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.     

Biological activity of phyllosinol, a phytotoxic compound isolated from a culture filtrate of Phyllosticta sp.

1. Phyllosinol is a phytotoxic metabolite of Phyllosticta sp. Thissubstance at 100 µg/ml produced dark grey necrotic lesionson the leaf of red clover. Sensitivities of various plant speciesto phyllosinol differed both quantitatively and qualitatively.
2. Phyllosinol reduced root growth in rice seedlings by 60% at10^–4 M, whereas stimulation of root elongation occurredat a concentration range from 10^–9 to 10^–5 M.
3. Phyllosinolat 2.5x10^–4M promoted adventitious root formationin epicotylsof Azukia cuttings by about 100%. Promotion waspartly reducedby simultaneous application of cysteine.
4. IAA-induced elongationof isolated Avena coleoptile sectionswas inhibited by phyllosinolat a concentration range from 10^–5to 10^–3M.
5. Sulfhydrylcompounds, i.e. cysteine and glutathione relievedinhibitioncaused by phyllosinol in IAA-induced elongation ofAvena coleoptilesections.
6. GA₃-induced elongation of wheat leaf sections wasslightly inhibitedby phyllosinol at 10^–4M.
7. Phyllosinolalso has antibiotic activity. Among the organismstested, Phycomycetesand Gram-negative bacteria appeared mostsusceptible to phyllosinol.

(Received April 21, 1970; )     

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; )     

CHANGES IN RESPONSE TO PURINE AND PYRIMIDINE DERIVATIVES OF CARROT ROOT CALLUS DURING SUCCESSIVE CULTURING

1. The growth of the carrot root callus which had been subculturedfor a long period (CCL) was promoted by the addition of 5l0^–8and 5l0^–7 M kinetin, whereas in the callus subculturedfor a short period (CCS) no growth promotion was observed atany concentrations of kinetin tested.
2. CCL showed an increasedgrowth in response to the applicationof kinetin, guanine, adenine,hypoxanthine, uracil, thymine,and cytosine in the presenceof fractions A and C of carrotroot extract, whereas no suchresponse was observed in CCS.CCL required fraction C to respondto uracil and probably purineand pyrimidine derivatives ingeneral.
3. The growth of CCL was promoted by kinetin, guanine,adenine,or hypoxanthine in the medium containing inositol andaminoacids mixture. In this case the growth-promoting actionof guanine,adenine, or hypoxanthine was nullified by kinetin.

(Received December 24, 1964; )     

Effects of indoleacetic, p-chlorophenoxyisobutyric and 2,4,6-trichlorophenoxyacetic acids on three phases of rooting in Azukia cuttings

In adventitious root formation of disbudded epicotyl cuttingstaken from light-grown, 5-day-old Azukia angularis seedlings,indoleacetic acid (IAA), 1 x 10^–4 M, applied during thefirst day showed no effect, but enhanced the effect of IAA,1 x 10^–4 M, applied during the second day. Treatment duringthe second day promoted rooting by about 70%, and a combinationof treatments for the first and second days promoted rootingsome 200%. p-Chlorophenoxyisobutyric acid (PCIB), 3 x 10^–4M, and2,4,6-trichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4,6-T), 2 x 10^–44M, applied the first day also enhanced the effect of IAA, 2x 10^–4 M, applied the second day. When applied the second day, PCIB, 2 x 10^–4M, increasedthe number of root primordia or clusters of small cells, butnot die number of protruded roots. Formation of the cell clusterwas inhibited by 2,4,6-T, 3 x 10^–4M, applied the secondday. Rooting processes in Azukia cuttings seem to include at leastthree phases: the first phase is induced not only by IAA butalso by PCIB or 2,4,6-T, the second phase is induced by IAAor PCIB and the diird phase depends specifically on IAA. (Received October 28, 1970; )     

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.     

