RESUMEN
Phototropic (PT) and gravitropic (GT) bending are the two major tropic movements that determine the spatial position of potato shoots. We studied PT bending of potato plantlets grown under long-day photoperiods in several prearranged position setups providing different interactions with the GT response. Starting with the standard PT stimulation setup composed of unilateral irradiation of vertically positioned shoots, experiments were also done in antagonistic and synergistic setups and in treatments with horizontal displacement of the light source. In the standard setup, PT bending suppressed the GT bending, which could occur only if the PT stimulation was cancelled. The antagonistic position, with phototropism and gravitropism attempting to bend shoots in opposite directions, showed phototropism and gravitropism as independent bending events with the outcome varying throughout the day reflecting diurnal changes in the competence of individual tropic components. Whilst gravitropism was constant, phototropism had a marked daily fluctuation of its magnitude with a prominent morning maximum starting an hour after the dawn in the growth room and lasting for the next 6 h. When phototropism and gravitropism were aligned in a synergistic position, stimulating shoot bending in the same direction, there was little quantitative addition of their individual effects. The long period of morning PT bending maximum enabled multiple PT bending events to be conducted in succession, each one preceded by a separate lag phase. Studies of secondary PT events showed that potato plantlets can follow and adjust their shoot position in response to both vertical and horizontal movements of a light source. PT bending was reversible, since the 180° horizontal change of a blue light (BL) source position resulted in reversal of bending direction after a 20-min-long lag phase.
Asunto(s)
Gravitropismo/fisiología , Fototropismo/fisiología , Brotes de la Planta/fisiología , Solanum tuberosum/fisiología , Fenómenos Biomecánicos/efectos de la radiación , Gravitropismo/efectos de la radiación , Luz , Fototropismo/efectos de la radiación , Brotes de la Planta/efectos de la radiación , Solanum tuberosum/efectos de la radiaciónRESUMEN
Elongation of adventitious roots of Dracaena fragrans was investigated under photoautotrophic conditions. Root elongation decreased and stopped when cultures were transferred to darkness. Upon return to light roots renewed growth after a 5 day lag period. During the first two days of intensive new growth roots were agravitropic elongating in random directions. Investigation showed that transient absence of geotropic response was connected with disappearance of starch grains in root tip which occurred due to sucrose starvation of cultures in continuous darkness.