Unequal distribution of potassium and anions within the Phaseolus pulvinus during circadian leaf movement

Ion and saccharide concentrations in the upper and lower partsof the laminar pulvinus of the primary leaf of Phaseolus vulgariswere measured in relation to the circadian movement. Concentrations of K⁺, Na⁺, Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, Cl^–, organic acid,NO₃^–, H₂PO₄^–, fructose and fructose-yielding saccharidesin the pulvinus were 75–120, 0.3–0.7, 5–8,6–12, 40–60, 60–73, 19–35, 2–9and 1–5 mM, respectively, and the osmotic pressure ofthe pulvinus was considered to be due to these ions. The cell volume in the expanding part was larger than that inthe contracting part. The change of the cell volume alteredthe molar concentration in the cell sap and therefore the amountof solutes actually transported from the upper to the lowerpart and vice versa was estimated from the concentration expressedin moles per gram of dry weight. Results showed that K⁺, Cl^–, organic acid (or H⁺) andNO₃^– moved from the upper to lower parts or vice versain the pulvinus in relation to its deformation, keeping theelectroneutrality among those ions, whereas C_a2⁺ and Mg²⁺ didnot move. The difference in the K⁺ concentration between theupper and lower parts when the leaf was up or down amountedto 30% of the whole osmotic pressure. This lead to the conclusionthat the endogenous clock-controlled unequal distribution ofK⁺, Cl^–, organic acid (or H⁺) and NO₃^– in the pulvinuscould be the force for the circadian leaf movement. (Received August 7, 1979; )     

Age-dependent changes of the ion content and the circadian leaf movement period in thePhaseolus pulvinus

The circadian movement of the lamina of primary leaves ofPhaseolus coccineus L. depends on circadian changes of the K⁺, Cl^- and (depending on the Cl^- availability) malate content in the swelling and shrinking motor cells of the laminar pulvinus. After sowing in soil, the laminar pulvinus develops within about 26 days. When the leaves emerge from the soil (about 6 days after sowing) and the pulvinus starts with the diurnal movement (about 9 days after sowing) the pulvinar dimensions are about half of those of the mature pulvinus. The anatomical structure, however, is basically the same as in the developed pulvinus. In soil-grown plants, the K⁺, Cl^- and malate content as well as the period length of the circadian leaf movement rhythm change in the developing pulvinus. In the embryo of the dry seed, the Cl^- content is low (0.03 mmol g^-1 DW), the K⁺ content, however, 22-fold higher than the Cl^- content. When the leaves emerge from the soil, the pulvinar K⁺ and Cl^- content is the same as in the whole embryo of the dry seed. In the developing pulvinus the K⁺ content increases by a factor of 2 and the Cl^- content by a factor of 41 in the mature pulvinus. The pulvinar malate content increases between the 6th and 10th day from about 40 to 180Μmol g^-1 DW, then decreases until the 17th day and remains thereafter on a low level (around 80 Μmol g^-1 DW). These results indicate that the Cl^- availability increases in the developing pulvinus with age. It explains furthermore why in young leaves malate was found as counterion to K⁺ in the osmotic leaf movement motor, in older ones, however, Cl^-. The circadian leaf movement starts 9 days after sowing. The period length decreases during the development of the pulvinus from 31.3 to 28.6 h in leaves of intact soil-grown plants. In leaves which were cut from the plants and immersed with their petioles in distilled water, the age dependent decrease of the period length is also found. However, the period lengths are shorter by more than 1 h than in the leaves of intact plants. The increasing Cl^- availability in the developing pulvinus does not seem to be the cause for the age dependent shortening of the period length, because the period length in 22 days old Cl^- deprived pulvini is the same as in 22 days old pulvini with a high Cl^- content.     

Energy-dependent phases of the circadian clock and the clock-controlled leaf movement in Phaseolus coccineus L.

