XXX.—DIA-PHOTOTROPISM AND NEGATIVE
PHOTOTROPISM
By
Sir J. C. Bose,
Assisted by
Guruprasanna Das.
I have explained how under the action of unilateral light the positive curvature attains a maximum. There are, however, cases where under the continued action of strong light the tropic movement undergoes a reversal. Thus to quote Jost: "Each organism may be found in one of the three different conditions determined by the light intensity, viz. (1) a condition of positive heliotropism, (2) a condition of indifference, (3) a condition of negative heliotropism"[12]. No explanation has however been offered as to why the same organ should exhibit at different times, a positive, a neutral, and a negative irritability. These changing effects exhibited by an identical organ is thus incompatible with the theory of specific sensibility, assumed in explanation of characteristic differences in phototropic response.
In regard to this I would draw attention to an important factor which modifies the tropic response, namely, the effect of transverse conduction of excitation. I shall presently describe in detail a typical experiment of the effect of unilateral stimulus of light on the responsive movement of main pulvinus of Mimosa pudica. The results will be found of much theoretical interest, since a single experiment will give an insight to all possible types of phototropic response. Before describing the experiment I shall demonstrate the tropic reactions of the two halves of the pulvinus of Mimosa.
UNEQUAL EXCITABILITY OF UPPER AND LOWER HALVES OF PULVINUS TO PHOTIC STIMULATION.
I have by method of selective amputation shown that as regards electric stimulation the excitability of the upper half of the pulvinus is very much less than that of the lower half (p. 85). I have obtained similar results with photic stimulation.
Tropic effect of light acting from above: Experiment 124.—Light of moderate intensity from an incandescent electric lamp was applied on the upper half of the pulvinus of Mimosa for 4 minutes; this induced a contraction of the stimulated upper half and gave rise to an up or erectile response. On the stoppage of light recovery took place in the course of ten minutes. The phototropic curvature is thus seen to be positive. A series of such positive responses of the upper half of the pulvinus is given in figure 118.
Effect of light acting from below: Experiment 125.—Light was now applied from below; this also induced a contraction of the lower half of the pulvinus, causing a down-movement (Fig. 119). As the responsive movement is towards light, the phototropic effect must be regarded as positive. The greater excitability of the lower half of the pulvinus is shown by the fact that the response of the lower half of the pulvinus to ten seconds' exposure is even larger than that given by the upper half under the prolonged exposure of 240 seconds.