Mj. Burgin et al., A light-regulated pool of phytochrome and rudimentary high-irradiance responses under far-red light in Pinus elliottii and Pseudotsuga menziesii, J EXP BOT, 50(335), 1999, pp. 831-836
The presence of a phytochrome pool down-regulated by light and the occurren
ce of high-irradiance responses to far-red light are well documented in ang
iosperms but not in gymnosperms. A pool ct phytochrome was identified in Pi
nus elliottii and Pseudotsuga menziesii seedlings grown in darkness with a
monoclonal antibody developed against oat phytochrome A. This pool was bare
ly detectable in light-grown tissues. Dark-grown conifer seedlings transfer
red to continuous red light showed a gradual decrease of the levels of immu
nodetectable phytochrome. This decrease was significantly slower in gymnosp
erms than in angiosperms. Dark-grown seedlings of P. elliottii and P. menzi
esii showed enhanced growth of the cotyledonary whorl and increased anthocy
anin pigmentation of the hypocotyl, but no hypocotyl-growth inhibition in r
esponse to continuous far-red light. Hourly pulses were significantly less
effective than continuous far-red light. The response to far-red light was
not observed in seedlings pretreated with red light to reduce the levels of
immunodetectable phytochrome. Rudiments of phytochrome A-like function and
kinetics are present in P. elliottii and P. menziesii.