Relation of Phosphorus Nutrition to the Translocation of 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic Acid in Tomato Plants

Abstract
P-deficient tomato plants which were supplied with P 3 days before application of 2,4-D labeled with Cl4 had significantly greater stem curvatures, significantly lower fresh weight of tops, and much more radioactive material in the hypocotyls and roots than did the plants which did not receive P until 24 hours after treatment with the growth regulator. Plants which received P 8 hours before or at the time of treatment with 2,4-D were intermediate in their growth responses and in the amount of radioactive material in the hypocotyls and roots. It appears that 2,4-D is not readily translocated through tomato plants which are seriously deficient in phosphorus.