The discovery of the reversible red far-red control of plant growth and development and the subsequent in vivo identification and isolation of the photoreceptor pigment, phyto chrome, constitutes one of the great achievements in modern biology. It was primarily a group of investigators at the Plant Industry Station, Beltsville, Mary land, headed by the botanist H.A. BORTHWICK and the physical chemist S.B. HENDRICKS, who made the basic discoveries and developed a theoretical framework on which the current progress in the field of phytochrome is still largely based. While the earlier development of the phytochrome concept has been covered by a num ber of excellent articles by the original investigators [104,105,33,238] as well as by others who joined the field of phytochrome research later [72, 109, 219], a comprehensive and up-to-date treatment of photomorphogenesis is not available at present. Since it seems to be needed for teaching as well as for researchers I have tried to summarize the present state of the field, reviewing the historical aspects of the phytochrome story only insofar as they are required to understand the present situation. The emphasis of my treatment will be on developmental physiology ("photomorphogenesis") rather than on phytochrome per se.

Hersteller:
Springer Verlag GmbH
juergen.hartmann@springer.com
Tiergartenstr. 17
DE 69121 Heidelberg

Inhaltsangabe1st Lecture: Phenomenology of Photomorphogenesis; the Goals of Photomorphogenic Research; the Operational Criteria for the Involvement of Phytochrome.- Selected Further Reading.- 2nd Lecture: Some Properties of Phytochrome.- Selected Further Reading.- 3rd Lecture: Intracellular Localization of Phytochrome.- Selected Further Reading.- 4th Lecture: Induction Experiments Versus Steady State Experiments; the Problem of the "High Irradiance Response" (HIR).- 1. Some Phenomena.- 2. Some Conclusions.- 3. Control of Hypocotyl Lengthening in Lettuce (Lactuca sauva L., cv. Grand Rapids) as a Prototype of a "High Irradiance Response".- 4. Further Applications of Hartmann's Technique.- 5. The Action of Blue Light in "Long-term" Experiments.- 6. Sequential Action of "High Irradiance Reaction" and Pfr (in the Ground State)?.- 7. HIR and Photosynthesis.- 8. Operational Definitions (Criteria) for the Involvement of Phytochrome in a Response.- Selected Further Reading.- 5th Lecture: Phytochrome and the Diversity of Photoresponses; "Positive" and "Negative" Photoresponses; a Unifying Hypothesis.- Selected Further Reading.- 6th Lecture: Phytochrome-mediated Enzyme Induction.- Suggested Further Reading.- 7th Lecture: Enzyme Repression, Mediated by Phytochrome through a Threshold Mechanism.- Selected Further Reading.- 8th Lecture: Phytochrome-mediated Modulation of Metabolic Steady States and of Photonastic Movements.- 1. Ascorbic Acid Synthesis.- 2. Carotenoid Synthesis.- 3. The Problem of the "Lag-phases".- 4. Modulations of Specialized Cells.- Selected Further Reading.- 9th Lecture: Control of Longitudinal Growth by Phytochrome.- 1. General Remarks.- 2. Interaction or no Interaction between Phytochrome and Gibberellic Acid (GA3) in Control of Hypocotyl Elongation in Mustard Seedlings.- 3. Is RNA and Protein Synthesis Related to Phytochrome-mediated Control of Longitudinal Cell Growth?.- 4. Is Carbohydrate Metabolism Related to Control of Longitudinal Cell Growth?.- 5. Control by Far-red Light of Hypocotyl Lengthening in Diploid Tetraploid Seedlings.- 6. Conclusion.- Selected Further Reading.- 10th Lecture: Modulation of Hypocotyl Longitudinal Growth by Pfr (ground state) through a Threshold Mechanism.- 1. Experimental Data.- 2. Theoretical Treatment.- 3. Growth-limiting Proteins.- 4. A Final Comment.- Appendix: On the Use of Excised Segments in Phytochrome Research.- Selected Further Reading.- 11th Lecture: The Problem of the Primary Reaction of Phytochrome.- 1. Different Pfr Populations.- 2. Polarotropism of Fern Sporelings.- 3. Threshold Regulation of Lipoxygenase Synthesis vs. Phytochrome-mediated Anthocyanin Synthesis as a Graded Response.- 4. Control by Pfr (ground state) of Extension Growth and Anthocyanin Synthesis in One and the Same Cell.- 5. Control by Pfr of Ascorbic Acid and Anthocyanin Accumulation in the Mustard Seedling.- 6. Control of PAL (Phenylalanine Ammonia-lyase) and AO (Ascorbate Oxidase) Synthesis in the Mustard Seedling.- 7. General Conclusions.- 8. Tentative Models.- 9. The Significance of Acetylcholine.- 10. NAD Kinase and Phytochrome.- Appendix: On the Mechanism of the "High Irradiance Response".- Suggested Further Reading.- 12th Lecture: Interaction between Phytochrome and Hormones.- 1. Induction of Amylase by Pfr.- 2. Induction of Peroxidase by Pfr.- Suggested Further Reading.- 13th Lecture: The Double Function of Phytochrome in Mediating Anthocyanin and Enzyme Synthesis.- 1. Anthocyanin Synthesis.- 2. Enzyme Synthesis.- Appendix 1: Function of Pfr in Ascorbic Acid Synthesis.- Appendix 2: Induction of Nitrate-reductase in Corn Leaves.- Suggested Further Reading.- 14th Lecture: Repression of Lipoxygenase Synthesis by Pfr: The Problem of Primary and Secondary Differentiation.- 1. Threshold Regulation of Lipoxygenase Synthesis: A Recapitulation.- 2. Some Experiments to Validate the Concept of the Double-action Control Mechanism in Development.- 3. Some Related Phenomena in Animal Physiology.- 4. Primary and Secondary