Influence of Ethylene and Kinetin on Tuberization and Enzyme Activity in Solanum tuberosum L.: Stolons Cultured in vitro

The response of potato stolons, cultured in vitro, to ethylenewas investigated utilizing 2-chloroethyl-phosphonic acid asthe source of ethylene. Concentrations of 0.067, 0.67, 6.7,and 67 µm did not promote tuber formation which occurredin the presence of 16 µm kinetin. In the presence of 2-chloroethyl-phosphonicacid stolon branching was promoted and they maintained a diageotropicgrowth habit in contrast to the negatively geotropic growthhabit of kinetin-treated cultures. The amount of soluble sugars accumulating at the stolon tipwas similar in the presence of kinetin and 2-chloroethylphosphonicacid. However, the level decreased in kinetin-treated stolonsas starch synthesis increased whereas a high specific activitywas maintained in the presence of 2-chloroethylphosphonic acidwhere no starch synthesis occurred. Higher levels of sucroseoccurred in kinetin-treated cultures. Both 2-chloroethylphosphonic acid and kinetin decreased invertaseactivity at the stolon tip. Peroxidase activity increased withtime in response to 2-chloroethylphosphonic acid whereas activityincreased appreciably in kinetin-treated stolons only afterday 5. Generally higher levels of 3'nucleotidase activity existedin 2-chloroethylphosphonic acid-treated stolons. RNase activitydecreased in kinetin treated stolons while activity increasedin the presence of 2-chloroethylphosphonic acid. It is suggestedthat ethylene may influence stolon growth but may not be directlyinvolved in tuber initiation.     

Effect of abscisic acid on elongation and kinetin-induced tuberization of isolated stolons of Solarium tuberosum L.

The response of isolated stolons cultured in vitro, to abscisicacid (ABA) has been studied in the presence and absence of kinetin(6-furfurylaminopurine). ABA alone in concentrations from 7.5x 10^–4 mM to 7.5 x 10^–2 mM, inhibited stolon elongationbut failed to promote tuber initiation. In the presence of kinetin,ABA at concentrations of 3.0 x 10^–2 and 7.5 x 10^–2mM markedly inhibited kinetin-induced tuber initiation and stolonelongation, but at 7.5 x 10^–4 and 7.5 x 10^–3 mMABA did not prevent tuber initiation. When stolons were incubated on a medium containing kinetin andlater transferred to one containing ABA with or without kinetin,the inhibitory effect of ABA decreased appreciably as the timeof incubation on kinetin is increased. The results are discussed in relation to the role of ABA inthe inhibition of nucleic acid and protein synthesis and theinteraction with cytokinins and the possible effect of ABA onkinetin uptake, transport and accumulation at the locus of action. (Received February 26, 1969; )     

Changes in the Content of Starch and Activities of some Enzymes of Carbohydrate Metabolism in Cotyledons of Germinating Seeds of Voandzeia subterranea

During the germination of the seeds of Voandzeia subterraneaL. Thouars, the content of starch in the cotyledons fell progressively.There was a substantial increase in amylase activity duringthe first 4 d. The activity of starch phosphorylase increasedafter 6 d when there was a rapid decline in amylase activity.The activities of hexokinase, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase,and 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase increased, suggesting thepresence of an active phosphogluconate pathway in the cotyledons.     

Allocation of Photosynthate to Individual Tubers of Solanum tuberosum L.: III. RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN GROWTH RATE OF INDIVIDUAL TUBERS, TUBER WEIGHT AND STOLON GROWTH PRIOR TO TUBER INITIATION

Potato plants (Solanum tuberosum L.) were grown in water culture.About 14 d after tuber initiation no significant differenceswere found between apical and basal tuber parts in ¹⁴C-uptakeand partitioning into various fractions from ¹⁴C-labelled photosynthate.Thus, the fresh weight of these tubers could be used as a parameterfor the sink size. The ¹⁴C-content per tuber (sink strength)20 h after ¹⁴CO₂-supply to the foliage was significantly correlatedwith the tuber fresh weight. No correlation was found betweenthe ¹⁴C-concentration of the tuber (sink activity; ct. min^–g^– fr. wt.) and tuber fresh weight. Consequently, tuberfresh weight (sink size) per se must have been a factor whichinfluenced sink strength. Stolon parameters characterizing theirgrowth prior to tuber initiation (e.g. stolon volume) and theircapacity for photosynthate transport (diameter, length) weremeasured at the time of tuber initiation. Significant correlationswere found between these stolon parameters and subsequent growthof individual tubers. Anatomical studies on the proportion ofvarious tissues in the cross sectional area of stolons supportthe idea of a negative relation between growth of individualtubers and transport resistance in the phloem of the stolons.It is concluded that in the initial phase of tuber growth, mainlyfactors outside of the tuber determine its growth rate. In laterstages of tuber growth, when the sink strength increases, thecompeting strength of individual tubers for photosynthate isdominated mainly by factors within the tuber itself, such astheir sink size and sink activity. Key words: Potato tuber, sink size, tuber initiation, transport resistance     

