The effect of blue light on energy levels in epidermal strips

Red light applied together with blue enhanced stomatal opening in epidermal strips of Commelina communis L. more than red light alone. In red light, stomatal opening was enhanced by exogenously applied ATP and was inhibited by 3-(3,4-dichlorophe-nyl)-l,l-dimethylurea (DCMU), while in the presence of blue light external ATP was almost without effect, and DCMU stimulated stomatal opening. Blue light increased the ATP levels in the epidermal strips. DCMU diminished the amount of ATP in both red light and red + blue light treatments, but did not abolish the stimulatory effect of blue light. Blue light also stimulated the respiration rate of the epidermal strips. Rotenone, which inhibited stomatal opening and respiration rate, abolished the effect of blue light in both processes. These results imply that blue light increases the ATP levels by stimulation of oxidative phosphorylation.