Abstract
AN attempt was made some time ago1 to relate spiral growth in sporangiophores of Phycomyces to the physical properties of the wall, and the successful semi-quantitative test of the relation proposed against the data of Castle2, as well as the more recent extension to the case of spiral grain in conifers3, makes it reasonable to assume that, oversimplified though the relation undoubtedly is, it does express spiral growth in terms of the appropriate parameters. Assuming for simplicity that the ‘fibrils’ in the wall of the growth-zone are circular in section (though this is not an essential part of the theory) it appears that the rotation of the tip of the sporangiophore, Δφ, associated with a length increase of ΔL is given by the relation
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References
Preston, R. D., Biochim. et Biophys. Acta, 2, 155 (1948).
See, for example, Castle, E. S., Amer. J. Bot., 29, 654 (1942).
Preston, R. D., Forestry (in the press, 1949).
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PRESTON, R., Middlebrook, M. Spiralling in Sporangiophores of Phycomyces Following a Temporary Cessation of Growth. Nature 164, 217–218 (1949). https://doi.org/10.1038/164217a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/164217a0
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