Control of Pyrophosphated-Fructose-6-Phosphate 1-Phosphotransferase Activity in the Cotyledons of Citrullus lanatus

After initiation of radicle elongation, the pyrophosphate:d-fructose-6-phosphate 1-phosphotransferase (PFP) activity sharply increases in the cotyledons of Citrullus lanatus. Removal of the radicle early during incubation prevents the increase in PFP activity in the cotyledons evident in the control. Removal of the radicle at any stage after germination results in a decrease in PFP activity in the cotyledons. Application of kinetin (0.5 micromolar) or 2-chlorophosphonic acid (0.1 micromolar) to isolated cotyledons replaces the effect of the radicle. Gibberellic acid (0.09 micromolar GA₃) also partially mimics the presence of the radicle. Anaerobic conditions, as well as cycloheximide application (0.18 micromolar) to intact embryos or to kinetin and ethrel treated isolated cotyledons prevent the increase in PFP activity evident in the control.     

Kinetin-induced tuberization of potato in vitro: on the mode of action of kinetin.

The tuberization percentage of etiolated potato (Solatium luberosumL.) sprout sections cultured in vitro in the absence of kinetinwas 61% (endogenous tuberization potential). The presence of5 mg/liter kinetin in the medium increased tuberization to 94%. In a time course experiment soluble ADP glucose: -l,4-glucan-4-glucosyl transferase (starch synthetase) activity extractedfrom etiolated sprout sections cultured in vitro remained low(one twenty-fifth of the activity present in the mother tubersat time 0), and was almost constant throughout 21 days of culture.No difference in activity was found in sections grown in kinetin-containingmedium in comparison with those grown in the absence of kinetin. During tuber initiation of etiolated potato stolons culturedin vitro, kinetin caused stimulation of phosphorylase activitywhich continued until the late stages of tuberization when italso stimulated ADP glucose pyrophosphorylase activity. Kinetindid not affect amylase activity. Addition of 11 mg/liter kinetinto the enzyme reaction mixture did not change the activity ofsolublestarch synthetase in vitro. The net accumulation of starch caused by kinetin was partiallythe result of the stimulation of starch biosynthesis throughphosphorylase at an early stage, and both phosphorylase andpyrophosphorylase at a later stage. ¹ Present address: Department of Horticulture, Washington StateUniversity, Pullman, WA 99163, USA. (Received January 6, 1976; )     

Alleviation of Seed Dormancy in the Desert ForbZygophyllum simplexL. from Pakistan

Zygophyllum simplexL. is a succulent annual that grows on thecoastal and inland saline flats around Karachi, Pakistan. Theseeds are moderately salt tolerant during germination. GerminationofZygophyllum simplexseeds under various salinity, proline,betaine, GA and kinetin treatments was determined. Proline (0.1and 1 mM) and betaine (0.1 and 1 mM) alleviated the innate dormancyof seeds, and germination reached 60–70% compared to 12%in the control set. At low salinity compatible osmotica alleviatedsome effects of salinity, but at higher NaCl concentrationsboth proline and betaine were ineffective. Gibberellic acid(0.3 and 3 mM) and kinetin (0.05 and 0.5 mM) substantially alleviatedboth innate as well as salinity-induced seed dormancy. At highersalinity (125 mM), low concentrations of kinetin (0.05 mM) andhigh concentrations of GA (3 mM) were more effective. GA completelyalleviated the effect of salinity at all concentrations used. Betaine; desert; dormancy; forb; GA; germination; halophyte; kinetin; proline; seeds; Zygophyllum simplex     

The Role of Gibberellin, Abscisic Acid, and Sucrose in the Regulation of Potato Tuber Formation in Vitro

