Pure Appl. Chem., 2003, Vol. 75, No. 2-3, pp. 353-358
doi:10.1351/pac200375020353
Chemical studies on plant leaf movement controlled by a biological clock*
M. Ueda, T. Sugimoto, Y. Sawai, T. Ohnuki, and S. Yamamura
Laboratory of Natural Products, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science and Technology, Keio University, Hiyoshi, Yokohama 223-8522, Japan
Abstract:
Most leguminous plants close their leaves in the evening, as if to sleep, and open them early in the morning according to the circadian rhythm controlled by a biological clock. Extensive studies on nyctinastic plants led to the isolation of a variety of leaf-closing and -opening substances. And we found that the biological clock regulates the balance of concentration between leaf-opening and -closing substances in the plant body during the day.