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THE EFFECT OF AUXINS UPON PROTOPLASMIC STREAMING.

K V Thimann¹, B M Sweeney

¹Biological Laboratories, Harvard University, Cambridge.

The Journal of General Physiology

|October 30, 2009

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Auxins, plant hormones, accelerate protoplasm streaming in Avena coleoptiles at low concentrations, influencing growth. Higher concentrations inhibit streaming, mirroring effects on elongation.

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Area of Science:

Plant Physiology
Molecular Biology
Biochemistry

Background:

Plant growth is regulated by auxins, a class of plant hormones.
Previous research suggested auxin's growth-promoting effects are mediated by cellular components rather than the cell wall.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the effect of auxins on protoplasm streaming in Avena coleoptiles.
To determine if auxin's influence on streaming is linked to its growth-promoting activity.

Main Methods:

Quantitative measurement of protoplasm streaming rate in Avena coleoptile epidermal cells.
Treatment with varying concentrations of indole-3-acetic acid and other auxins.
Comparison with control groups and non-auxin substances.

Main Results:

Indole-3-acetic acid accelerated protoplasm streaming at concentrations of 0.002–0.5 mg/L, with optimal effect at 0.01 mg/L.
Higher concentrations (>0.5 mg/L) of indole-3-acetic acid inhibited streaming.
Other auxins (coumaryl-3-acetic acid, allocinnamic acid) showed similar effects on streaming, correlating with their known activities.
Substances like ethylene chlorhydrin, histidine, and urea did not affect streaming.

Conclusions:

Auxin's effect on protoplasm streaming is immediate and occurs within a concentration range similar to that which promotes growth.
The observed effects on streaming are likely an early, integral step in auxin-mediated plant growth processes.