Light and Branch Formation in the Alga Vaucheria dichotoma (Xanthophyceae)

Branches of Vaucheria dichotoma (L.) Ag. were induced in two ways: by cutting, which led to a branch in the wound area and by exposure to light. Blue and red light were most active in branch formation. The light intensity dependence and the action spectrum of branch formation showed patterns similar to those of photosynthesis. Photosynthetic involvement was also indicated by the DCMU inhibition of branch formation. Elongation-branching studies at different photoperiods showed that branching was increased by the presence of more photosynthetic light than was necessary for elongation. It may be concluded that photosynthesis exerted the main control of the branch formation of V. dichotoma. However, the action spectrum of branch formation showed a higher efficiency in blue light than would be expected from the action spectrum of photosynthesis. It is therefore possible that apart from the main induction via the photosynthetic pigments, other blue light sensitive pigments may have a regulatory effect. Far-red light treatment of filaments pre-exposed to 8-h and 16-h light periods did not affect branch formation. Spectrophotometrical detection of phytochrome was not successful. This may indicate that there is no participation of phytochrome in branch formation. I am indebted to Dr. Lisbeth Fries for her interest. I also wish to thank Prof. Lars Olof Björn and his friendly staff at the Institute of Plant Physiology at the University of Lund, where some of the experiments were carried out. I am grateful to AB Tomaso Minori for revising the English test and to Miss Inga-Britt Jansson for typing it. The investigation was supported financially by a grant to Dr. Lisbeth Fries from the Swedish National Science Research Council.