Gravity-dependent reactions of the moss Pohlia nutans protonemata

In darkness, protonemata of Pohlia nutans (Hedw.) grew negatively gravitropically (upwards). However, not all filaments became gravitropic immediately after transfer to darkness. Some of them (~20%) for several days grew in different directions with respect to gravity. The apical cells of those protonemata predominantly contained multiple chloroplasts. The intensity of chlorophyll fluorescence rapidly decreased in the apical cells of such protonemata while starch content increased in comparison with upright growing protonemata. Light, especially in the red and blue part of the spectrum, inhibited protonemal gravitropism. Red light induced stronger inhibitory effects than blue light. Red light of 1.0 to 1.5 micromoles m-2 s-1 intensity induced bud differentiation in apical cells on almost all side branches of main protonemal filaments. Bright fluorescence of F-actin bundles in the tip of apical protonematal cells and a delicately fluorescing network enclosing plastids basal to the tip in a sedimentation zone were visualized. Bright fluorescence of actin as local patches and fine prominent axially oriented bundles was observed in cells of gametophore buds.