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A method to record circadian plant movements, with application to Oxalis leaf rhythms
Author(s) -
Pedersen Marit,
Eidesmo Terje,
Johnsson Anders
Publication year - 1992
Publication title -
physiologia plantarum
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.351
H-Index - 146
eISSN - 1399-3054
pISSN - 0031-9317
DOI - 10.1111/j.1399-3054.1992.tb04699.x
Subject(s) - petiole (insect anatomy) , ultradian rhythm , leaflet (botany) , signal (programming language) , circadian rhythm , optics , phototropism , movement (music) , light intensity , botany , blue light , biology , biophysics , physics , acoustics , computer science , neuroscience , hymenoptera , programming language
A transducer was developed to record the circadian movement of the individual leaflets in Oxalis regnellii Mig. The method can easily be adapted to measure other kinds of plant movements as well. It is based on the detection of the shadow each leaflet casts on the small side of a specially formed Perspex plate. The light is guided through the Perspex and collected by a phototransistor, which provides an electrical signal that is proportional to the light intensity falling onto it. The output signal can be made a linear function of the leaf angle. This equipment was used in experiments to study the coupling between the 3 leaflets in Oxalis . Pulses of 4 h of red light were given to one of the leaflets, the two others were shielded from the light. A phase response curve was determined for each leaflet, but there was no significant difference in the phase response between the 3 leaflets. Experiments were also made in which the 3 leaflets were separated physically by cuts along the petiole between the pulvini. In this case ultradian oscillations were observed.