Light differentially regulates lateral and longitudinal auxin transport in the mesocotyl of etiolated maize seedlings

The uptake of IAA into excised mesocotyls of non-irradiated maize seedlings was linear up to a concentration of about 4×M and in this range there was a tight coupling between the IAA in the stele and the cortex. Prior irradiation with white light of intact seedlings unbalanced this coupling. Lateral and longitudinal transport were affected differently. In the stele, the effect of prior irradiation on longitudinal transport was multiphasic, with an initial stimulatory effect followed by a negative effect at longer prior irradiation times. The lateral transport from the stele to the cortex showed no stimulatory effect and appeared to be inhibited within at least 15 min. The effect of the prior irradiation on longitudinal transport in the stele appeared to be a high intensity effect. In contrast, the effect of the prior irradiation on the lateral transport from the stele to the cortex was saturated at much lower intensities. The data suggest that the light induced change in the lateral transport of IAA between the two tissues may be due to changes either in the number of open lateral transport channels/carriers or in the conductivity of these channels/carriers.