Abstract
Roots of tomato seedlings can be induced to coil by treatment with ethylene. The extent of coiling is dependent on the level of ethylene to which the seedlings are exposed and can be prevented by the incorporation of Ag ions into the growing medium. In contrast to all other tomato mutants examined, roots of the mutant diageotropica do not reorientate their growth in response to ethylene. The results of an agar penetration test indicate that roots of this mutant are agravitropic. The relationship between gravitropism and root coiling, and the origin of the ethylene modified growth pattern is discussed.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
Abeles FB (1973) Ethylene in Plant Biology. New York: Academic Press
Bangerth F (1974) Interaktionen von Auxin und Athylen bei der thigmotropen Benegung der Ranken von Cueumis sativus. Planta 117:329–338
Beyer EM Jr (1976) A potent inhibitor of ethylene action in plants. Pl Phys 58: 268–271
Beyer EM Jr (1976) Silver ion: A potent anti-ethylene agent in cucumber and tomato. Hortsci 11:195–6
Chadwick AV and Burg SP (1970) Regulation of root growth by auxin-ethylene interaction. Pl Phys 45:192–200
Jaffe MJ (1970) Physiological studies on pea tendrils. VII. Evaluation of a technique for the asymmetrical application of ethylene. Pl Physiol 146:631–633
Jaffe MJ (1972) Physiological studies on pea tendrils. VIII. The relationship of circumnutation to contact coiling. Physiol Pl 126:73–80
Jaffe MJ (1975) The role of auxin in the early events of the contact coiling of tendrils. Pl Sci Lett 5:217–225
Jaffe MJ and Galston AW (1966) Physiological studies on pea tendrils. 1. Growth and coiling Following mechanical stimulation. Pl Phys 41:1014–1025
Knight LI, Rose CR and Crocker W (1910) Effect of various gases and vapors upon etiolated seedlings of the sweet pea. Science 31:635–636
Konings H and Jackson MB (1974) Production of ethylene, and the promoting and inhibiting effects of applied ethylene on root elongation in various species. Letcombe Lab. Annual Report 23–24
Neljubov D (1901) Über die horizontale nutation der Stengel von Pisum sativum und einiger anderen Pflanzen. Bot Centralbl Beihefte 10:128–138
Reinhold L (1967) Induction of coiling in tendrils by auxin and carbon dioxide. Science 158:791–793
Smith KA and Robertson PD (1971) Effect of ethylene on root extension of cereals. Nature 234:148–149
Spurny M (1968) Effect of root tip amputation on spiral oscillations of the growing hypocotyl with radicle of the pea (Pisum sativum L.). Biologia Pl 10:98–111
Ward TM, Wright M, Roberts JA, Self R and Osborne DJ (1978) Analytical procedures for the assay and identification of ethylene. In: Hillman JR, ed. Isolation of Plant Growth Subs, pp 135–151. Cambridge University Press.
Young RE, Pratt HK and Biale B (1952) Manometric determination of low concentrations of ethylene, with particular reference to plant material. Anal Chem 24:537–555
Zimmerman PW and Hitchcock AE (1933) Initiation and stimulation of adventitious roots caused by unsaturated hydrocarbon gases. Contributions from Boyce Thompson Inst. 5:351–369
Zobel RW (1973) Some physiological characteristics of the ethylene-requiring tomato mutant diageotropica. Pl Phys 52:385–389
Zobel RW (1974) Control of morphogenesis in the ethylene-requiring mutant, diageotropica. Can J Bot 52:735–741
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Woods, S.L., Roberts, J.A. & Taylor, I.B. Ethylene-induced root coiling in tomato seedlings. Plant Growth Regul 2, 217–225 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00124770
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00124770