Action of gravireceptors: lability hypothesis and model.

The plagiogravitropic growth stage usually occurring after gravitropic stimulation can be explained if 1) the liminal angle is interpreted as the angle to which the gravitropic response system tends to react after displacement and 2) the liminal angle is assumed to be labile, tending to equalise itself with the actual apex angle from the gravity vector. The process of equalisation may be interpreted as adaptation of gravity-receptors to exposure angle. Based on these assumptions, an adaptational model of the gravitropic response was proposed. It is in agreement with experimental data and describes adequately the plagiogravitropic growth stage occurring after gravitropic stimulation. It is supposed that such a mechanism acts in cooperation with others for initiation and maintenance of plagiogravitropic growth.