The effects of plant hormones and sucrose (Suc) on potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) tuberization were studied using in vitro cultured single-node cuttings. Tuber-inducing (high Suc) and -noninducing (low Suc or high Suc plus gibberellin [GA]) media were tested. Tuberization frequencies, tuber widths, and stolon lengths were measured during successive stages of development. Endogenous GAs and abscisic acid (ABA) were identified and quantified by high-performance liquid chromatography and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Exogenous GA_4/7 promoted stolon elongation and inhibited tuber formation, whereas exogenous ABA stimulated tuberization and reduced stolon length. Indoleacetic acid-containing media severely inhibited elongation of stolons and smaller sessile tubers were formed. Exogenous cytokinins did not affect stolon elongation and tuber formation. Endogenous GA₁ level was high during stolon elongation and decreased when stolon tips started to swell under inducing conditions, whereas it remained high under noninducing conditions. GA₁ levels were negatively correlated with Suc concentration in the medium. We conclude that GA₁ is likely to be the active GA during tuber formation. Endogenous ABA levels decreased during stolon and tuber development, and ABA levels were similar under inducing and noninducing conditions. Our results indicate that GA is a dominant regulator in tuber formation: ABA stimulates tuberization by counteracting GA, and Suc regulates tuber formation by influencing GA levels.     

The Effect of Growth Hormones on Cell Division and Expansion in Liquid Suspension Cultures of Acer pseudoplatanus

The effects on cell division and cell size of indole-3-aceticacid (IAA), gibberellic acid (GA), and kinetin were studiedin liquid suspension cultures of cambial cells derived fromAcer pseudoplatanus. It was shown that all three hormones promotecell division and that the effects of both GA and kinetin areadditive to those of IAA, but the effects of GA and kinetintogether are not additive. Treatment with IAA resulted in anincrease of mean cell size (indicating that cell expansion ispromoted), but after GA or kinetin treatment the mean cell sizewas smaller, indicating that little cell expansion had takenplace after each division. The results are discussed in relationto previous work on the effects of hormones in the intact cambiumand to current theories on the interactions of growth hormones.     

Paclobutrazol enhances minituber production in Norland potatoes

The effect of two plant growth regulators, paclobutrazol and kinetin, on minituber yield in greenhouse-grown Norland potatoes was investigated. Plants were treated with paclobutrazol at 450 mg/L, kinetin at 10 mg/L, or a combination of paclobutrazol at 450 mg/L + kinetin at 10 mg/L as single foliar applications at early stolon initiation. A set of plants sprayed with water served as the control. The experiment was conducted twice. In both cases, paclobutrazol nearly doubled the number of usable tubers/plant without affecting total tuber yield. Kinetin had no effect either on tuber number or tuber weight. Kinetin applied as a combination with paclobutrazol decreased the effectiveness of paclobutrazol on tuber number by 13–20%. Paclobutrazol treatments prolonged tuber dormancy by approximately 3 weeks. The results suggest that paclobutrazol treatment would be effective in enhancing potato minituber production under greenhouse conditions.Abbreviations PTZ paclobutrazol - KIN kinetin     

Effects of N-1-naphthylphthalamic acid on the growth and bud formation of tobacco callus grown in vitro

The effect of N-1 -naphthylphthalamic acid (NPA), indole-3-aceticacid (IAA) and kinetin on callus growth and bud formation wasstudied mainly by a tobacco callus culture method. Callus producedfrom Nicotiana tabacum var. Wisconsin 38 was used as the testplant material. Callus growth on nutrient agar containing 2mg/liter of IAA was promoted by NPA added at a concentrationof 0.5 mg/liter with 0.4 mg/liter of kinetin or by NPA addedat 5 mg/liter in the absence of kinetin. At a high concentrationof 50 mg/liter, however, NPA inhibited growth on the mediumcontaining 2 mg/liter IAA and no kinetin. Kinetin reduced thisNPA inhibition. In the presence of 0.4 mg/liter kinetin and2 mg/liter IAA, when the concentration of NPA was 50 mg/liter,buds were initiated after calluses were grown on the test mediumfor 7 weeks in dim light, but no buds formed when NPA was omittedfrom the above medium. The control of callus growth and bud initiation is based onthe active ratio of auxin (IAA) to cytokinin (kinetin) in themedium and NPA added to the medium can promote or inhibit callusgrowth and induce bud formation. Therefore, it is proposed thatNPA can itself reduce auxin activity or enhance cytokinin activityand hence change the active ratio of the two regulators. NPAmay enhance the activity of cytokinin (here supplied as kinetin)but cannot substitute for it. ¹Present address: Department of Biology, Wisconsin State University,Oshkosh, Wisconsin 54901, U. S. A. (Received March 10, 1969; )     

A Quantitative Cytochemical Study of Glutamate and Glucose-6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase Activities during Chilling Injury in Tubers of Dioscorea rotundata Poir.