The energy requirements of the various phases of the circadian clock in the laminar pulvini cells of primary leaves of Phaseolus coccineus L. were investigated using 4-h pulses of NaCN (5 mM) and NaN₃ (1 mM). The induced phase shifts were calculated from the timing of the subjective night position during the third cycle after the treatment. Both inhibitors produce advances during phases which are correlated with the upward movement of the leaf (ca. 0–12 h after the maximum of the subjective night position) and during phases which are correlated with the downward movement of the leaf (ca. 20–28 h after the maximum of the subjective night position). Maximal advances are induced during the phase which is correlated with the maximum of the subjective night position (hour 0), whereas during phases which are correlated with the subjective day position (ca. 12–20 h after the maximum of the subjective night position) the inhibitors have no effect or induce only small advances. These results demonstrate that the part of the circadian cycle which, according to Bünning's tension-relaxation model of the circadian clock, is characterized by features of relaxation, represents a sequence of phases with decreasing energy requirement, whereas the tension part of the circadian cycle represents a sequence of phases with increasing energy requirement. The energy requirement for changing and maintaining the leaf positions was investigated by continuously offering NaCN, NaN₃, and dinitrophenol (DNP) to leaves with intact and half (flexor cut away) pulvini. The substances inhibit in both pulvini the upward movement or induce a downward movement, depending on the leaf position, when the transfer to the inhibitor solution takes place. These results give evidence that the movement of intact pulvini reflects the turgor (volume) state of the extensor cells and that the increase of turgor (volume) and high turgor (volume) state requires more energy than the decrease of turgor (volume) or low turgor (small volume) state. Therefore, the time course of the energy requirements of the circadian clock and the clock-controlled turgor (volume states or leaf movement) is out of phase during a circadian cycle. Consequently the reaction of the clock-controlled leaf movement to the reduced energy supply can mask the clock behavior in pulse and step experiments. The phase response curves towards CN^- and N ₃ ^- reflect the time course of the CN^--induced membrane depolarizations (the energy requirement of the electrogenic pump) in extensor cells of the pulvinus (Freudling et al. (1980), Plant Physiol. 65, 966–968), and both are out of phase with the time course of the energy requirement of the turgor. Consequently it is hypothesized that in Phaseolus advances are due to membrane depolarization and that at least in this organism electric properties of the plasmalemma are essentially involved in the mechanism of the circadian clock.Abbreviations LD light-dark cycle - LL continuous light - DNP dinitrophenol This paper is dedicated to Professor Erwin Bünning on the occasion of his 75th birthdayIn this paper zero corresponds to the second maximum of the subjective night position of the leaves after transfer to constant conditions. Zero to twelve hours corresponds approximately to the upward movement of the leaves, 12–20 h to the elevated (subjective day) position, and 20–28 h to the downward movement of the leaves. In other circadian systems Pittendrigh's CT (circadian time) convention is used. CT 00 is the time of dawn after a 12-h light/12-h dark cycle. Since in Phaseolus the plants are raised in a LD cycle different from 12:12 and since the phases at dawn differ considerably from leaf to leaf and are furthermore not precisely determinable (whereas the subjective night position of the leaves is a well-defined and recognizable phase) this convention is not followed in Phaseolus. Phase zero in Phaseolus corresponds to approximately CT 18 in other systems     

Redistribution of potassium,chloride and calcium during the gravitropically induced movement of Mimosa pudica pulvinus

When the leaves of Mimosa pudica are changed from their normal position in the gravitational field, they perform reversible compensatory movements by means of pulvini. These movements are not the result of growth processes but involve reversible turgor variations. These variation are concomitant with ion migrations within pulvini: during the gravitropic movement, K⁺ and Cl^- shift towards the adaxial half of the motor organ whereas Ca²⁺ shifts towards the abaxial half. Compounds known to affect K⁺ transport, tetraethylammonium chloride and valinomycin, do not hinder the gravitropic movement but inhibit strongly the seismonastic reaction. The same general result is obtained with compounds affecting anion transport, disulfonic stilbenes and 9-anthracene carboxylic acid. Calcium chelators inhibit the gravitropic movement more efficiently than the seismonastic reaction and the calcium ionophore A 23 187 increases both movements. The data obtained with these various compounds indicate that ions do not have the same functional importance in the regulation of the two different pulvinar movements.Abbreviations abx abaxial half of the pulvinus - adx adaxial half of the pulvinus - 9-AC 9-anthracene carboxylic acid - DIDS 4,4-diisothiocyanatostilbene-2,2-disulfonic acid - EDTA ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid - EGTA ethylene glycol-bis-(-aminoethyl ether)-N,N,N,N-tetraacetic acid - SITS 4-acetamido-4-isothiocyanatostilbene-2,2-disulfonic acid - TEA tetraethylammonium chloride     

The pulvinus endodermal cells and their relation to leaf movement in legumes of the Brazilian cerrado

