Mode of dinitroaniline herbicide action I. Analysis of the colchicine-like effects of dinitroaniline herbicides

Colchicine and a variety of dinitroaniline herbicides (DNHs)produce a similar pattern of inhibition of elongation, inductionof swelling in the elongation zone, depolarization of cell enlargement,and induction of multiple nuclei in corn seedling roots. However,a 1000-fold higher concentration of colchicine is needed toproduce effects quantitatively similar to those of oryzalin.Both colchicine- and DNH-inhibition of elongation start at about3 hr. Since these compounds cause swelling and inhibition ofelongation in -seedling roots, segments from the root elongationzone and intact roots in the presence of cell division inhibitors(all growing without cell division), it appears that the inhibitionof root elongation is caused in part by their effect on cellelongation independent of their effect on cell division. Sincethe growth (increase in fresh weight) of -seedling roots andexcised root segments is not inhibited by these compounds, theireffect on the polarity of cell enlargement must be fairly specific.Unlike colchicine, oryzalin applied to the roots did not causeany significant, visible effect on shoot (mesocotyl and coleoptile)growth. These organs are not resistant to oryzalin, for theIAA-induced elongation of coleoptile segments is inhibited whenthey are floated in oryzalin solutions. As expected, when coleoptilesegments are incubated in ¹⁴C-oryzalin, it is taken up rapidlyand not degraded. The failure of root-applied oryzalin to affectseedling shoot growth is due to lack of transport to the shoots. (Received June 14, 1977; )     

Effect of Metabolic Inhibitors on the Formation of Cell Walls in a Green Alga, Micrasterias crux-melitensis

The effects of cytochalasin B, N-ethylmaleimide (NEM), colchicine,vinblastine and cycloheximide on the formation of birefringentcell wall layers were studied. Birefringent layers accumulatedoutside the plasma membrane of daughter semicells when cellswere cultured in a 0.16 M mannitol solution without any inhibitors.In cells treated with 2 x 10^–5 M cytochalasin B, 3 x 10^–5M NEM, 10^–4 M vinblastine or 10^–5 M cycloheximidefor 24 hr, birefringent layers were not observed outside theplasma membrane, but were present in cells treated with 10^–2M colchicine. The possibility is discussed that substances necessaryfor wall synthesis could be transported from the cytoplasm tothe outside of the plasma membrane by a system associated withmicrofilaments, microtubules and myosin-like structures. (Received June 26, 1981; Accepted September 24, 1981)     

Involvement of cellulose synthesis in actions of gibberellin and kinetin on cell expansion. Gibberellin-coumarin and kinetin-coumarin interactions on stem elongation

In azuki bean (Azukia angularis = Vignia angularis) epicotylsections, 5 ? 10^–4 M coumarin inhibited the incorporationof radioactivity from [U^–14C]glucose into the cellulosefraction by 35% in the absence of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA)and by 40% in the presence of 1 ? 10^–4 M IAA. There wasno inhibitory effect on the incorporation of radioactivity intothe other fractions. Coumarin at 5 ? 10^–4 M reversed thepromoting effect of 1 ? 10^–5 M gibberellin A₃ (GA) andthe inhibitory effect of 1 ? 10^–5 M kinetin on IAA-inducedelongation of sections with no significant effects on IAA-inducedelongation. Neither GA nor kinetin had any appreciable effectson cellulose synthesis. No inhibition of cellulose syntheiswas observed with 1 ? 10^–3 M colchichine, which has beenreported to have effects similar to those of coumarin on GA-or kinetin-affected stem elongation. Coumarin at 5 ? 10^–4M was ineffectual in breaking up wall microtubules, while adisrupting effect on wall microtubules was clearly demonstratedwith 3 ? 10^–4M colchicine. From these results, the possible involvement of cellulose synthesisin cell expansion controlled by GA or kinetin was suggested. (Received August 3, 1973; )     