THE DISTRIBUTION OF FORMYLTETRAHYDROFOLATE SYNTHETASE IN PLANTS, AND THE PURIFICATION AND PROPERTIES OF THE ENZYME FROM PEA SEEDLINGS

1. Formyltetrahydrofolate synthetase (E. C. 6. 3. 4. 3) was foundto be widely distributed in higher plants and the high enzymeactivity was observed in green leaves of Brassica and Alliumspecies, spinach, and in pea seedlings. In pea seedlings, theenzyme activity changed during the course of germination, andmost of the enzyme activity was located in a soluble fractionof the cytoplasm.
2. The enzyme was labile and lost the activityrapidly, even whenstored at 5 in the presence of 0.1 M mercaptoethanol.It was,however, found that ammonium sulfate was very effectivein stabilizingthe enzyme activity.
3. The enzyme has been purifiedapproximately 500-fold from extractsof pea seedlings by treatmentswith ammonium sulfate, protaminesulfate, hydroxylapatite, calciumphosphate gel, and DEAE-cellulosecolumn chromatography.
4. Thepurified enzyme was specific for formate, ATP and FAH₄,andthe Michaelis constants for these reactants were 2.1 10^–2M, 5.1 10^–4 M, and 5.6 10^–3 M, respectively.
5. The optimum pH was found to be 8.0, and the optimal temperaturewas observed at 37. Both NH₄^$ and a divalent cation (Mg^SS orMn^SS) were required for the optimal activity.

¹ Studies on the Enzymatic Synthesis and Metabolism of FolateCoenzymes in Plants. II. (For the previous paper see reference(8)) A part of this paper was presented at the Meeting of theKansai Division of the Agricultural Chemical Society of Japan,Kyoto, January 29, 1966.     

The Genetic Basis of Preference for Sweet Substances Among Inbred Strains of Mice: Preference Ratio Phenotypes and the Alleles of the Sac and dpa Loci

Five inbred strains (129/J, BALB/cByJ, C3HeB/FeJ, C57BI/6J andDBA/2J) were examined with two-bottle (48 h) preference ratiotesting across concentrations of sodium saccharin (3 x 10^–4M, 10^–3 M, 3 x 10^–3 M and 10^–2 M), d-phenylalanine(10^–3 M, 10^–2 M and 10^–1 M), and l-glutamine(10^–2 M, 3 x 10^–2 M, 10^–1 M and 3 x 10^–1M). Three consistent groupings of strains were observed acrosssubstances and concentrations:

1. C57BI/6J (preference at low andhigh concentrations);
2. BALB/cByJ and C3HeB/FeJ (preferenceat high concentrations);
3. 129/J and DBA/2J (preference at highconcentration for sodiumsaccharin and indifference to d-phenylalanineand l-glutamine).

If a single locus (presumably dpa or Sac) determines these phenotypes,there are likely to be three alleles. If two independent loci(presumably dpa and Sac) determine these phenotypes, an allelicassignment of Sac^b/dpa^+s for the C57BI/6J strain, Sac^b/dpa^–sfor the BALB/cByJ and C3HeB/FeJ strains, and either Sac^d/dpa^+sor Sac^d/dpa^–s for the 129/J and DBA/2J strains is suggested.Chem. Senses 20: 291–298, 1995.     

The effect of ethylene on auxin-induced growth of excised rice coleoptile segments

Elongation growth induced by exogenous auxin of apical coleoptilesegments of etiolated rice seedlings was promoted by ethylene.In the absence of exogenous auxin, growth promotion was notobserved. The highest promotion by ethylene was obtained at10^–6 M of indole-3-acetic acid, a suboptimal concentrationfor auxin-induced elongation. Level of ethylene which achievedthe effect was less than 1 µl per liter of an incubationatmosphere. ¹Present address: The Ocean Research Institute, University ofTokyo, Nakano, Tokyo, Japan (Received May 27, 1970; )     

WATER PERMEABILITY OF THE CELL WALL IN NITELLA

1. A method has been developed to measure the hydraulic conductivityof the wall of the internodal cell of Nitella flexilis.
2. Therate of water penetration through the cell wall varies linearlywith the hydrostatic pressure difference between the two sidesof the wall, showing that water permeability of the cell wallremains independent of the pressure difference applied.
3. Waterpermeability of the cell wall is inversely proportionalto itsthickness It is 30µµmin^–3{dot}atm^–3when the thickness of the wall is 10 µ.
4. Water permeabilityof the cell wall is the same for inward andoutward water flow.The polar water permeability of the entiremembrane system (walland protoplasmic part) of the living celldemonstrated by KAMIYAand TAZAWA (1) is, therefore, due tothe living protoplasmicpart.
5. The ratio of the inward to outward permeability constantsofthe protoplasmic layer alone is higher than that of the entiremembrane system composed of protoplasmic layer and cell wall.

