content is high: thus, cells can growth rapidly. Consequently the growth polarity is directly related to the auxin catabolism.     

Proteins binding to DNA and their Relation to Growth in Cultured Mammalian Cells

Analysis of the proteins of mouse fibroblasts which can bind to DNA suggests that one of them may control DNA synthesis.