Microscopic and submicroscopic observation of the effects of coumarin and colchicine during elongation of pine seedlings

The effects of coumarin and colchicine were investigated ona microscopic and submicroscopic level. Both chemicals induced a high degree of cell swelling of intactpine seedlings in the concentration of 10^–3 M–7x 10^–3 M coumarin and 6 x 10^–3 M–10^–2M colchicine. In seedlings radially enlarged due to coumarintreatment, primary phloem regions were characterized by cellcrushing. Furthermore, protrusion of many large or small vesicleswere found closely attached to the plasmalemma of parenchymacells. The relationship of the latter evidence with the possibilityof breakdown of the cell wall is discussed. Colchicine induced abnormal spiral thickenings, and the depositionof cell wall materials was somewhat disturbed when seedlingswere treated with this chemical for a longer period (more than10 days). Based on this evidence, it was suggested that colchicinedid not completely destroy the organized pattern of spiral wallthickening. (Received September 16, 1975; )     

Effect of Xyloglucan Nonasaccharide on Cell Elongation Induced by 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic Acid and Indole-3-acetic Acid

Xyloglucan nonasaccharide (XG9) is recognized as an inhibitorof 2,4-D-induced long-term growth of segments of pea stems.In the presence of 10^–5 M 2,4-D, inhibition by 10^–9M XG9 of elongation of third internode segments of pea seedlingswas detected within 2 h after the start of incubation, in someexperiments. Analysis by double-reciprocal (Lineweaver-Burk)plots of elongation in the presence of various concentrationsof 2,4-D, with or without XG9, gave parallel lines, indicatingthat XG9 inhibited 2,4-D-induced elongation in an uncompetitivemanner. XG9 did not influence the 2,4-D-induced cell wall loosening.Thus, XG9 does not fulfill the proposed definition of an "antiauxin". XG9 at 10^–11 to 10^–6 M did not influence IAA-inducedelongation of segments from pea third internodes, azuki beanepicotyls, cucumber hypocotyls, or oat coleoptiles. Inhibitionof IAA-induced elongation by XG9 was not observed even whenthe segments from pea or azuki bean were abraded. Furthermore,fucosyl-lactose at 10^–11 to 10^–4 M did not affectthe IAA-induced elongation of segments of pea internodes orof azuki bean epicotyls. XG9 may be incapable of inhibitingthe IAA-induced cell elongation (especially in oat) or, alternatively,the endogenous levels of XG9 may be so high that exogenouslyapplied XG9 has no inhibitory effect on IAA-induced elongation. (Received February 28, 1991; Accepted May 25, 1991)     

Morphological and physiological characterization of IAA-less-sensitive and IAA-sensitive phases in rooting of Azukia cuttings

In disbudded epicotyl cuttings taken from light grown 5-dayold Azukia angularis Phaseolus angularis) seedlings, all adventitiousrootlets appeared on the second day of incubation. No root primordiawere observed within the first 24 hr and no increase in thenumber of roots occurred after 48 hr. Puromycin (5.5?10^–5M), p-fluorophenylalanine (1?10^–3M),2-thiouracil (2.3?10^–4M) and 2,6-diaminopurine (2?10^–5M)inhibited rooting when applied to cuttings on the second day,but showed no inhibition when applied on the first day. Unlike these inhibitors, pyrithiamine (7.2?10^–5M) inhibitedrooting when it was applied to cuttings on the first day. A rooting promoting effect was observed with actinomycin D (2.4?10^–6M),2,4-dinitrophenol (3?10^–5M) and p-fluorophenylalanine(1?10^–4M) applied to the cuttings on the first day, whereasindoleacetic acid (1.7?10^–4M) showed its promoting effectmost effectively on the second day. ¹Contribution No. 17 from the Botanical Gardens, Faculty ofScience, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan. (Received June 4, 1969; )     

