Studies on the growth and development in Spirogyra

The phototropic response of Spirogyra sp. filaments and its relation with the different phases of their diurnal movements were studied. The filaments rapidly responded to unilateral irradiation; curvature towards the light source began in their tip region but shifted down to more basal regions. However, this typical and steady phototropic curvature could be observed only in the GnSt phase of the diurnal movement. In the other phases competitive states between the phototropic movement and other kinds of movement were evident. Thus, from the results of our previous and present studies it is proposed that the diurnal movement of Spirogyra filaments is composed of various individual movements, including a phototropic one; among these movements there exists a certain balance determined by the culture conditions and the time of day, and the phototropic movement is relatively inferior to the other movements.Abbreviations Gn negative gravitropism - Gp positive gravitropism - Sh shrinking (spiralling) growth - St straight form of growth V=Tanaka et al. (1983)