title: A demonstration of photosynthetic state transitions in nature : Shading by photosynthetic tissue causes conversion to state 1.
abstract: Photosynthetic state transitions occurring in nature are demonstrated. Chenopodium album leaves converted to state 1 and Ailanthus altissima leaves converted to an intermediate position between state 2 and state 1 at a time of day when these leaves were shaded by the canopy on a sunny day, while both plants' leaves were in state 2 at a time of day when they were not shaded. Filtering of white light by flasks of green algae also converted the light from causing state 2 in Chlorella vulgaris to causing state 1. Thus, light absorption by photosynthetic tissue can convert the natural light environment to one that causes state 1 in green plants.However, light absorption by water, by itself, up to a depth of 4.3m, does not change the light 2 character of sunlight.
authors.affiliation: Division of Biology and Medicine, Brown University, 02912, Providence, Rhode Island, USA.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: McTavish