Auxin-gibberellin relationships in. their effects on hypocotyl elongation of light-grown cucumber seedlings IV. Inhibition of IAA-induced elongation by N,N'-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide and its reversal by gibberellin A3

IAA-induced elongation and control growth of light-grown cucumberhypocotyl sections were markedly inhibited by DCCD, an inhibitorof membrane-bound ATPases. The concentration effective for inducingmarked inhibition was more than 10^–5 M. At 10^–5M DCCD, there was an apparent antagonism between IAA and DCCD.At 5 x 10^–5 M DCCD, the inhibition was partially recoveredby 10^–4 M of IAA. The results might indicate a close associationof the auxin action with membrane-bound ATPases. The DCCD inhibitionwas so strong that treatment with 10^–4 M DCCD for about5 min significantly suppressed further growth and longer incubationkilled the sections. In contrast, DCCD had not inhibitory effecton both control growth and IAA-induced elongation if GA₃ waspresent simultaneously. DCCD treatment followed by GA₃ treatmentstill resulted in the inhibition, suggesting that the inhibitionwas not reversible. In order to obtain reversal of DCCD inhibitionby GA₃ both compounds must be present at the same time. TheGA₃ effect is discussed in connection with the mechanism ofDCCD action on membrane-bound ATPases. (Received October 6, 1975; )     

Studies on CN--insensitive respiration in plant roots III. Induction of CN--insensitive respiration with low concentrations of respiratory inhibitors

Induction of CN^–-insensitive respiration with low concentrationsof respiratory inhibitors was studied. If roots were treatedwith 10^–3 M CN^– for 96 hr, the plants died, whilethose treated with 10^–4 M CN^– showed healthy growth. O₂ uptake in untreated rice and wheat roots showed a negativeresponse to 10^–2 M CN^– to a considerable extent.On the other hand, pretreatment with 10^–4 M CN^–for more than 6 hr did not greatly affect respiratory rate,but made respiration insensitive to 10^–2 M CN^–.A similar induction of CN^–-insensitivity was also broughtabout with 10^–4 and 10^–3 M H₂S and 10^–4 MNaN₃. (Received July 6, 1971; )     

Critical study of coleoptile elongation controlled by IAA and ABA I. Growth kinetics and distribution

The elongation rate of wheat coleoptiles, treated with IAA andABA, was already affected during the first 8 hr of culture.The most sensitive zone of the material—for hormonal treatments—wasfirst localized and then comparatively cultured both in situand in vitro. Growth stimulation by IAA was nearly proportionalto its concentration up to 10^–4 M, while ABA always inducedan significant inhibition. (Received January 31, 1977; )     

Induction of DNA synthesis and callus formation from tuber tissue of Jerusalem artichoke by 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid

Cellus induction was observed from Jerusalem artichoke tubertissue on a synthetic medium containing 2,4-D at 10^–6,10^–5 (optimum conc.) and 10^–4 M. The first DNA synthesis(thymidine incorporation) was observed only at 2,4-D concentrationsof 10^–5 to 10^–4M. In 10^–5 M 2,4-D treatedtissue, DNA synthesis increased after a 20 hr lag and reacheda maximum at 36 hr, after which it decreased. Actinomycin Dand 8-aza-guanine; inhibitors of RNA synthesis, inhibited DNAsynthesis completely. 2,4-D caused the characteristic changesin RNA and protein syntheses. In comparison with the control,RNA and protein syntheses were first repressed then inducedbefore the peak of DNA synthesis. Treatment with cycloheximide(10^–4M) for one hour before inoculation inhibited proteinsynthesis completely for 12 hr; consequently DNA synthesis wasalso delayed. The results suggest that RNA and protein synthesesneeded for callus induction are regulated by 2,4-D in the firstDNA synthesis. (Received July 19, 1973; )     

Auxin-gibberellin relationships in their effects on hypocotyl elongation of light-grown cucumber seedlings VI. Promotive and inhibitory effects of kinetin

