Photomorphogenesis
Dr. Carl Bell: Wednesday, March 24, 2010 at 7:00pm
Center for Legislative Studies, Auditorium

Photomorphogenesis is a term used to describe a variety of plant growth phenomena that depend on certain wavelengths of light, but are separate and distinct from chlorophyll and photosynthesis. The specific regulator pigment involved is phytochrome, and phytochrome has a variety of opposite and reversible actions, based on exposure to red light wavelength around 650 nanometers, or to the contrasting action of far red light around 750 nanometers or longer toward the end of the visible spectrum. A number of kinds of plants have either a light requirement, or a darkness requirement for seed germination. There are significant ecological adaptations of plants with this kind of seed dormancy. There are a number of other plant growth effects associated with photomorphogenesis, and it makes for an interesting contrast in the different wavelengths involved in the phytochrome mediated actions compared with phototropism with indole acetic acid as the light receptor on the one hand, and photosynthesis activated by chlorophyll on the other hand. Experimental protocols are simple to set up, and student designed inquiry is readily accommodated.
Dr. Carl Bell, Professor of Biology
Dr. Carl Bell earned his B.S. degree from Muskinigum College (New Concord Ohio) with a major in biology. He has an M.S. degree from Miami University (Oxford, Ohio) with a major in Botany. His Ph.D. degree is from Ohio State University (Columbus , Ohio), with a major in Plant Pathology.

Dr. Bell came to Shepherd in August of 1961, and he has been a full time member of the Biology Department since that time.