Legume pulvini have a clearly delimited endodermis, whose variable content has been associated with the velocity and type of leaf movement: pulvini in leaves with fast nastic movement contain starch grains; pulvini in leaves with slow nastic movements have calcium oxalate crystals as well as starch grains in the endodermis. However, the studies carried out to date have involved few legume species. This study therefore purported to examine the consistency of this hypothesis in other legumes. Thus, the structure and content of the pulvinus endodermal cells of nine legumes of the Brazilian cerrado, with different types and velocities of leaf movement, were investigated: slow nyctinastic and heliotropic movements ( BAUHINIA RUFA, COPAIFERA LANGSDORFFII, SENNA RUGOSA - Caesalpinioideae; ANDIRA HUMILIS and DALBERGIA MISCOLOBIUM - Faboideae; STRYPHNODENDRON POLYPHYLLUM - Mimosoideae), slow heliotropic movement ( ZORNIA DIPHYLLA - Faboideae), and fast seismonastic and slow nyctinastic and heliotropic movements ( MIMOSA RIXOSA and MIMOSA FLEXUOSA - Mimosoideae). Samples were prepared following standard plant anatomy and ultrastructure techniques. The endodermis of all the species contains starch grains. In the species displaying only slow movements, calcium oxalate prismatic crystals were observed in addition to starch grains, except in ZORNIA DIPHYLLA. In conclusion, oxalate crystals occur only in endodermal cells of pulvini that display slow movements, while starch grains are always present in pulvinus endodermal cells of plants with any kind of movement.     

Effects of light quality on the circadian rhythm of leaf movement of a short-day-plant

Studies were made of the effects of blue, green, red and far-red (FR) light on the circadian rhythm of leaf movement of Coleus blumei × C. frederici, a short day plant. Under continuous illumination with blue light, there was a significant lengthening of the period of the rhythm to about 24.0 hr, as compared to 22.5 hr in continuous darkness. Under continuous red light, the period length was significantly shortened to 20.5 hr. Under continuous green or FR, the period length was not significantly different from the dark control. It was observed that under continuous FR illumination, the leaves tended to oscillate in a more downward position. Eight-hr red light signals were effective in advancing the phase of the rhythm as compared to a control under continuous green light. Blue light signals were effective in delaying the phase of the rhythm. FR light signals were ineffective in producing either delay or advance phase shifts. Far-red light did not reverse the effects of either red or blue light signals. On the basis of these results it is suggested, that pigments which absorb blue or red light, rather than phytochrome, mediate the effect of light on the circadian rhythm of leaf movement.     

Actin dynamics mediates the changes of calcium level during the pulvinus movement of Mimosa pudica

The bending movement of the pulvinus of Mimosa pudica is caused by a rapid change in volume of the abaxial motor cells, in response to various environmental stimuli. We investigated the relationship between the actin cytoskeleton and changes in the level of calcium during rapid contractile movement of the motor cells that was induced by electrical stimulation. The bending of the pulvinus was retarded by treatments with actin-affecting reagents and calcium channel inhibitors. The actin filaments in the motor cells were fragmented in response to electrical stimulation. Further investigations were performed using protoplasts from the motor cells of M. pudica pulvini. Calcium-channel inhibitors and EGTA had an inhibitory effect on contractile movement of the protoplasts. The level of calcium increased and became concentrated in the tannin vacuole after electrical stimulation. Ruthenium Red inhibited the increase in the level of calcium in the tannin vacuole and the contractile movement of the protoplasts. However, treatment with latrunculin A abolished the inhibitory effect of Ruthenium Red. Phalloidin inhibited the contractile movement and the increase in the level of calcium in the protoplasts. Our study demonstrates that depolymerization of the actin cytoskeleton in pulvinus motor cells in response to electrical signals results in increased levels of calcium.Key words: actin, calcium, pulvinus movement, the tannin vacuole, Mimosa pudica     

Modification of paraheliotropic leaf movement in Phaseolus vulgaris by photon flux density

