Growth‐Promoting Effects of Fatty Acids on Excised Wheat Roots and Oat Coleoptiles

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Abstract
The growth action of some fatty acids and alcohols with carbon number from 1 to 4 was tested on excised wheat roots in aseptic cultures. Growth, cell length, and dry weight were measured after seven days. The tested substances were: Formic acid, acetic acid, propionic acid, n‐Butyric acid, isobutyric acid, acelaldehyde, propionaldohyde, ethanol, n‐propanol, isopropanol, n‐butanoL and isobutanol. The primary alcohols and all of the acids, except formic acid, promoted the cell elongation and the total growth, but the meristematic activity was inhibited in the higher concentrations. The concentrations with maximal growth‐promoting activity were 10−2M to 10−3M for the alcohols and 10−4M for the acids. Propionic acid was applied in darkness, red light, and white light and proved to increase the cell length from 215 μ, 180 μ, and 120 μ up to 240 μ in all three treatments. The growth rate was not affected, but the duration of the cell elongation was extended. The presence of iron proved to be necessary for the stimulation. The chlorophyll content in the light grown roots was relatively unaffected when the cell length was increased and the dry weight was not increased as long the cell number was normal.The growth of Avena coleoptile segments was slightly promoted by propionic acid in the presence of IAA.
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