Interrelation of Organic Materials in the Growth Substance Response

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Abstract
Tomato seedlings or cuttings in a mineral nutrient soln., which were kept in darkness, responded feebly to applications of indoleacetic or [beta]-naphthoxyacetic acids in lanolin. The response was limited to slight enlargement of the cells and increase in size of nuclei and nucleoli. Removal of leaves almost completely inhibited the response. Addition of sucrose, maltose, levulose, glucose, or lactose to the medium brought about the complete response which occurs in plants in the light. Proliferation of tissues occurred and root primordia were initiated. Cuttings in darkness for progressively longer periods before treatment with the growth substance showed no differences when sugar was present in the medium; but in the mineral nutrient they showed progressively less response through the 3d day in darkness. Bean cuttings showed a similar response to sugars in the dark. Galactose was toxic to both plants. Tomato cuttings in a minus-N medium responded as vigorously as those with a source of nitrate. N-deficient plants and cuttings also proliferated and gave rise to root primordia.