Apical correlative effects in leaf epinasty of tomato

The influence of the stem apex on leaf curvature was investigated using debudded tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill. cv Anahu) plants and petiole explants, consisting of a section of petiole attached to a section of stem.Decapitation of the main shoot of tomato plants induced hyponasty of petioles in young leaves. Application of auxin in place of the removed apex or fumigation of intact tomato plants with ethylene produced epinastic curvature at the base of the petiole. Simultaneous carbon dioxide treatments prevented the development of petiolar epinasty due to auxin and ethylene treatments. Application of ethylene gas to the decapitated shoot or injection into the stem, induced petiolar epinasty. In a saturating level of ethylene gas, tomato petioles did not respond to indole-3-acetic acid applied to the cut apex. Auxin-induced ethylene production in petiole explants preceded the development of epinasty. Application of indoleacetic acid in lanolin to the entire lower side of the petioles of leaves in situ produced petiole epinasty. Petiolar epinasty due to apically applied indoleacetic acid resulted from differential cell elongation.The auxins indole-3-acetic acid, 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid, and naphthalene-1-acetic acid induced epinasty when applied apically to decapitated tomato plants, while gibberellic acid, kinetin, abscisic acid, and auxin or gibberellin antagonists had no effect. When such compounds were applied to petiole explants, only indole-3-acetic acid and kinetin caused an increase in ethylene production and the effect of kinetin was relatively weak.Application of 2,3,5-triiodobenzoic acid around the stem did not change the effect on petiolar epinasty of auxin applied to the decapitated shoot or around the stem. Radioautography showed that the label from (14)C-indoleacetic acid applied apically entered the petiole and midrib tissue; however, extraction showed that only a fraction of the label in these tissues was in the form of indoleacetic acid.Removal of leaflets from leaves induced hyponasty in the midrib region, and application of auxin to the leaflet stubs produced midrib epinasty; carbon dioxide did not block the action of auxin in this type of epinasty. Removal of leaflets from leaves did not alter the effect of apically applied auxin on petiolar epinasty.The data are consistent with the hypothesis that the oblique orientation of leaves in tomato plants is influenced by two epinastic responses. Petiolar epinasty is controlled by the apical region on the stem and is due to the action of auxin-induced ethylene; and midrib epinasty is due to an action of auxin other than through ethylene.