Studies of the Growth in Culture of Excised Wheat Roots

Aeration of root culture medium with air containing 5 % or 10 % CO₂ enhances growth, particularly lateral initiation and growth, compared with aeration wilh air or CO₂-free air. This beneficial effect of enhanced CO₂ pressure on the growth of cultured roots of Atson Elite 56 wheat ean also be demonstrated in presence of a high (40 %) and inhibiting level of oxygen. ¹⁴C labelling from a carbonate–bicarbonate solution of pH 7.0 by cultured wheat roots is enhanced by light and this labelling is not inhibited by the presence of 1 % ethyl urethane.