Abstract. The effects of modification of photon flux density (PFD, 400-700 nm) on paraheliotropic leaf movement were examined in Phaseolus vulgaris L. under controlled environmental conditions. The cosine of the angle of incidence to directional PFD (cos(i)), a measure of leaf movement, was linearly and negatively related to PFD. That is, leaflets progressively oriented away from a direct light beam in response to increasing PFD. The minimum PFD causing paraheliotropic movement was approximately 25 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹. When PFD was varied, tissue temperature changed due to an altered energy balance. Since a change in pulvinus temperature can affect leaf movement, experiments were conducted to distinguish the effects of PFD signal and pulvinis temperature. Leaflets oriented to reduce incident PFD levels in response to increasing PFD (either white light or blue light) when pulvinis temperature was kept constant. From these results, we conclude that changes in PFD signals alone can control paraheliotropic leaf movements. Phaseolus vulgaris grown outdoors oriented their leaflets to face towards the sun in the morning and again in late afternoon, but avoided the sun's direct rays at midday. This diurnal pattern of paraheliotropic leaf movements can be explained on the basis of known paraheliotropic movements in response to PFD and air temperature.     

Circadian rhythm leaf movement of Phaseolus vulgaris and the role of calcium ions

Legume plants, due to their distinctive botanical characteristics, such as leaf movements, physiological characteristics, such as nitrogen fixation, and their abilities to endure environmental stresses, have important roles in sustainable pastures development. Leaf movement of legume plants is turgor regulated and osmotically active fluxes of ions between extensor and flexor of pulvinus cause this movement. To determine the role of calcium ions in circadian leaf movements of Phaseolus vulgaris L., a radiotracer technique experiment using ⁴⁵Ca ions were employed. Measurements were taken during circadian leaf movements, and samples were taken from different parts of the leaflet. The ⁴⁵Ca β-particle activity reduced from leaflet base pulvinus to leaf tip. The pulvinus had the highest activity, while the leaf tip had the lowest. By increase of the ratio of ⁴⁵Ca β-particle activity within flexor to extensor (Fl/Ex) the midrib-petiole angle, as an indicator of leaf movement, increased linearly during circadian leaf movement (r = 0.86). The ⁴⁵Ca β-particle activity of Flex/Ext ratio reduced linearly (r = −0.88) toward midnight. In conclusion, it was found that calcium ions accumulation is opposite to the fluxes of osmatically active ions and water movement. Calcium ions accumulate at less negative water potential side of the pulivnus.Key words: pulvinus, extensor, flexor, leaf movement, rhythm, circadian, calcium, Phaseolus vulgaris, radioactive     

Changes in the extracellular ion concentration in the main pulvinus of Mimosa pudica during rapid movement and recovery

A decrease in electric resistance and an increase in the extracellularCl^– concentration ([Cl^–]) in the main pulvinus ofMimosa occurred immediately after the action potential of themotor cells. The beginnings of both changes were almost coincidentalwith the beginning of the rapid movement. A remarkable increasein [Cl^–] was seen in the lower half of the pulvinus, butonly a slight increase in the upper half. Release of Cl^–,probably with K⁺; and other ions, from the motor cells impliesan ejection of liquid from the vacuole. When recovery of thepulvinus following rapid movement was fast in light, [Cl^–]decreased to its initial level within 20 min. When the recoverywas slow in darkness, [Cl^–] decreased at a slow rate andmaintained a higher level than its initial one for a long time.Photosynthetic inhibitors delayed recovery and the decreasein [Cl^–] even in light. These facts suggest that the re-entryof ions into motor cells during recovery partially requiresa photosynthetic energy supply. (Received February 12, 1980; )     

Action potential and rapid movement in the main pulvinus ofMimosa pudica

Relationships between action potential and rapid bending movement in the main pulvinus ofMimosa pudica L. were studied. The pulvinar action potential consisted of a fast-rising spike of 40 to 70 mV and a long-lasting plateau. It had a nature of propagating in both basipetal and acropetal directions at the rate of about 4 cm/sec. The rapid bending movement occurred 10 to 20 msec after the pulvinar action potential. The action potential and movement were both found only in the lower half of the main pulvinus, no response being observed in the upper half. The results suggested that the excitable cells which elicit the action potential as well as the rapid contraction exist only in the lower half of the pulvinus. Some possible mechanisms concerning the coupling between the electrical excitation and the contraction are discussed. This work was supported by the Grant in Aid for Scientific Research of the Ministry of Education.     

