Life Movements in Plants, Volume IIBose, Jagadis Chandra
Science
Life Movements in Plants, Volume II
Bose, Jagadis Chandra
Growth (Plants); Plants -- Irritability and movements
FIG. 220.--Post-maximum after-effect exhibiting an 'over-shooting'
below position of equilibrium.
In the above records light was applied at arrow, and stopped at
the second arrow enclosed in a circle.]
_After-effect at pre-maximum: Experiment 227._--Light from an 100 c.p.
incandescent lamp was focussed on the upper half of the pulvinus of
_Mimosa_ for 8 minutes, after which the light was turned off. The
after-effect was a persistence of previous movement followed by recovery
(Fig. 218).
_After-effect at maximum: Experiment 228._--Continued action of light
for 18 minutes induced maximum positive curvature as seen in the upper
part of the curve becoming horizontal. On the stoppage of light, there
was a recovery to the original position of equilibrium (Fig. 219).
_After-effect at post-maximum: Experiment 229._--A fresh specimen of
plant was taken for this experiment; it exhibited maximum positive
curvature after an exposure of 20 minutes; continuation of light for a
further period of 17 minutes produced complete neutralisation. Stoppage
of light at this point, gave rise to a rapid down-movement (Fig. 220)
below the equilibrium position.
The experiments that have been described show that the rapid fall of the
leaf of _Mimosa_ in the afternoon is due to 'over-shooting' which is the
after-effect of prolonged action of light.
We are now in a position to give a full explanation of the different
phases of diurnal movement of the leaf of _Mimosa_. The fall of the leaf
commences from its highest position at thermal-dawn at 6 a.m. in the
morning and continued till the thermal-noon at 2 p.m. This is the
thermo-geotropic reaction due to rise of temperature. In the forenoon
the phototropic action is positive, and the fall of the leaf, due to
rise of temperature, is brought about in opposition to the action of
light. The temperature begins to fall after 2 p.m. and the leaf begins
to erect itself, and in the absence of any disturbing factor would have
continued its up-movement till next morning. But light undergoes a rapid
diminution after 5 p.m. and the after-effect of light is an
'over-shooting' in a downward direction. This fall continues till about
9 p.m., after which the leaf erects itself under thermo-geotropic action
of falling temperature, the maximum erection being attained at the
thermal-dawn at about 6 a.m.
SUMMARY.
The very complex type of nyctitropic movement of the primary petiole of
_Mimosa_ results from the combined effects of thermo-geotropism and
phototropism.
With the exception of a small portion of the curve in the evening, the
diurnal curve of _Mimosa_ is similar to the standard thermo-geotropic
curve, where the leaf exhibits an erectile movement from thermal-noon to
thermal-dawn, and a fall from thermal-dawn to thermal-noon.
Investigations show that the leaf of _Mimosa_ has an autonomous movement
of its own, which persists throughout twenty-four hours.
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