The interaction of kinetin with IAA and GA₃ on the elongationof hypocotyl sections of Cucumis sativus L. cv. National Picklingwas studied. Kinetin in the concentration range of 10^–7M to 10^–4 M markedly inhibited IAA-induced elongation,while in a lower range from 10^–10 M to 10^–8 M, itsynergistically enhanced IAA-induced elongation. Kinetin alonein this range had no effect. A 5-to 15-min pulse treatment seemsenough to induce the maximum effect for both inhibition andpromotion. Since the magnitude of the maximum inhibition dependedon the concentration and not on the duration of treatment, thereaction in the cell caused by kinetin seemed to be completedwithin a short period. Washing of the sections with distilledwater after kinetin treatment (30 min) did not significantlyeliminate the kinetin effect. This probably indicates that thebinding of kinetin molecules to a supposed acceptor is not reversible.Interaction of kinetin with GA₃ in their pretreatment effectson IAA-induced elongation shows that in the inhibitory concentrationrange, the kinetin effect was partly overcome by GA₃, and thatin the promotive range, the magnitude of the enhancement wasdetermined by kinetin regardless of the presence of GA₃. Theeffect of kinetin seems to dominate over that of GA₃ indicatingthat the modes of their pretreatment effects differ from oneanother. (Received June 24, 1977; )     

MORPHOGENESIS IN SPIEODELA OLIGORRHIZA: EFFECTS OF PYRIMIDINE BASE ANALOGUES ON INITIATION, ELONGATION AND DIFFERENTIATION OF FRONDS

The effect of four pyrimidine base analogues and their antidoteson S. oligorrhiza was studied. FUdR stopped cell division at concentrations of 4 10^–7M and higher. This effect could be nullified by the additionof 4 10^–6 M thymidine. Neither uridine nor uracil hadan antidotal effect on FUdR. FU (8 10^–6 M or higher concentration) affected celldivision, frond elongation and differentiation, and could notbe counteracted by either thymidine or uracil. TU (8 10^–4 M) rather specifically inhibited differentiationof frond tissues, while not preventing cell division or theinitiation of new generations. Uracil and uridine at about equimolarconcentrations completely counteracted the TU effect. AzU (10^–3 M) suppressed cell division, frond elongationand frond differentiation. When thymidine (10^–3 M) wasadded simultaneously with AzU only cell elongation and differentiationof fronds were inhibited, but cell division proceeded. 10^–3M uracil (but not uridine) counteracted all effects of AzU. ¹ Based on a portion of the senior author's Ph.D. Thesis.     

Abscisic Acid and Apical Dominance in Phaseolus coccineus L. The Role of Tissue Age

Abscisic acid (ABA) applied to the decapitated second internodeof runner bean plants enhanced outgrowth of lateral buds onlywhen internode stumps were no longer elongating. Applied toelongating internodes of slightly younger plants, ABA causesinhibition of bud outgrowth. Together with 10^–4 M indol-3-ylacetic acid (IAA), ABA stimulated internode elongation and interactedadditively in the inhibition of bud outgrowth. A mixture of10^–5 M ABA and 10^–6 M gibberellic acid (GA₃ ) causedsimilar effects on internode growth as IAA + ABA, but was mutuallyantagonistic in effect on growth of the lateral buds. Abscisic acid, apical dominance, gibberellic acid, indol-3yl acetic acid, Phaseolus coccineus, bean     

Effect of cycloheximide and cordycepin on auxin-induced elongation and {beta}-glucan degradation of noncellulosic polysaccharides of Avena coleoptile cell wall