Diurnal change in bioelectric potential of Phaseolus plant in relation to the leaf movement and light condition

A regular pattern of diurnal change in electric potentials developedrepeatedly from the pulvinus in the Phaseolus plant. Four kindsof bioelectric waves were discerned in the pattern; p-waves,a photoelectric response; l-waves, long and slow waves of negativepotential; e- and f-waves, rhythmic change in electric potentialswith high frequencies. ³ Present address: Tanagura High School, Tanagura 961, Japan. (Received May 8, 1975; )     

The flowering response of coleus in relation to photoperiod and the circadian rhythm of leaf movement

The flowering response of Coleus frederici and Coleus blumei x C. frederici is dependent on the photoperiod; both plants have a critical day length of about 12 hr. The inductive phase, defined as the period when light signals inhibit floral development, started 10 hr after the onset of darkness under 4 and 8-hr photoperiods, and 8 hr after the onset of darkness under a 12-hr photoperiod. However, a fixed temporal relationship between the inductive phase and the minimum leaf position was observed for Coleus frederici. The inductive phase always started 5 hr after the minimum leaf position. This evidence supports the theory that a circadian clock participates in the time measurement process of photoperiodic floral induction.     

Vacuolar reorganization in the motor cells of Albizzia during leaf movement

During the leaf movements of Albizzia julibrissin Durazzini, volume changes in the motor cells of the pulvinule (tertiary pulvinus) are closely correlated with a reversible reorganization of the vacuolar compartment. Motor cells have central vacuoles when expanded, but become multivacuolate during the time the cell volume decreases. The central vacuole reforms — apparently by fusion of small vacuoles — during motor-cell expansion. The volume changes of the vacuolar compartment account for all of the change in the size of the protoplast, while the cytoplasmic volume remains constant during the leaf movements.     

Change in citrus leaf lipids during freeze-thaw stress

Fatty acids in the leaves of the citrus hybrid B5-9-68, a BC₁ progeny [(Citrus paradisi x Poncirus trifoliata) x C. sinensis], were compared with those in P. trifoliata and C. sinensis. Total lipid and triacylglycerol fatty acid profiles of the cold hardened hybrid were similar to the profiles of the hardy P. trifoliata and different from the profiles of the less hardy C. sinensis. When subjected to a freeze regime, the unhardened hybrid lost 22% leaf fatty acids during the freeze stage and 13% during the thaw stage. Linolenic acid accounted for 98% of the fatty acid decrease. Degradation was greatest in phosphatidylcholine (89%), phosphatidylglycerol (83%), monogalactosyldiglyceride (79%) and digalactosyldiglyceride (50%). Phosphatidic acid increased 4-fold over the two stress stages. Total leaf fatty acids during the freeze-thaw regime increased 12% in the cold hardened hybrid. Three molecular species of triacylglycerol which were rich in linolenic acid increased in the hardened hybrid during the freeze-thaw regime. The increase in highly unsaturated triacylglycerol species under freeze-thaw stress suggests that triacylglycerol has a role in maintaining the fluidity of biomembranes during freezing conditions.     

Change in the actin cytoskeleton during seismonastic movement of Mimosa pudica

The seismonastic movement of Mimosa pudica is triggered by a sudden loss of turgor pressure. In the present study, we compared the cell cytoskeleton by immunofluorescence analysis before and after movement, and the effects of actin- and microtubule-targeted drugs were examined by injecting them into the cut pulvinus. We found that fragmentation of actin filaments and microtubules occurs during bending, although the actin cytoskeleton, but not the microtubules, was involved in regulation of the movement. Transmission electron microscopy revealed that actin cables became loose after the bending. We injected phosphatase inhibitors into the severed pulvinus to examine the effects of such inhibitors on the actin cytoskeleton. We found that changes in actin isoforms, fragmentation of actin filaments and the bending movement were all inhibited after injection of a tyrosine phosphatase inhibitor. We thus propose that the phosphorylation status of actin at tyrosine residues affects the dynamic reorganization of actin filaments and causes seismonastic movement.     

Early time course and specificity of auxin effects on turgor movement of the bean pulvinus

Auxin application to the upper side of the pulvinus of primary leaves of Phaseolus vulgaris L. promoted bending away from the place of application. The effect had a latency of less than 20 min and was specifically induced by substances known as active auxins in growth tests (indoleacetic and 1-naphthaleneacetic acid) but not by inactive auxin analogs (2-naphthaleneacetic, 3-indolepropionic and benzoic acid); 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid, and L-(-)-2,4-dichlorophenoxyisopropionic acid were of intermediate activity. Auxin-promoted bending was reversible and presumably caused by turgor increase in the treated cells.Abbreviations IAA 3-indolacetic acid - NAA naphthylacetic acid