Life Movements in Plants, Volume IBose, Jagadis Chandra
Science
Life Movements in Plants, Volume I
Bose, Jagadis Chandra
Growth (Plants); Plants -- Irritability and movements
From the investigations that have been described in this and in the
previous Papers an insight is obtained into the complexity of response
arising from various factors. It has been shown that the sign of
response is modified by the intensity of stimulus, by its point of
application, and by the tonic condition of the responding tissue. The
fundamental reactions have been found to be essentially the same in
pulvinated, in growing and non-growing organs. The results described
enable us to enunciate general Laws of Effects of Direct and Indirect
stimulus on tissues in normal and in sub-tonic condition.
LAWS OF EFFECTS OF DIRECT AND INDIRECT STIMULUS.
1. THE EFFECT OF DIRECT STIMULUS IS NEGATIVE VARIATION OF TURGOR,
NEGATIVE MECHANICAL AND ELECTRICAL RESPONSE, NEGATIVE VARIATION, OR
RETARDATION OF RATE OF GROWTH.
_a_. SUB-MINIMAL STIMULUS GIVES POSITIVE RESPONSE.
_b_. POSITIVE RESPONSE IS ALSO GIVEN BY A TISSUE IN A SUB-TONIC
CONDITION: CONTINUOUS STIMULATION CONVERTS THE ABNORMAL POSITIVE
TO NORMAL NEGATIVE RESPONSE.
_c_. AUTONOMOUS ACTIVITY IN A STATE OF STANDSTILL, MAY BE REVIVED BY
STIMULUS.
_d_. THE EFFECTS OF STIMULUS AND WARMTH ARE ANTAGONISTIC.
2. THE EFFECT OF INDIRECT STIMULUS IS POSITIVE VARIATION OF TURGOR,
POSITIVE MECHANICAL AND ELECTRICAL RESPONSE AND POSITIVE VARIATION OR
ACCELERATION OF RATE OF GROWTH.
I have referred to the fact previously demonstrated, that while Direct
stimulus induces contraction and retardation of growth, moderate
rise of temperature induces the opposite effect of expansion and
acceleration of growth. Further demonstration of the antagonistic
effects of stimulus and warmth will be given in the next Paper.
SUMMARY.
The autonomous activity of pulsating leaflet of _Desmodium gyrans_
comes to a stop under depletion of internal energy. A cut leaf isolated
from the plant maintains the rhythmic activity of its leaflets for
about 48 hours, after which there is an arrest of movement.
In this state of sub-tonicity the arrested autonomous activity is
revived under the action of various stimuli. Thus the incidence of
light on the pulvinule initiates pulsatory movements, which persists
for a time even on the cessation of stimulus. This persistence of
autonomous activity increases with the intensity and duration of
stimulus to which the leaflet had been subjected.
The arrested autonomous activity of growth may often be revived by
the action of stimulus. Thus the arrested growth in a mature style or
_Datura alba_ was renewed by electric stimulation.
XX.--ACTION OF LIGHT AND WARMTH ON AUTONOMOUS ACTIVITY
_By_
SIR J. C. BOSE.
In the preceding Paper I have shown the essential similarity of effect
of stimulus on autonomous activity of the _Desmodium_ leaflet, and of
the growing organ. It was shown how stimulus revived the pulsatory
activity of _Desmodium_ leaflet in a state of standstill, in the same
way as it renewed the arrested growth-activity.
THE OSCILLATING RECORDER.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account