Abstract

In Pteris vittata, red-light-induction of spore germination was completely inhibited by subsequent irradiation with far UV (260 nm), near UV (380 nm) or blue (440 nm) monochromatic light produced at the Okazaki Large Spectrograph. Germination but recovered from these photo-inhibition after less than 48 h of darkness. Near UV- and blue-light-induced inhibition were strongly counteracted by addition of 1 mM KCN, 1 RIM NaN3 or 100 mM ethanol. Far UV- and far red light-induced inhibition, however, was not influenced by these chemicals. Consequently the heights of peaks of action spectrum for this photo-inhibition of spore germination was changed by addition of these chemicals in the blue and near UV region but not at 260 nm. The results suggest that either or both of the photoreceptor system and the signal transduction chain of the photo-inhibition are qualitatively different between the shorter (i.e. far UV) and the longer (i.e. near UV and blue) wavelength regions.

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