Adventitious shoot formation in cultures of immature female strobili of Larix decidua

Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and Western blotting have been used to study the association between phytochrome and membranes in dark-grown tissue of Avena sativa L. cv. Saladin. Enhanced phytochrome pelletability can be demonstrated by ELISA after red irradiation in vivo and extraction in buffer containing Mg²⁺, but not with red irradiation of Mg²⁺ alone. This enhanced association may, however, be restricted to specific membranes. The results obtained with ELISA are confirmed by Western blotting techniques. Membrane-associated and soluble phytochrome give different immunological responses and it is suggested that immunologically distinct populations of phytochrome may exist in dark-grown tissue.