Photocontrol of the orientation of cell division inAdiantum

The rate of transition from one- to two-dimensional growth of fernAdiantum gametophytes under white light depends on the age of gametophyte cultured under red light. When gametophytes were cultured for longer period under red light, the rate of transition decreased and the number of abnormal gametophytes increased. Although the first step of the transition was the first longitudinal cell division following the two transverse ones (Wada and Furuya, 1970), the time-lapse-video study revealed that the apical cell of protonemata became flattened in the plane perpendicular to the incident ray of white light before the first longitudinal cell division. Analytical study of growing part of the apical cell with grains of activated charcoal as markers revealed that the apical cell flattening occurred evenly throughout the equatorial circumference of the cell even in the shaded side of the protonemata as well as in the side irradiated with white light.