Life Movements in Plants, Volume IBose, Jagadis Chandra
Science
Life Movements in Plants, Volume I
Bose, Jagadis Chandra
Growth (Plants); Plants -- Irritability and movements
The characteristic variations of conductivity induced in animal nerve
by the direction and intensity of current are in every way similar to
those induced in the conducting tissue of the plant.
These various effects are demonstrated by the employment of not
one, but various kinds of testing stimulus, such as the excitation
caused (1) by a single break-induction shock or (2) by a series of
equi-alternating tetanising shocks or (3) by chemical stimulation.
VIII.--EFFECT OF INDIRECT STIMULUS ON PULVINATED ORGANS
_By_
SIR J. C. BOSE,
_Assisted by_
GURUPRASANNA DAS, L.M.S.
The leaf of _Mimosa pudica_ undergoes an almost instantaneous fall
when the stimulus is applied directly on the pulvinus which is the
responding organ. The latent period, _i.e._, the interval between the
application of stimulus and the resulting response is about 0.1 second.
Indirect stimulus, _i.e._, application of stimulus at a distance from
the pulvinus, also causes a fall of the leaf; but a longer interval
will elapse between the incidence of stimulus and the response; for it
will take a definite time for the excitation to be conducted through
the intervening tissue. I have already shown that this conduction of
excitation in plant is analogous to the transmission of nervous impulse
in animal.
The power of conduction varies widely in different plants. In the
petiole of _Mimosa pudica_ the velocity may be as high as 30 mm. per
second. In the stem the velocity is considerably less, _i.e._, about
6 mm. per second in the longitudinal direction; but conduction across
the stem is a very much slower process. In the petiole of _Averrhoa_
the longitudinal velocity is of the order of 1 mm. per second.
DUAL CHARACTER OF THE TRANSMITTED IMPULSE.
The record of the transmitted effect of stimulus is found to exhibit
a remarkable preliminary variation. This was detected by my delicate
recorders, which gave magnifications from fifty to hundred times. I
shall give a detailed account of a typical experiment carried out with
_Averrhoa carambola_, which will bring out clearly the characteristic
effects of Indirect Stimulus.
[Illustration: FIG. 52.--Effect of indirect Stimulus on leaflet of
_Averrhoa carambola_. Stimulus was applied at the short vertical
line. Successive dots at intervals of one second. Note the _positive_
response preceding the _negative_.]
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