Onyia, G. O. C. and Gahan, P. B. 1985. A quantitative cytochemicalstudy of glutamate and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase activitiesduring chilling injury in tubers of Dioscorea rotundala Poir.—J.exp. Bot. 36: 1249–1256. The response of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and glutamatedehydrogenase activities in healthy Jamaican Dioscorea rotundalatubers and those chilled at 3 ?C for 1,2,3,4, and 7 d at 70%r.h. were assessed by quantitative cytochemical assays. Bothenzymes in chill-damaged tuber tissues showed a substantiallyhigher activity than did those of the healthy tubers. An early,sharp increase in the response of the NADP-tetrazolium reductasesystem of damaged tuber tissue was significantly higher (P =0.001) than that of healthy tubers or those chilled but ableto recover. This response may be used as an early marker ofchilling injury in the yam tuber. Key words: Dioscorea rotundata Poir, quantitative cytochemistry, yam tuber, glucose-6-phosphate, dehydrogenase, glutamate dehydrogenase, NADPitetrazolium reductase     

Gibberellin A3 reverses the effect of salt stress in chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) seedlings by enhancing amylase activity and mobilization of starch in cotyledons

The percentage germination of chickpea seeds (Cicer arietinum L.cv. PBG-1) gradually decreased with increasing concentration of NaCl in the growth medium and was completely inhibited with 200 mM NaCl. In the presence of 75 mM NaCl, only 51% of the seeds germinated. Gibberellic acid (GA3) and kinetin at 6 µM concentration induced the maximum increase in % germination and seedling growth under salt stress. However, IAA further inhibited both the germination and growth of stressed seedlings. The reduction in amylase activity in cotyledons of stressed seedlings was partially reversed with GA3 and kinetin whereas IAA did not show any positive effect. GA3 was more effective than kinetin in enhancing the reduced germination and seedling growth of chickpea seeds along with amylase activity in cotyledons under NaCl induced saline conditions. The reduced uptake of radiolabelled 14C sucrose by cotyledons and its reduced distribution in the shoots and roots of stressed seedlings was increased with addition of GA3 in the medium. Cotyledonary amylase was separated into amylase 1 and amylase 2 by sephadex G 150 column chromatography. The reduced activities of both amylase 1 and amylase 2 in cotyledons under salt stress was returned to near normal levels with GA3 and there was also an increase in starch utilization, resulting in its lower concentration in cotyledons of GA3-supplemented stressed cotyledons.     

Polyamines in Relation to Cell Division and Xylogenesis in Cultured Explants of Helianthus tuberosus: Lack of Evidence for Growth-Regulatory Action

Phillips, R., Press, M. C. and Eason, A. 1987. Polyamines inrelation to cell division and xylogenesis in cultured explantsof Helianthus tuberosus: lack of evidence for growth-regulatoryaction.—J. exp. Bot. 38: 164–172. The polyamines spermidine, diaminopropane, and cadaverine werefound to accumulate in cultured tuber explants of H. tuberosus(Jerusalem artichoke). Rapid increases in all amines occurredduring the initial 24 h corresponding to the period of activationand the onset of mitosis. Levels then declined during the followingphases of rapid cell proliferation and xylem differentiation.The type and distribution of polyamines was not markedly affectedby changes in medium or culture conditions, and the inhibitorMGBG did not alter cell division rates or polyamine contentmarkedly although xylem differentiation was substantially depressed.Exogenously supplied spermidine and putrescine did not substantiallyalter the cellular responses of explants cultured in the presenceof auxin. In the absence of supplied auxin, spermidine at 1?0mol m^–3 produced an increase in cell division, althoughthis was small in comparison with auxin-stimulated responses.The implications of these findings on the possibility that polyaminesact as growth regulators in plants is discussed. Key words: Polyamines, Jerusalem artichoke, cultured explants, cell division, xylem differentiation     

