Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Letter
  • Published:

Phototropism and geotropism in maize coleoptiles are spatially correlated with increases in cytosolic free calcium

Abstract

PHOTOTROPISM and gravitropism in the shoots and roots of higher plants are the result of asymmetric growth. This is explained by the redistribution of growth regulators following exposure to gravity or unilateral light (the Cholodny–Went hypothesis1). The positive phototropism2 and the negative geotropism of grass seedling coleoptiles are believed to result from lateral movement of auxin from the irradiated to the shaded side3–5 and from the upper to the lower side6–8, respectively. Many physiological processes in plants, including auxin-induced cell elongation, are reported to be under the control of calcium9,10. Added auxin triggers oscillations in cytosolic free calcium ([Ca2+]cyt) and cytosolic pH (pHcyt) in epidermal cells of maize coleoptiles11–13. Until recently14, it has not been possible to visualize these changes spatially with the commonly used fluorescent cation indicators. Using a scanning laser confocal microscope, a new visible wavelength Ca2+ probe fluo-3 and the fluorescent pH indicator BCECF, we have recorded rapid light-induced increases in [Ca2+]cyt and a lowering of pHcyt of cells on the shaded side of maize coleoptiles. In horizontally orientated coleoptiles, [Ca2+]cyt increases and pHcyt decreases in the more rapidly elongating cells on the lower side. For the first time, rapid changes in [Ca2+]cyt and pHcyt are correlated directly with increases in cell elongation stimulated by light and gravity.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Rent or buy this article

Prices vary by article type

from$1.95

to$39.95

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Went, F. W. & Thimann, K. V. Phytohormones (Macmillan, New York, 1937).

    Google Scholar 

  2. Darwin, C. The Power of Movement in Plants (Murray, London, 1880).

    Google Scholar 

  3. Briggs, W. R. A. Rev. Pl. Physiol. 14, 311–352 (1963).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Iino, M. & Briggs, W. R. Pl. Cell Environ. 7, 97–104 (1984).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Baskin, T. I., Briggs, W. R. & Iino, M. Pl. Physiol. 18, 306–309 (1986).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Gillespie, B. & Thimann, K. V. Pl. Physiol. 38, 214–225 (1963).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Filner, B. & Hertel, R. Planta 94, 333–354 (1970).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Hild, V. & Hertel, R. Planta 108, 245–258 (1972).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Hepler, P. K. & Wayne, W. O. A. Rev. Pl. Physiol. 36, 397–439 (1985).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Marmé, D. in Second Messengers in Plant Growth and Development (eds Boss, W. F. & Morré, J. D.) 57–80 (Liss, New York, 1988).

    Google Scholar 

  11. Brummer, B., Bertl, I., Potrykus, I., Felle, H. & Parish, R. W. FEBS Lett. 189, 109–114 (1985).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Felle, H., Brummer, B., Bertl, I. & Parish, R. W. Proc. natn. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 83, 8992–8995 (1986).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Felle, H. Planta 174, 495–499 (1988).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Williams, D. A., Cody, S. H., Gehring, C. A., Parish, R. W. & Harris, P. J. Cell Calcium (in the press).

  15. Trewavas, A. Pl. Cell Environ. 4, 203–228 (1981).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. McClure, B. A. & Guilfoyle, T. Science 243, 91–93 (1989).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Ettlinger, C. & Lehle, L. Nature 331, 176–178 (1988).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Blowers, D. P. & Trewavas, A. J. in Second Messengers in Plant Growth and Development (eds Boss, W. F. & Morré, J. D.) 1–28 (Liss, New York, 1988).

    Google Scholar 

  19. Scanlon, M., Williams, D. A. & Faye, F. S. J. biol. Chem. 262, 6808–6812 (1987).

    Google Scholar 

  20. Rink, T. J., Tsien, R. Y. & Pozzan, T. J. cell. Biol. 95, 189–196 (1982).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Gehring, C., Williams, D., Cody, S. et al. Phototropism and geotropism in maize coleoptiles are spatially correlated with increases in cytosolic free calcium. Nature 345, 528–530 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1038/345528a0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/345528a0

This article is cited by

Comments

By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.

Search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing