LIFE MOVEMENTS IN PLANTS

BY SIR JAGADIS CHUNDER BOSE, Kt., M.A., D.Sc., C.S.I., C.I.E., PROFESSOR EMERITUS, PRESIDENCY COLLEGE,
DIRECTOR, BOSE RESEARCH INSTITUTE. WITH 92 ILLUSTRATIONS B.R. Publishing Corp.
Delhi

Cataloging in Publication Data-DK

Bose, Jagadish Chandra, 1858–1937.
Life movements in plants.
Reprint.
1. Plants—Irritability and movements. 2. Growth (Plants). 3. Plants—​Develop­ment. 4. Botany. I. Title.

First Published 1918

Reprinted 1985

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CONTENTS

PART I.

RESPONSE OF PLANT ORGANS.

I.—THE PROBLEM OF MOVEMENT IN PLANTS.

PAGE

Complexity of the problem—Effects of different forms of stimuli—​Diverse responses under identical stimulus—​Modi­fi­ca­tion of response determined by intensity and point of application of stimulus, and tonic condition of organ—​Response of pulvinated and growing organs—​Necessity for shortening the period of experiment1

II.—THE “PRAYING” PALM TREE.

Description of phenomenon—The Recording apparatus—​Record of diurnal movement of the tree—​Universality of tree movement—​Cause of periodic movement—​Periodic movement of trees, and diurnal variation of moto-ex­cit­abil­ity in Mimosa pudica—​Relative effects of light and temperature—​Physiological character of the movement—Transpiration and diurnal movement—​Diurnal movement in inverted position—​Effect of variation of temperature on geotropic curvature—​Reversal of natural rhythm by artificial variation of temperature5

III.—ACTION OF STIMULUS ON VEGETABLE TISSUES.

Different types of Response Recorders—Response of a radial organ—​​Response of an anisotropic organ—Response of pulvinus of Mimosa pudica—​Tabular statement of apex time and period of recovery in different plants—​Response of pulvinus of Mimosa to variation of turgor—​Different modes of stimulation31

IV.—THE DIURNAL VARIATION OF EXCITABILITY IN MIMOSA.

Apparatus for study of variation of ex­cit­abil­ity—Uniform periodic stimulation—​The Response Recorder—Effects of external condition on ex­cit­abil­ity—​Effects of light and darkness—​Effect of excessive turgor—​Influence of temperature—​Diurnal variation of ex­cit­abil­ity—​Effect of physio­logic­al inertia43

V.—RESPONSE OF PETIOLE-PULVINUS PREPARATION OF MIMOSA.

Effect of wound or section in modi­fi­ca­tion of normal ex­cit­abil­ity—​The change of ex­cit­abil­ity after immersion in water—​Quantitative determination of the rate of decay of ex­cit­abil­ity in an isolated preparation—​Effect of amputation of upper half of the pulvinus—​Effect of removal of the lower half—​Influence of weight of leaf on rapidity of responsive fall—​The action of chemical agents—​Effect of “fatigue” on response—The action of light and darkness on ex­cit­abil­ity73

VI.—CONDUCTION OF EXCITATION IN PLANTS.

Hydro-dynamic versus physio­logic­al theory of conduction of excitation—​Arrest of conductivity by physio­logic­al blocks—​Convection and conduction of excitation—​Effect of temperature on velocity—​Effect of season—​Effect of age—​Effect of dessication of conduct­ing tissue—Influence of tonic condition on conduction—​Effect of intensity of stimulus on velocity of trans­mission—​Effect of stimulus on sub-tonic tissues and tissues in optimum condition—​Canalisation of conduct­ing path by stimulus—​Effect of injury on conductivity97

VII.—ELECTRIC CONTROL OF EXCITATORY IMPULSE.

Method of conductivity-balance—Control of transmitted excitation in Averrhoa bilimbi by electric current—​‘Uphill’ trans­mission—​Transmission ‘downhill’—Electric control of nervous impulse in animal—Directive action of current on conduction of excitation—Effects of direction of current on velocity of trans­mission in Mimosa—Determination of variation of conductivity by method of Minimal Stimulus and Response—Influence of direction of current on conduction of excitation in animal nerve—Variation of velocity of trans­mission—After-effects on Heterodromous and Homodromous currents—Laws of variation of nervous conduction under electric current107

VIII.—EFFECT OF INDIRECT STIMULUS ON PULVINATED ORGANS.

Conduction of excitation—Dual character of the transmitted impulse—​Effect of distance of application of stimulus—Periods of trans­mission of positive and negative impulses—Effects of Direct and Indirect stimulus135

IX.—MODIFYING INFLUENCE OF TONIC CONDITION ON RESPONSE.

Theory of assimilation and dissimilation—Unmasking of positive effect—​Modi­fi­ca­tion of response under artificial depression of tonic condition—Positive response in sub-tonic specimen141

PART II.

GROWTH AND ITS RESPONSIVE VARIATIONS.

X.—THE HIGH MAGNIFICATION CRESCOGRAPH FOR RESEARCHES ON GROWTH.

Method of