Photosynthetic Electron Transport in Plastids in Detached Cucumber Cotyledons Treated with 6-Benzylaminopurine and Potassium

Etiolated cotyledons of cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) were excisedand incubated for 16 days on agar in the absence or in the presenceof 6-benzylaminopurine (BA) (3 µM) or KCl (10 mM) undercontinuous light. Treatment with BA or KCl increased growthand greening of cotyledons, KCl being particularly active duringthe last few days of the incubation. The rate of photosynthetic electron transport reached a maximumafter 3 days, as did the chlorophyll content, and then it declinedby approximately 95%. An uncoupling from phosphorylation wasobserved in older cotyledons. BA and KCl increased the rateof electron flow per cotyledon, and KCl delayed the onset ofthe decline in this rate. PS I and PS II activities per chlorophyllunit were lower in BA-treated cotyledons, but KCl-treated cotyledonsbehaved like the controls. Fluorescence analysis indicated that the level of active chlorophyllsinvolved in the transfer of energy in PS II decreased between3 and 7 days under all conditions tested. In BA-treated cotyledons,the proportion of active chlorophylls was consistently lowerthan that in the control. Thus, it appears that, in the absenceof exogenous K⁺, cytokinin has only a low antisenescence effecton photosynthetic activity, and that K⁺ may enhance the photosyntheticelectron flow between plastoquinone and plastocyanin via thecytochrome b₆-f complex. (Received August 2, 1989; Accepted January 23, 1990)     

Allocation of Photosynthate to Individual Tubers of Solanum tuberosum L.: I. RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN TUBER GROWTH RATE AND ENZYME ACTIVITIES OF THE STARCH METABOLISM

Potato plants (Solanum tuberosum L.) were grown in water culturein a controlled environment. Cooling (+8°C) of individualtubers decreased their growth rates and increased the growthrates of non-cooled tubers of the same plant. The carbohydrateconcentration in non-cooled and cooled tubers did not differsignificantly, but ¹⁴C-import from labelled photosynthate waslower in cooled than in non-cooled tubers. The markedly lowerconversion rate of ethanol-soluble ¹⁴C to starch in cooled,in comparison to non-cooled tubers, was not associated withsignificant differences in the in vitro activities of starchsynthase, ADPG-pyrophosphorylase and starch phosphorylase understandard assay conditions (+30°C). However, the Q₁₀-valuesof the enzymes differed in vitro in the temperature range between30°C and 8°C, leading to a marked decrease in the activityratio of ADPG-pyrophosphorylase/starch phosphorylase in cooledtubers. In tubers differing in growth rates without manipulation, 14d after tuber initiation significant positive correlations werefound between ¹⁴C-concentration of tuber tissue and the in vitroactivities of starch synthase and ADPG-pyrophosphorylase anda significant negative correlation between ¹⁴C-concentrationand starch phosphorylase. In contrast, in tubers which wereanalysed 5 d after initiation, there were only small differencesbetween tubers in growth rate, ¹⁴C import and the activity ratioADPG-pyrophosphorylase/starch phosphorylase. From various directand indirect evidence it is concluded that the growth rate ofindividual tubers, and thus the sink strength, is at least inpart controlled by the activity of starch synthesizing enzymes. Key words: Potato tuber, cooling, starch synthesizing enzymes     

Changes in the microtubular cytoskeleton precede in vitro tuber formation in potato

Summary An in vitro system for tuber formation was used to study early morphological and cytological changes occurring during tuber formation in potatoes, with special emphasis on the orientation of the microtubular cytoskeleton, visualized immunocytochemically. Axillary buds from potato plants were cultured in the presence or absence of gibberellin (GA), resulting in either tuber formation (without GA) or shoot formation (GA added). Tuber formation in the absence of GA was highly synchronous in individual buds, enabling the dissection of various aspects of tuberization. Under both conditions, starch started to accumulate. In the absence of GA, starch levels rapidly increased, concomitantly with tuber formation, whereas it slightly decreased in the presence of GA. Up to 4 days, the cortical MTs in the cells were oriented perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the developing buds. Under tuber-inducing conditions this orientation changed into a longitudinal one at day 5. This change preceded a change in the direction of cell expansion. In the presence of GA no such reorientation was observed, cells continued to grow longitudinally, and a stoloniferous shoot was formed. The cytoskeletal changes preceded the visible swelling of the buds, observed after day 5, demonstrating that the reorientation of the microtubular cytoskeleton is one of the earliest steps observed so far in tuber formation in potatoes.Abbreviations GA gibberellin - MTs microtubules - PBS phosphate buffered saline - SD short-day     

