Photolytic Decarboxylation of Carboxyl-14C-labelled Indol-3yl-acetic Acid in Leaves of the Apple Tree

The nature and rate of degradation of carboxyl-¹⁴C-labelledindol-3y1-acetic acid (IAA-[l-¹⁴C]) were studied in apple leaves.The labelled auxin was applied to the cut surface of the growingshoot after the apical part had been removed. The respiratoryCO₂ absorbed by chromatographic paper as Na₂CO₃ then freed byphosphoric acid was quantitatively measured by an internal gascounter. It was found that the concentration of ¹⁴CO₂ evolvedby leaves was 77 times higher in daylight than in darkness.The ratio of ¹⁴CO₂/CO₂ obtained from respiration from the uppersurface of leaf blades was two and seven times higher than thatfrom the lower surface after 15 and 30 h of daylight, respectively.No such differences were noticed in darkness. Similarly, thetotal radioactivity of leaf tissues tripled in daylight, presumablybecause of photosynthetic incorporation of radioactive CO₂ evolvedduring decomposition of LAA. These facts demonstrate the photolyticcharacter of auxin decarboxylation in apple leaves. Prolongeddarkness seemed to provoke a large metabolite withdrawal fromleaves and, to some extent, to protect auxin against decarboxylation.     

Comparative Studies on Physiological and Morphological Features of Bearing and Non-Bearing Spurs of the Apple Tree II. The Effect of Fruiting and Growth Regulator Sprays on Respiration Mate of Leaves

The respiration rate was investigated in leaves of bearing and non-bearing spurs of biennially fruiting apple trees, Landsberger Reinette cultivar, with a Warburg apparatus. Trees in “off year” were sprayed with gibberellic acid (GA) and those in “on year” with succinic acid-2,2-dimethylhydra-zide (SADH) and naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA). Two-year results showed that the respiration rate of leaves of bearing spurs was 10 to 25 per cent higher than that of the non-bearing spur leaves. GA increased the respiration of leaves of non-bearing spurs about 25 per cent, on an average. SADH and NAA greatly decreased the respiration of bearing spur leaves; the latter about 30 per cent of that of the controls. At the same time SADH and NAA caused a marked reduction of growth in terminal shoots of trees in “on year” while GA increased the growth in “off year” trees about 50 per cent. The surface of the spur leaves was inversely correlated with the respiration rates. It is suggested that the low respiration rate of spur leaves may be a condition for flower bud formation.