Abstract
For a comprehensive study of phototropism in sporangiophores of the fungus Phycomyces, quantitative treatment of spatial aspects is necessary. The first step in quantifying spatial factors of phototropic signal processing is the elucidation of the non-uniform light profile, predominantly caused by a lens effect in the cylindrical body of the sporangiophore. Herein we compare recently presented theoretical and experimental studies of light profiles. Errors and ambiguities arising from instrumental limitations and arbitrary assumptions are revealed. On the other hand, by combining theoretical and experimental results we have been able to select out the reliable information, which can now be applied in phototropic studies.
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Dedicated to Professor Hans Mohr on the occasion of his 60th birthday
We are thankful to Randall Cassada (Institute of Biology II, Freiburg) for critical reading of the manuscript. Supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft.
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Fukshansky, L., Richter, T. What do we know about the non-uniform perception of a phototropic stimulus in Phycomyces?. Planta 182, 107–112 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00239991
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00239991