Separation of Photolabile-Phytochrome and Photostable-Phytochrome Actions on Growth and Microtubule Orientation in Maize Coleoptiles (A Physiological Approach)

For separating the physiological actions of photolabile (phy-l) and photostable phytochromes, we compared the effects of red (R) and far-red (FR) light on elongation growth and microtubule reorientation in segments of maize (Zea mays L.) coleoptiles raised either in darkness (phy-l present) or preirradiated with R (phy-l eliminated). In 4.5-d-old dark-grown seedlings R first promoted growth and induced a transverse microtubule orientation. In continuous R the phytochrome action responsible for these responses was replaced by an opposite phytochrome action that produced a stable growth inhibition and longitudinal microtubule orientation. In R-preirradiated segments only the second type of phytochrome action could be observed. Reversion experiments with FR light pulses demonstrated that both types of phytochrome action were dependent on the FR-absorbing form of phytochrome and mirrored the actual phytochrome state after 1 h. We conclude from these and related results that growth promotion and transverse microtubule orientation are mediated by phy-l, whereas growth inhibition and longitudinal microtubule orientation are mediated by photostable phytochrome. The opposite actions of the two phytochromes can be separated by preirradiating the seedlings with R. Photoresponsiveness ascribed to phy-l disappeared after 5 d. phy-l appears to play a distinct but transitory role in coleoptile development.