Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Mesocotyl growth of etiolated seedlings ofAvena sativa andZea mays in relation to light and diffusible auxin

  • Published:
Journal of Plant Growth Regulation Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Diffusible auxin levels were measured in coleoptiles and mesocotyls of dark-grown seedlings ofavena sativa (cv. Spear) andZea mays (cv. Golden Cross Bantam) using theAvena curvature bioassay. The coleoptile tip was confirmed as the major auxin source in etiolated seedlings. Auxin levels were found to decrease basipetally in sequent sections of theAvena coleoptile but not to decrease in apical sections of increasing length. An inhibitor capable of inducing positive curvatures ofAvena test coleoptiles was discovered in diffusates from the mesocotyls of oat and corn seedlings. The amount of this inhibitor was correlated with the cessation of mesocotyl growth of oat seedlings grown in darkness, and with the inhibition of mesocotyl growth of corn seedlings exposed to red light.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Avery GS, Burkholder PR (1936) Polarized growth and cell studies on theAvena coleoptile phytohormone test object. Bull Torrey Bot Club 63:1–15

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Avery GS, Burkholder PR, Creighton HB (1937) Polarized growth and cell studies in the first internode and coleoptile ofAvena in relation to light and darkness. Bot Gaz 99:125–143

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Briggs WR (1963a) Mediation of phototropic responses of corn coleoptiles by lateral transport of auxin. Plant Physiol 38:237–247

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Briggs WR (1963b) Red light, auxin relationships, and the phototropic responses of corn and oat coleoptiles. Am J Bot 50:196–207

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dattaray P, Mer CL (1964) Auxin metabolism and the growth of etiolated oat seedlings. Regulateurs Naturels de la Croissance Vegetale Collop Int Centre Nat Rech Sci 123:475–488

    Google Scholar 

  • Ferguson J (1971) Analysis of factors influencing the curvature responses of coleoptiles to plant growth hormone. Diss Abstr Int Ser B 32:5058

    Google Scholar 

  • Goldsmith MH, Thimann KV (1961) Some characteristics of movement of indoleacetic acid in coleoptiles ofAvena. I. Uptake, destruction, immobilization, and distribution of IAA during basipetal translocation. Plant Physiol 37:492–505

    Google Scholar 

  • Iino M (1982) Action of red light on indole-3-acetic acid status and growth in coleoptiles of etiolated maize seedlings. Planta 156:21–32

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Iino M, Carr DJ (1982a) Estimation of free, conjugated, and diffusible indole-3-acetic acid in etiolated maize shoots by the indole-α-pyrone fluorescence method. Plant Physiol 69:950–956

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Iino M, Carr DJ (1982b) Sources of free IAA in the mesocotyl of etiolated maize seedlings. Plant Physiol 69:1109–1112

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Iino M, Yu RST, Carr DJ (1980) Improved procedure for the estimation of nanogram quantities of indole-3-acetic acid in plant extracts using the indolo-α-pyrone fluorescence method. Plant Physiol 66:1099–1105

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mandoli DF, Briggs WR (1981) Phytochrome control of low-irradiance responses in etiolated oat seedlings. Plant Physiol 67:733–739

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mer CL (1951) A critical study of the auxin theory of growth regulation in the mesocotyl ofAvena sativa. Ann Bot 15:179–207

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Muir RM, Zhu L (1983) Effect of light in the control of growth by auxin and its inhibitor(s) in the sunflower. Physiol Plant 57:407–410

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nitsch JP, Nitsch C (1956) Studies on the growth of coleoptile and first internode sections. A new, sensitive straight growth test for auxins. Plant Physiol 31:94–111

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pickard BG, Thimann KV (1964) Transport and distribution of auxin during tropistic response. II. The lateral migration of auxin in phototropism of coleoptiles. Plant Physiol 39:341–350

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Schneider CL (1941) The effect of red light on growth of theAvena seedling with special reference to the first internode. Am J Bot 28:878–886

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shen-Miller J (1973) Rhythmicity in the basipetal transport of indoleacetic acid through coleoptiles. Plant Physiol 51:615–619

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Smith CW, Jacobs WP (1969) The movement of IAA-C14 in the hypocotyl ofPhaseolus vulgaris. Am J Bot 56:492–497

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Van Overbeek J (1936) Growth hormone and mesocotyl growth. Recueil Trav Bot Neerland 33:333–340

    Google Scholar 

  • Van Overbeek J (1938) Auxin distribution in seedlings and its bearing on the problem of bud inhibition. Bot Gaz 100:133–166

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Van Overbeek J (1941) A quantitative study of auxin and its precursor in coleoptiles. Am J Bot 28:1–10

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Weintraub RL, Price L (1947) Developmental physiology of the grass seedlings. II. Inhibition of mesocotyl elongation in various grasses by red and by violet light. Smithsonian Misc Coll 106:1–15

    Google Scholar 

  • Went FW (1928) Wuchsstoff und Wachstum. Receuil Trav Bot Neerland 25:1–116

    Google Scholar 

  • Went FW, Thimann KV (1937) Phytohormones. Macmillan, New York

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Author notes

  1. R. W. Kessler

    Present address: Environmental Laboratory, Lower Colorado River Authority, 73703, Austin, Texas

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Botany, University of Iowa, 52242, Iowa City, Iowa, USA

    R. W. Kessler, L. S. Gerhold & R. M. Muir

Authors
  1. R. W. Kessler
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. L. S. Gerhold
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. R. M. Muir
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Kessler, R.W., Gerhold, L.S. & Muir, R.M. Mesocotyl growth of etiolated seedlings ofAvena sativa andZea mays in relation to light and diffusible auxin. J Plant Growth Regul 4, 11–18 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02266939

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02266939

Keywords

Search

Navigation