Growth Promotion in Pea Stem Sections. II. By Natural Oils & Isoprenoid Vitamins

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Abstract
Coconut, peanut, mustard, olive, and linseed oils, as well as butter, vitamins E and K1, phytol, and farnesol at micromolar concentrations can double the growth promoting effect of auxins and gibberel-lic acid on pea stem sections. The pea seedlings must be pre-exposed to red light. Sidechain lacking K analogs and precursors of isoprenoid synthesis were ineffective. The results are interpreted as indicating mitochondrial cytochrome activation by the effective lipids. Lipids augmented growth stimulation by naphthaleneacetic acid and 2,4-dichloro-phenoxyacetic acid as well as that by indoleacetic acid so the phenomenon is probably general to auxins. Five tenths percent D-ribose, D-galactose, and D-mannose, but not L-arabinose, slightly increased section elongation. The relevance of a number of apparent lipid-auxin interactions is reviewed.