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Auxins induce alpha-amylase activity in pea cotyledons
1Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Osaka City University, Sumiyoshi-ku, Osaka 558, Japan.
Plant hormone auxin significantly boosts alpha-amylase activity in pea cotyledons. This finding suggests auxin from the embryonic axis regulates this enzyme during germination.
Area of Science:
- Plant Physiology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Alpha-amylase is a key enzyme in seed germination, breaking down starch into sugars.
- Auxins are crucial plant hormones regulating various growth and developmental processes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effect of specific auxins on alpha-amylase activity in detached pea cotyledons.
- To explore the potential role of endogenous auxin in regulating alpha-amylase during germination.
Main Methods:
- Detached cotyledons of Pisum sativum cv Alaska were incubated with varying concentrations of synthetic auxins (2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid, 2,4,5-trichlorophenoxyacetic acid) and an endogenous auxin (4-chloroindoleacetic acid).
- Alpha-amylase activity was measured in the treated cotyledons.
Main Results:
- Incubation with 1-10 micromolar concentrations of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid, 2,4,5-trichlorophenoxyacetic acid, or 4-chloroindoleacetic acid resulted in a 2- to 12-fold increase in alpha-amylase activity.
- The synthetic auxins and endogenous auxin demonstrated a dose-dependent effect on enzyme activity.
Conclusions:
- Exogenous application of auxins significantly accelerates alpha-amylase development in pea cotyledons.
- It is proposed that auxin originating from the embryonic axis plays a role in inducing alpha-amylase activity in attached cotyledons during germination.
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