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Rapid Leaf Closure of Mimosa in Response to Light

Abstract

VARIOUS higher plants make rapid movements in response to stimuli1–3, among them Mimosa which rapidly closes its leaves when touched. We wish to report a series of experiments demonstrating such fast closure in response to light alone. Usually, light causes opening of the leaves, although it is known that after a few hours in the dark, light (< 550 nm) will cause the petiole to fall rapidly4,5.

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References

  1. Lloyd, F. E., The Carnivorous Plants (Ronald Press, New York, 1942).

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  2. Ball, N. G., in Physiology of Plant Growth and Development (edit. by Wilkins, M.) (McGraw-Hill, New York, 1969).

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  3. Sibaoka, T., Ann. Rev. Plant Physiol., 20, 165 (1969).

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  4. Fondeville, J. C., Borthwick, H. A., and Hendricks, S. B., Planta, 69, 357 (1966).

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  6. Galston, A., and Satter, R., Rec. Adv. Phytochem., 4 (in the press).

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APPLEWHITE, P., GARDNER, F. Rapid Leaf Closure of Mimosa in Response to Light. Nature 233, 279–280 (1971). https://doi.org/10.1038/233279a0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/233279a0

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