The Effect of Light on the Senescence of Detached Cucumber Cotyledons

Measurements of cell constituents of cotyledons of cucumberexcised and kept in the light show differences from those excisedand kept in the dark. These differences are partly resolvedby adding glucose to the water-supply of the cotyledons in thedark suggesting that a lack of photosynthetic products is thecontrolling factor in their senescence. Under other circumstancesdifferent factors are operative suggesting that the first stepin senescence is different under different conditions.