Plant Physiol.

(1970) 46, 757-758

Short Communication

Phytochrome and the Inductive Dark Period in Coleus1

Received for publication May 15, 1970

RUTH HALABAN AND WILLIAM S. HILLMAN

Biology Department, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, New York 11973
about 50 ,u long, and any value above this represents a developing
inflorescence.

Coleus is a useful plant for studying the involvement of circadian rhythms in photoperiodism (3), but there is no information on the role of phytochrome, if any, in controlling its photoperiodic flowering response. Since such information is important
in constructing a model for photoperiodic induction (2, 7), experiments designed to supply it have been carried out.
MATERIAL AND METHODS
Coleus blumei x C. frederici plants, the same clone used at
Princeton (3), were propagated by cuttings and grown in a growth
chamber under continuous illumination by cool white fluorescent
lamps and incandescent bulbs (about 1000 ft-c) at an air temperature of 25 + 1 C. The experimental plants were grown with
their roots in 125-ml Erlenmeyer flasks filled with nutrient solution consisting of 1.2 g of Hyponex (Hydroponic Chemical Co.,
Copley, Ohio) per liter of distilled water. The flasks were refilled
with distilled water twice a day at about 0830 EST (Eastern
Standard Time) and 1530 EST.
Table I. Flowering of Coleus in Response to 15-min Red
Light Signals
The plants were transfered to white light at 0800 EST and to
darkness at 1600 EST. Each value is a mean of 10 plants.
Time of Light Signal (EST)

Mean Apex Length

Control

1000

2400
0200
0400

280
75
900

RESULTS
Table I shows that interrupting the 16-hr period at three different times with 15 min of red light has an effect on flowering
similar to that of half-hour exposures to white light (3). As in
previous experiments, maximal inhibition of flowering occurred
10 hr after the transition to darkness. Table II gives the values
from an experiment showing the same general phenomenon as described for many other plants (1): far red light following a red
light interruption reversed the inhibitory effect of red light and
resulted in the same flowering level as in the control. Two additional experiments gave qualitatively similar results.
Table IL The Opposite Effect of Red and Far Red Light Signals on
Flowering of Coleus
The light signals started at 0200 EST. Far red either followed a
red signal or was given alone. Each value is the mean of 9 to 13
plants.
Treatment

Mean Apex Length

Control
Red
Red, far red
Far red

530 115
70 4 5
618 105
840 90

DISCUSSION
The
model
for
photoperiodic induction suggested by Bunning
Red light was obtained by passing the light of four standard
15-w cool white fluorescent tubes, about 15 cm from the plants, (2) and modified by Pittendrigh and Minis (7) implies two actions
through 3-mm Rohm and Haas 2444 red Plexiglas (5). The source of light: one as the synchronizer of the circadian rhythm and the
of far red light was five 30-w incandescent lamps about 60 cm second directly on a light-sensitive component of the response. A
above the plants and separated from the plants by 8 to 10 cm of good correlation between the circadian rhythm of leaf movement
water and a 3-mm thickness of Rohm and Haas black FRF-700 and the phase of maximal light sensitivity in the photoperiodic
Plexiglas (6). Each group of plants was transferred at the end of flowering response has been demonstrated in the short day plant
the 8-hr light period (1600 EST) to individual light-tight cabinets C. blumei X C. frederici (3), thus supporting the idea that the
equipped with the red and far red sources and controlled by 15- circadian rhythm is involved in the time measurement process.
min interval time switches (Paragon Time Control, model 1015- Further experiments showed that blue and red light were effecand far red light ineffective, in changing the period length and
OS). The plants were exposed to the experimental conditions for tive,
resetting
the free running rhythm of leaf movement, leading to the
19 days, after which the terminal apices were examined under a conclusion
that phytochrome does not mediate the effect of light
dissecting microscope for determination of floral stage. The floral on the rhythm (4). However, the experiments described here show
stage is given by the length of the apex (3). A vegetative apex is that far red light is effective in reversing the inhibition of flowering by red light given at the phase of maximal sensitivity. Taken
1 Research carried out at Brookhaven National Laboratory under together, these facts suggest that light indeed has a dual role in
the auspices of the United States Atomic Energy Commission.
photoperiodism and may act through at least two different pig757

758

HALABAN AND HILLMAN

ment systems. Phytochrome is apparently not effective in resetting the rhythm or the timing system, but it is clearly involved in
the
direct
effect
light
durin
ot
the
direct
effect
ofof
light
during
an otherwise
inductive dark period.
an
s.

LITERATURE CITED
1. BORTHWICK, H. A. 1964. Phytochrome action and its time displays. Amer. Natur.
98: 347-355.
2. BUNNING, E. 1936. Die endogene Tagesrhythmik als Grundlage der photoperiodischen Reaktion. Ber. Deut. Bot. Ges. 54: 590-607.

Plant Physiol. Vol. 46, 1970

3. HALABAN, R. 1968. The flowering response of Coleus in relation to photoperiod and

the circadian rhythm of leaf movement. Plant Physiol. 43: 1894-1898.
4. HALABAN, R. 1969. Effect of light quality on the circadian rhythm of leaf movement
of a short-day plant. Plant Physiol. 44: 973-977.
5. HILLMAN, W. S. 1965. Red light, blue light and copper ion in the photoperiodic
control of flowering in Lemna perpusilla 6746. Plant Cell Physiol. 2: 415-417.
6. HILLMAN, W. S. 1966. Photoperiodism in Lemna: Reversal of night-interruption
depends on color of the main photoperiod. Science 154: 1360-1362.
7. PITTENDRIGH, C. S. AND D. H. MINIS. 1964. The entrainment of circadian oscillation
by light and their role as photoperiodic clocks. Amer. Natur. 98: 261-294.