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Physiological Analysis of Phototropic Responses in Arabidopsis

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Environmental Responses in Plants

Part of the book series: Methods in Molecular Biology ((MIMB,volume 1398))

Abstract

Plants utilize light as sole energy source. To maximize light capture they are able to detect the light direction and orient themselves towards the light source. This phototropic response is mediated by the plant blue light photoreceptors phototropin1 and 2 (phot1 and phot2). Although fully differentiated plants also exhibit this response it can be best observed in etiolated seedlings. Differences in light between the illuminated and shaded site of a seedling stem lead to changes in the auxin-distribution, resulting in cell elongation on the shaded site. Since phototropism connects light perception, signaling, and auxin transport, it is of great interest to analyze this response with a fast and simple method.

Here we describe a method to analyze the phototropic response of Arabidopsis seedlings. With numerous mutants available, its fast germination and its small size Arabidopsis is well suited for this analysis. Different genotypes can be simultaneously probed in less than a week.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by DFG grant ZE485/2-2 to MZ. I thank Anna Lena Lichtenthäler and Henrik Johansson for critical reading of the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Plant Physiology, Justus-Liebig-University, Senckenbergstr. 3, 35390, Giessen, Germany

    Mathias Zeidler

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  1. Mathias Zeidler
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Correspondence to Mathias Zeidler .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência, Oeiras, Portugal

    Paula Duque

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Zeidler, M. (2016). Physiological Analysis of Phototropic Responses in Arabidopsis . In: Duque, P. (eds) Environmental Responses in Plants. Methods in Molecular Biology, vol 1398. Humana Press, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-3356-3_3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-3356-3_3

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  • Publisher Name: Humana Press, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4939-3354-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4939-3356-3

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