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. 1966 Apr;41(4):593–598. doi: 10.1104/pp.41.4.593

Relationships Between Phytochrome State and Photosensitive Growth of Avena Coleoptile Segments 1

William G Hopkins 1,2, William S Hillman 1
PMCID: PMC1086390  PMID: 16656292

Abstract

Using various photostationary state light sources to obtain reproducible phytochrome conversion of from 5 to 88% PFR, assayed by 2 wavelength in vivo spectrophotometry, relationships between initial percent PFR and elongation of apical Avena coleoptile segments over the succeeding 20 hours in darkness were studied. With material grown in total darkness, all PFR levels promote elongation, and maximal promotion requires roughly 50% PFR. The promotion caused by an initial 5 minute red (88% PFR) treatment at hour 0 is partially reversible at hour 5 by sources forming less than 48% PFR, but totally irreversible at hour 8, though less than 50% of the growth has been accomplished by this time. Direct photometric assays at hour 5 indicate a phytochrome state of roughly 45% PFR, consistent with the reversal data. At hour 8, however, 11 to 22% of the phytochrome still assays as PFR, an inconsistency suggesting simply that the elongation process has proceeded beyond photochemical control. Thus, in contrast with results previously reported for Pisum and Phaseolus, there is no contradiction between photometric and physiological assays of phytochrome state in Avena coleoptile segments.

Attempts to expand this study by using segments from seedlings pretreated with red light showed that such pretreatment as little as 1 to 2 hours before drastically reduces subsequent elongation and photoresponse on the medium employed. This decline in growth potential can be halted at any time before its completion by either excision of the segment or far-red treatment of the intact seedling.

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Furuya M., Torrey J. G. The Reversible Inhibition by Red and Far-Red Light of Auxin-Induced Lateral Root Initiation in Isolated Pea Roots. Plant Physiol. 1964 Nov;39(6):987–991. doi: 10.1104/pp.39.6.987. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
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