Role of ascorbic acid in auxin induced cell elongation--a cytochemical study

Cytochemical detection of ascorbic acid in cultured root tips of Zea mays shows that dividing cells accumulate ascorbic acid in the cytoplasm. The localization pattern alters in the root tip as the cells begin to elongate. In elongating cells ascorbic acid is distinctly localized on cell walls. Ascorbic acid content per cell increases with the onset of cell elongation. Fully elongated cells contain fivefold more ascorbic acid than meristematic cells. Cytophotometric analysis reveals a sharp and positive correlation (r = +0.93) between percentage increase in content of ascorbic acid per cell and corresponding increase in cell size at different phases of cell elongation. IAA treatment to the roots raises the content of ascorbic acid per cell with a parallel increase in size of cell. Involvement of ascorbic acid in IAA induced cell elongation is discussed.