Quantitative correlation between the concentration of photoreactive phytochrome and light-induced formation of adventitious shoots in horse-radish hairy roots

The hairy roots of horse-radish (Armoracia rusticana Gaert., Mey. et Scherb.) were found to contain spectrophotometrically active phytochrome. The absorption maxima of the red-absorbing and the far red-absorbing forms of phytochrome were the same as those of phytochrome I in etiolated tissues and of purified phytochrome A. Red light dramatically decreased the concentration of phytochrome in the hairy roots. The phytochrome was concentrated at the proximal ends of hairy roots and the concentration of phytochrome at each position in hairy roots was quantitatively correlated with the frequency of the light-induced formation of adventitious shoots at the same position. The level of phytochrome reflected the duration of culture in darkness. The increase in the concentration of phytochrome with time in darkness was positively correlated with the frequency of light-induced formation of adventitious shoots. The involvement of phytochromes A and B in the induction by light of budding of adventitious shoots from horse-radish hairy roots is discussed on the basis of the newly revealed correlations and earlier results.