The function of phytochrome in plants growing in the natural environment

Abstract

MANY aspects of plant development are subject to photocontrol by way of the chromoprotein photoreceptor phytochrome. Phytochrome exists in two forms, P_r, which absorbs maximally at 660 nm, and P_fr, which absorbs maximally at 725–735 nm^1,2. Absorption of light by either form results in phototransformation to the isomeric form. These properties make phytochrome a unique photoreceptor and raise important questions concerning the function of phytochrome in plants growing in the natural environment^3,4. In the physiological experiments which have been so successful in elucidating the details of the structure and properties of the molecule, and which are beginning to provide evidence on its cellular mode of action, aetiolated plants are usually used and are given abnormal irradiation treatments involving brief or prolonged exposure to radiation of restricted wavelengths. Such conditions do not occur in the natural environment and, therefore, such experiments provide no evidence on the role of phytochrome in plants growing in the field. Suggestions have been made that phytochrome may enable the plant to detect shading by other plants and thus induce the alteration of metabolism and development in an appropriate manner^5,6. These proposals point out that radiant energy below 700 nm is almost completely reflected or absorbed by vegetation, whilst that between 700–800 nm (that is, the far red) is largely transmitted^7–10. The relative enhancement of the far red will presumably alter the photoequilibrium of P_rP_fr in plants growing under vegetation canopies, presenting a possible mechanism for the detection of shading. No systematic attempts have yet been made, however, to determine the extent of the spectral energy changes in the natural environment, to correlate them with effects on phytochrome photoequilibria and to assess the possible regulatory role of phytochrome under these conditions. In this report we present preliminary evidence along these lines which is consistent with the above hypothesis.