Rapid osmocontractile response of motor cells of <i>Mimosa pudica</i> pulvini induced by short light signals

The Mimosa pudica leaf has motor organs allowing movements driven by cell osmotic changes in the parenchyma cells in response to various stimuli. Short white light pulses induce rapid and large seismonastic-like movements (denoted "photostimulation") of the primary pulvini in various leaves within 120 s after the onset of light. An early event recorded is a wavelength-related modification of the plasma membrane difference: potential depolarization under white, blue, green, and red wavelengths, and hyperpolarization under far red wavelengths (and also in darkness). The photoreactivity of the pulvini is controlled by a circadian rhythm and modulated by the applied diurnal photoperiod cycle (photophase ranging from 6 to 18 h). The reactivity varied among plants and even between leaves on the same plant. The level of reactivity is related to the photon fluence rate in the range from 10 to 140 μmol m^-2 s^-1 under white light and to the experimental temperature in the range 15°C-35°C. An "accommodation" to light supply is evidenced by a modulation of the reactivity in relation to the schedule of light application under low fluence rates and the introduction of short darkness intervals during the first 30-s light pulse. The blue light-induced photostimulation is under phytochrome control.