Fig. 152.—Record of positive, neutral and reversed negative curvature under continued action of thermal radiation. The negative response went off the plate. Successive dots at intervals of 5 seconds. (Dregea volubilis).
Experiment 158.—This neutralisation is seen in the record given in figure 152, where under continuous unilateral stimulation, the growing organ exhibited its maximum positive curvature, after which the movement became arrested by the arrival of the excitatory impulse at the distal side, on account of which the first positive curvature became neutralised. Further continuation of stimulus caused a reversal into negative in the course of 7 minutes. It will thus be seen that in inducing phototropic curvature, the heat rays in sunlight play as important a part as the more refrangible rays of the spectrum.
SUMMARY.
The effects of rise of temperature and of radiation are antagonistic to each other.
Under unilateral action of thermal radiation a positive curvature is induced by the retardation of growth at the proximal, and acceleration of growth at the distal side of the organ.
There is a complete recovery on the cessation of stimulus of moderate intensity and short duration. Repeated responses may thus be obtained similar to repeated responses in pulvinated organs. In certain tissues the power of conduction in a transverse direction is wanting; excitation remains localised at the proximal side, and the responsive curvature remains positive.
In other cases, there is a slow conduction of excitation to the distal side. The result of this under different circumstances is dia-radio-thermotropic neutralization, or a reversed negative curvature.
In inducing phototropic curvature, the heat rays in sunlight play as important a part as the more refrangible rays of the spectrum.
[24] Pfeffer—Ibid—Vol. III, p. 776.