Effects of red light on the growth of intact wheat and barley coleoptiles

The final lengths of intact dark-grown coleoptiles vary with species and cultivar. The growth distribution pattern in the apical 25-mm growing zone and the absolute amount of growth in each zone depend on the age and species of the coleoptile. A comparative study of several cultivars of wheat, Triticum vulgare, and barley, Hordeum vulgare, indicates that the growth distribution pattern in 30- to 38-mm coleoptiles varies with the species and cultivar. In barley, there are two patterns of growth distribution among the several cultivars, whereas in wheat, all cultivars exhibit a common zonal growth pattern. The total growth of coleoptiles, initially 30 to 38 mm in length, during a 24-hour dark incubation period is the same in dark-grown coleoptiles as in those irradiated with 3 minutes of red (660 nm) light prior to the incubation period. The growth distribution pattern in the growing zone of this 30- to 38-mm coleoptile is, however, altered by red light. Growth of the apical 5-mm zone is stimulated by red light and the zonal growth 5 to 10 mm below the apex is only slightly affected, whereas growth in the zones 10 to 15 to 20, and 20 to 25 mm below the apex is inhibited. This growth distribution pattern in irradiated coleoptiles changes as the coleoptile increases in length. The response of a zone following exposure to red light is dependent upon the age of the seedlings irradiated. The over-all effect of red light on growth of the intact coleoptile varies with the length of the coleoptile. In young seedling 20 to 29 mm in length, the cells of the coleoptile can compensate for the effects of red light, with the over-all growth of the dark-grown and irradiated coleoptile about the same. As the seedling grows older, the cells of the coleoptile can no longer make up for the effects of red light, and the over-all effect changes from compensation to pronounced inhibition.