Life Movements in Plants, Volume IBose, Jagadis Chandra
Science
Life Movements in Plants, Volume I
Bose, Jagadis Chandra
Growth (Plants); Plants -- Irritability and movements
_Effect of ultra-violet light: Experiment 83._--Ultra-violet light was
obtained from a quartz mercury vapour lamp. The effect of this light
in retardation of growth was very marked. Response was induced within
10 seconds, the maximum retardation being one-sixth of the normal rate
(Fig. 79V).
_Effect of infra-red rays: Experiment 84._--In passing from the
most refrangible ultra-violet to the less refrangible red rays, the
responsive retardation of growth undergoes a diminution and practical
abolition. Proceeding further in the infra-red region of thermal
rays, it is found that these latter rays become suddenly effective in
inducing retardation of growth.
A curve drawn with the wave length of light as abscissa, and
effectiveness of the ray as ordinate shows a fall towards zero as we
proceed from the ultra-violet wave towards the red; the curve, however,
shoots up as we proceed further in the region of the infra-red. In
connection with this it should be remembered that while the thermal
rays induce a retardation of growth, rise of temperature, up to an
optimum point, gives rise to the precisely opposite reaction of
acceleration of growth.
The relative effectiveness of various rays on growth will be seen more
strikingly demonstrated in records of photo-tropic curvature to be
given in a succeeding Paper.
SUMMARY.
The normal effect of light is incipient contraction or retardation of
the rate of growth.
The latent period may in some cases be as short as 2 seconds. In large
number of cases it is about 15 seconds. The latent period is shortened
under stronger intensity of light.
Increasing intensity of light induces increasing retardation and arrest
of growth. Under continued action of light of strong intensity the
growing organ may undergo an actual shortening.
In these reactions the action of stimulus of light resembles the
effects of electric and mechanical stimuli.
The ultra-violet rays induce the most intense reaction in retardation
of growth. The less refrangible yellow and red rays are practically
ineffective. But the infra-red rays induce a marked retardation of
growth.
The effects of light and warmth are antagonistic. The former induces a
retardation and the latter an acceleration of growth.
XVII.--EFFECT OF INDIRECT STIMULUS ON GROWTH
_By_
SIR J. C. BOSE,
_Assisted by_
GURUPRASANNA DAS.
It has been shown that the direct application of stimulus gives rise
in different organs to contraction, diminution of turgor, fall of
motile leaf, electro-motive change of galvanometric negativity, and
retardation of the rate of growth. I shall now inquire whether Indirect
stimulus, that is to say, application of stimulus at some distance from
the responding organ, gives rise to an effect different from that of
direct application.
MECHANICAL AND ELECTRICAL RESPONSE TO INDIRECT STIMULUS.
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