The effect of cycloheximide (10^–5 M) and cordycepin (10^–4M) used as protein and RNA synthesis inhibitors, respectively,on auxin action in noncellulosic ß-glucan degradationof Avena coleoptile cell wall was investigated. Both depressedauxin-induced ßglucan degradation of the cell wallas well as auxin-induced elongation and cell wall loosening,suggesting that the process of ß-glucan degradationof the cell wall is closely associated with cell wall looseningand that auxin enhances the activity of an enzyme for ß-glucandegradation through de novo synthesis of RNA and protein butnot through activation of the enzyme in situ. Kinetic studywith the inhibitors showed that RNA metabolism involved in ß-glucandegradation was stimulated by auxin treatment of only 15 minwhile a longer lag phase (about 1 hr) existed for the synthesisof the enzyme. (Received December 16, 1978; )     

Comparison of the Disruption of Mitosis and Cell Plate Formation in Oat Roots by DCPA, Colchicine and Propham

Holmsen, J. D. and Hess, F. D. 1985. Comparison of the disruptionof mitosis and cell plate formation in oat roots by DCPA, colchicineand propham.—J. exp. Bot. 36: 1504–1513. Concentrationsof DCPA, propham and colchicine were selected to cause from0% to greater than 60% inhibition of oat (Avena sativa L. ‘Victory’)root growth after 24 h exposure. Root growth progressively declinedas concentrations were raised from 1·0 to 5·6mmol m^–3 DCPA, 1·0–5·0 mmol m^–3propham, and 50–500 mmol m^–3 colchicine. In additionto inhibiting root growth each mitotic disrupter caused theroot tips to swell to an extent dependent upon concentration.All three compounds effectively disrupted mitosis at concentrationsthat caused less than maximal root growth inhibition. Mitoticdisruption was manifest as a reduction in the number of normalmitotic figures and an increase in the number of condensed prophase,multipolar and anaphase bridge division figures. The frequencyof each type of division figure was different for each of thethree compounds. DCPA disrupted mitosis more effectively whencompared with propham and colchicine at concentrations whichcaused the same amount of root growth inhibition. Each mitoticdisrupter also induced the formation of aberrant cell walls.DCPA was the most effective at disrupting cell plate formation,whereas colchicine was least effective. These data suggest thatthe mechanism of action of DCPA is distinct from the mechanismof colchicine or propham Key words: Avena sativa L., mitotic disruption, DCPA, colchicine, propham     

Biochemical studies on biogenesis of mitochondria in wounded sweet potato root tissue I. Time course analysis of increase in mitochondrial enzymes

Cytochrome oxidase and succinate dehydrogenase activities increasedduring aging of sliced tissue for sweet potato root after respectivelag phases of about 8 and 10 hr. The increase in the formerwas stepwise. On the other hand, malate dehydrogenase activityincreased slowly without a lag phase. Spectrophotometric determinationof heme contents in mitochondria indicated that the hemes increasedafter a lag phase for at least 8 hr during aging Treatment of tissue slices with cycloheximide at a concentrationof 10^–6 M prior to aging resulted in an extension of thelag phase in the increase of cytochrome oxidaseactivity andin complete inhibition of the increase of malate dehydrogenaseactivity. The antibiotic, at a concentration of 10^–5 M,completely suppressed the increases. Chloramphenicol (6 ? 10^–3M) also blocked the increases, except for that in malate dehydrogenaseactivity at an early stage of aging (Received December 22, 1970; )     

PROMOTION OF ADVENTITIOUS ROOT FORMATION BY HELIANGINE AND ITS REMOVAL BY CYSTEINE

1. Heliangine at 10^–4M promoted the adventitious root formationin hypocotyls of cuttings taken from light-grown (1,900 lux)seedlings of Phaseolus mungo. The promotion was almost completelyreduced by simultaneously supplied 310^–4M cysteine or1.510^–4M cystine, but not suppressed by 310^–4Mof reduced glutathione, alanine or serine.
2. A 4 hr pretreatmentwith 310^–4M cysteine made Phaseoluscuttings less sensitiveto heliangine, but cysteine suppliedafter the treatment withheliangine brought about no effecton the action of heliangine.
3. Cysteine also removed the inhibiting effect of heliangineonthe indoleacetic acid-induced elongation of etiolated Avenacoleoptile sections.
4. In an aqueous solution heliangine formedan addition productwith cysteine, indicating that cysteinecan inactivate helianginewithout any biological processes.
5. On Phaseolus adventitious rooting, no effect was observedofp-chloromercuribenzoic acid, N-ethylmaleimide, 1,4-naphthoquinone,coumarin or penicillin. Reactivity toward sulfhydryl groupsalone does not qualify a substance to be a promotor of rootformation.
6. Maleic hydrazide at 10^–4M promoted root formation,butits effect was not removed by cysteine.

