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Growth- and Inhibiting-Substances in Relation to the Rest Period of the Potato Tuber

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Abstract

IN an investigation of the growth- and inhibiting-substances in the potato tuber in relation to its rest period, Hemberg1 has shown that potato peelings contain an acid and a neutral growth-substance in addition to acid and neutral growth-inhibiting-substances. On the basis of molecular weight determinations by diffusion through agar, and sensitivity towards acid and alkali, he concluded that the acid growth-substance is in all likelihood indole-3-acetic acid. In addition, he was able to show that the neutral growth-substance could be converted to the acid growth-substance by enzyme action, and concluded that the former is probably indole-3-acetaldehyde. The disappearance of the acid growth-inhibiting substance from the potato tuber towards the end of the rest period is considered by Hemberg to be the primary cause of the breaking of dormancy in the potato tuber.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. W.P. Fruit Research Station, Stellenbosch, Union of South Africa

    K. L. J. BLOMMAERT

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  1. K. L. J. BLOMMAERT
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BLOMMAERT, K. Growth- and Inhibiting-Substances in Relation to the Rest Period of the Potato Tuber. Nature 174, 970–972 (1954). https://doi.org/10.1038/174970b0

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