The Effects of Kinetin and Gibberellin on the Germination of Dehusked Seeds of Indica and Japonica Rice (Oryza sativaL.) under Anaerobic and Aerobic Conditions

The effects of kinetin and gibberellin were examined under anaerobicconditions (0% oxygen) and aerobic conditions (20% oxygen) onthe germination of dehusked seeds of indica and japonica ricecultivars that had been harvested at different times duringthe formation of seeds. Surjamkhi was used as a representativeof deep dormant indica cultivars and Assam IV as a less dormantindica cultivar. Sasanishiki was used as the japonica rice cultivar.Both phytohormones were applied at a concentration of 10^-3Mwhichproved to have the greatest stimulatory effect in preliminarywork at concentrations of 10^-3–10^-5M. Under aerobic conditions,inhibition of germination by dehusking of Sasanishiki seedsthat had been harvested either 30 or 60 d after anthesis wasovercome by kinetin and all seeds germinated. Complete germinationinduced by kinetin under aerobic conditions was also achievedwith the dehusked seeds of the indica rice cultivar Assam IVthat had been harvested on two occasions and of Surjamkhi thathad been harvested 28 d after anthesis. In contrast, germinationof dehusked japonica seeds stimulated by anaerobiosis was inhibitedby kinetin. The stimulatory effects of gibberellin on the germinationof indica and japonica rice seeds were observed under aerobicand anaerobic conditions. Under anaerobic conditions, the responsesof dehusked indica and japonica rice seeds to kinetin and gibberellindiffered, being negative with kinetin and positive with gibberellin.Under aerobic conditions, the stimulatory effects of kinetinon germination of dehusked seeds were greater than those ofgibberellin. Thus, treatment with kinetin appears to be usefulfor breaking the considerable dormancy commonly observed inthe dehusked seeds of indica rice. Mechanisms are proposed toexplain the stimulatory effects of these phytohormones on thegermination of dehusked seeds of indica and japonica rice underaerobic and anaerobic conditions. Rice; Oryza sativaL.; seed germination; dehusking treatment; gibberellin; indica; japonica; kinetin; oxygen; dormancy; germination inhibition; seed formation     

Effect of Phytochrome and Kinetin on Nitrite Reductase Activity in Zea mays

Red light and kinetin (10 µm) increased nitrite reductase(NIR) activity by 85 and 47% respectively in excised leavesof etiolated Zea mays. The stimulatory effect of kinetin decayedslower than that of red light. Indoleacetic acid (10 µm)had no effect on NIR activity. In the presence of abscisic acid(10 µm), the kinetin stimulated increase in NIR activitywas totally nullified, however, the red light irradiated plantsretained 20–25% increase in NIR activity over the darkcontrol. If ABA was given 2 h after kinetin treatment or redlight irradiation, it totally blocked kinetin stimulation asnoticed earlier, but red light stimulation was inhibited byonly 11%. Kinetin-treated and the red light irradiated leavesshowed 20–25% increase in nitrate accumulation, whichwas totally nullified by ABA. The experiments presented suggestan independent mode of signal transduction by kinetin and phytochromein stimulating NIR activity. (Received December 2, 1986; Accepted February 7, 1987)     

Effects of Kinetin on Growth and Nucleic Acid Metabolism in Suspension Cultures of L. Cucumis melo

At 0.05 and 0.5 mg per 1 of kinetin growth of cucumber suspensioncultures were promoted and at a higher level (5.0 mg per 1)it was inhibited. Total nucleic acids and protein increasedduring the lag phase and declined during the phase of exponentialgrowth. The nucleotides increased before there was any appreciableincrease in the amount of supernatant ribonucleic acid. TheRNA, soluble protein and ribo-nuclease activity also rose duringthe early period of growth and subsequently fell. Higher amountsof nucleotides, RNA and soluble protein were present at growthpromoting kinetin concentrations, but these were in smalleramounts at supra-optimal kinetin levels. But the rate of declineduring the period of increase in dry weight was slower comparedto the rest. There was reduced activity of RNase, which alsofollowed RNA and soluble protein in the pattern of changes duringthe course of culture.