Life Movements in Plants, Volume IIBose, Jagadis Chandra
Science
Life Movements in Plants, Volume II
Bose, Jagadis Chandra
Growth (Plants); Plants -- Irritability and movements
Under unilateral stimulus, the proximal side is found to become concave
and the distal side convex; the organ thus moves towards stimulus,
exhibiting a positive curvature. This movement may be due: (1) to the
diminution of turgor, contraction or retardation of rate of growth of
the proximal side, (2) to the increase of turgor, expansion or
acceleration of rate of growth on the distal side, or (3) to the joint
effects of contraction of the proximal and expansion of the distal side.
As regards the reaction of the proximal side, it has been shown that
direct stimulation induces local contraction in a pulvinated organ, and
retardation of growth in a growing organ. The effect induced on the
distal side had hitherto remained a matter of uncertainty. In regard to
this we must bear in mind that it is the effect of indirect stimulus
that reaches the distal sided, inducing an enhancement of turgor and
expansion of that side.
For obtaining a complete explanation of tropic curvatures in general, it
is important that the induction of enhanced turgor at the distal side
(by the action of stimulus at the proximal side) should be corroborated
by independent methods of enquiry. One of the methods I employed for
this purpose was electrical. Two electric connections were made, one
with the distal point (diametrically opposite to the stimulated area),
and the other, with an indifferent point at a distance. On application
of stimulus of various kinds, the distal point was found to exhibit
galvanometric positivity, indicative of enhancement of turgor.[3]
[3] "Plant Response"--p. 519.
I have since been able to devise a new experiment by which the
enhancement of turgor on the distal side is demonstrated in a very
striking manner.
I have shown (p. 39) that the movement of the motile leaf of _Mimosa_ is
a reliable indicator of the state of turgor, increase of turgor inducing
erection, and diminution of turgor bringing about the fall of the leaf.
I shall employ the mechanical response of the leaf to demonstrate the
enhancement of turgor induced by transverse transmission of effect of
stimulus.
[Illustration: FIG. 100.--Increased turgor due to indirect stimulation,
inducing erection of Mimosa leaf: (_a_) diagram of the experiment, point
of application of stimulus indicated by arrow. (_b_) erectile response
(shown by down-curve) followed by rapid fall (up-curve) due to
transverse conduction of true excitation. (Successive dots at intervals
of 10 seconds.)]
TURGOR-VARIATION UNDER TRANSVERSE TRANSMISSION OF STIMULUS-EFFECT.
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