| Fig. 162. | Fig. 163. |
Fig. 162.—Stimulus of light or gravity, represented by arrow, induces up curvature as seen in dotted figure.
Fig. 163.—The effect of super-imposition of photic stimulus. The first, third, and fifth parts of the curve, give normal record under geotropic stimulus. Rate of up-movement enhanced under light L.
EFFECT OF ALGEBRAICAL SUMMATION.
Experiment 167.—A flower bud of Crinum is laid horizontally, and record taken of its geotropic movement. On application of light on the upper side at L, the responsive movement is enhanced, proving that gravity and light are inducing similar effects. On the cessation of light, the original rate of geotropic movement is restored (Fig. 163). Application of light of increasing intensity from below induces, on the other hand, a diminution, neutralisation, or reversal of geotropic movement.
Light acting vertically from above induces a concavity of the excited upper side in consequence of which the organ moves, as it were, to meet the stimulus. The geotropic response is precisely similar. In figure 162 the arrow represents the direction of stimulus which may be rays of light or vertical lines of gravity.
ANALOGY BETWEEN THE EFFECTS OF STIMULUS OF LIGHT AND OF GRAVITY.
In geotropic curvature we may for all practical purposes regard the direction of stimulus as coinciding with the vertical lines of gravity. The analogy between the effects of light and of gravity is very close[33]; in both the induced curvature is such that the organ moves so as to meet the stimulus. This will be made still more evident in the investigations on torsional geotropic response described in a subsequent chapter. The tropic curve under geotropic stimulus is similar to that under photic stimulus. The tropic reaction, both under the stimulus of light and of gravity, increases similarly with the 'directive' angle. These real analogies are unfortunately obscured by the use of arbitrary terminology used in description of the geotropic curvature of the shoot. In figure 163 records are given of the effects of vertical light and of vertical stimulus of gravity, on the responses of the horizontally laid bud of Crinum. In both, the upper side undergoes contraction and the movement of response carries the organ upwards so as to place it parallel to the incident stimulus. Though the reactions are similar in the two cases, yet the effect of light is termed positive phototropism, that of gravity negative geotropism. I would draw the attention of plant-physiologists to the anomalous character of the existing nomenclature. Geotropism of the shoot should, for reasons given above, be termed positive instead of negative, and it is unfortunate that long usage has given currency to terms which are misleading, and which certainly has the effect of obscuring analogous phenomena. Until the existing terminology is revised, it would perhaps be advisable to distinguish the geotropism of the shoot as Zenithotropism and of the root as Nadirotropism.