¹ Contribution No. 13 from the Botanical Gardens, Faculty ofScience, University of Tokyo, Koishikawa, Tokyo.     

The NADP$-specific isocitrate dehydrogenase of Rhodospirillum rubrum

The NADP^$-specific isocitrate dehydrogenase was partially purifiedfrom photosynthetically-grown Rhodospirillum rubrum. The pHoptimum is between 7.5 and 9.0 in phosphate buffer. The apparentKm is 3.1x10^–5 M for isocitrate, 5.1x10^–5 M forNADP^$, 1.7x10^–5 M for manganese, 1.5x10^–4 M formagnesium, and 3.5x10^–3 M for inorganic orthophosphate.Arsenate exerts a slight inhibition. The Q₁₀ between 17.5°Cand 40°C is 1.62, and the energy of activation at 25°Cis 9.74 Kcal/mole. Glyoxylate and oxalacetate cause concertedinhibition of the enzyme activity. Various nucleotides inhibitthe activity. The kinetics of inhibition by ATP was found tobe mixed type with respect to NADP^$ and isocitrate, the K_i valuesbeing 1.17x10^–3 M and 1.10x10^–3 M respectively.The inhibition between ATP and orthophosphate is competitivewith a K_i of 10^–4M. Thiol binding reagents are inhibitory;this inhibition is reversed by cysteine or reduced glutathione. (Received October 1, 1971; )     

Mineral nutrition and auxin-induced growth of Triticum coleoptile sections

A revised method has been described for assaying auxin by thegrowth of Triticum coleoptile sections. With additions of Ca(NO₃)₂10^–4 and MgSO₄ 10^–5 mol liter^–1 the sensitivityand accuracy have been increased. This is mainly due to Ca.The coleoptiles obviously suffer from Ca-deficiency. The importanceof a strict time schedule for manipulations is emphasiced. Theduration of the tests is limited to 6 hr.Indole-3-acetic acidcan be determined in concentrations down to 10^–9mol liter^–1;from 10^–10 to 10^–9mol liter^–1 the log-logrelation between concentration and growth is linear. Above 10^–7mol liter^–1 elongation takes place under an abnormal increasein elastic extension, indicating that growth is limited by someunknown wallstabilizing factor. The interrelation between auxin,an anti-auxin and Ca are discussed. (Received May 8, 1973; )     

The Effect of Aluminium and some other Trivalent Metal Cations on Cell Division in the Root Apices of Allium cepa

The morphological abnormalities of root systems treated withaluminium salts are such that they may be explained by an inhibitoryeffect of aluminium on either cell division or cell extension.Elongation of onion roots was completely inhibited after 6–8hours' treatment with 10^–3and 10^–4M aluminium sulphatesolutions. Examination of aceto-carmine squashes of root apicesshowed that the cessation of root elongation was closely correlatedwith the disappearance of mitotic figures. The time taken forcomplete inhibition of cell division and root elongation wasdependent on the ambient temperature. Abnormalities of the mitoticapparatus were not seen. Treatment of onion roots with othertrivalent metals, gallium, indium, and lanthanum, produced similarresults. It is concluded that some mechanism associated with cell divisionis highly sensitive to aluminium and is permanently damagedby short exposures. The results are not satisfactorily explainedby the well-known effect of aluminium on phosphorus uptake.