¹ Dedicated to Prof. H. TAMIYA on the occasion of his 60th birthday.The present work was supported in part by a Grant-in-Aid forFundamental Scientific Research from the Ministry of Education. ² Present address: Sh?in Women's College, Kobe. (Received July 21, 1962; )     

INHIBITORY EFFECT OF 5-BROMOURACIL AND 5-FLUOROURACIL ON PHOTOPERIODICALLY INDUCED GERMINATION OF ERAGROSTIS SEED

1. The inhibitory effects of 5-bromouracil and 5-fluorouracil onthe photoperiodically induced germination of Eragrostis ferrugineaseed were investigated. 5-BU was more effective than 5-FU ininhibiting germination, but less effective in suppressing seedlingelongation.
2. The inhibition of germination by 5-BU was specificallyex ertedon the inductive dark process, which i9 essential tothe photoperiodicgermination induction. A high concentration(10^–1:M) of5-FU also elicited a complete inhibition ofgermination. 5-FU,however, did not affect the photoperiodicinduction processes,but inhibited the processes subsequentto them. The inhibitionof germination by 5-BU or 5-FU was alleviatedby neither uracil,thymidine nor orotjc acid.
3. The 3eedlinggrowth was effectively inhibited by 5-FU, and theinhibitionwas reversed by uracil, uridine and orotic acid,but not bythymine and thymidine. The effect of 5-FU may, therefore,possiblybe by virtue of its depressing action upon ribonucleicacidsynthesis.

(Received April 18, 1963; )     

Some properties of shikimate: NADP oxidoreductase produced in sweet potato root tissue after slicing

The activity of shikimate: NADP oxidoreductase [EC 1. 1. 1.25] in sweet potato root tissue increased soon after slicing.Enzyme preparations obtained from both sliced tissue and fromfresh tissue probably contained a single enzyme component, andthey showed identical chromatographical behaviour. K_m values of the enzyme for NADP and shikimate were 1.0x10^–4Mand 1.3 x 10^–3M, respectively. Enzyme activity was potentlyinhibited by SH-inhibitors such as p-chloromercuribenzoate andoxidized glutathione. Enzyme activity was affected neither by mononucleotides suchas ATP, ADP and AMP, divalent cations, Mg⁺⁺, Ca⁺⁺ and Mn⁺⁺,nor by metabolites such as tryptophan, phenylalanine, tyrosineand t-cinnamic acid which are involved in aromatic compoundsyntheses. The enzyme rapidly lost its activity. This inactivation reactionshowed a time course consisting of two steps of the first-orderreaction. The inactivated enzyme preparation was not reactivatedby thiol compounds such as cysteine, 2-mercaptoethanol and glutathione,although these reagents, to a certain extent, protected theenzyme from inactivation. The results suggest that denaturationof the enzyme protein was involved in inactivation of the enzyme. ¹Part 74 of the phytopathological chemistry of sweet potatowith black rot and injury. ²Present address: Department of Biology, Faculty of Science,Tokyo Metropolitan University, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo. (Received August 5, 1968; )     

Portulal: a rooting promoting substance in Portulaca leaves

A new bioassay which employs disbudded epicotyl cuttings takenfrom light grown Azukia seedlings (A. angularis) was devisedfor testing rooting promotion activity. By use of this method,the rooting promoting principle in leaves of Portulaca grandiflorawas isolated and identified with portulal which had been previouslyobtained. Portulal was reported as an inhibitor of rooting inetiolated Raphanus cuttings and has recently been determinedto be a bicyclic diterpene containing a perhydroazulene nucleus.Portulal promoted the adventitious root formation in severalkinds of plants, i.e. Azukia angularis, Vigna Catiang var. sinensis,Phaseolus Mungo and Raphanus sativus var. acanthiformis ‘Risodaikon’. The rooting process in Azukia and Raphanus cuttings seems toinclude at least two phases; a "preparatory phase" or a portulal-and gibberellin-sensitive phase and a "main phase" or an auxin-sensitiveand portulal-insensitive phase. ¹Contribution No. 16 from the Botanical Gardens, Faculty ofScience, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan. (Received April 3, 1969; )     

Anatomical and physiological aspects of developmental processes of adventitious root formation in Azukia cuttings

In Azukia stem cuttings, root primordia always appeared in theinterfascicular regions between the endodermis and the interfascicularcambium. Transverse cell divisions were observed as the first eventsin the process of root formation. They began to occur 10 hrafter cuttings had been made and were restricted to the interfascicularregions about 1 mm above the basal cut end of the cutting. Ineach of interfascicular region, 10 to 20 cells divided. Transversedivisions were followed by longitudinal divisions, which beganto occur 18 hr after cuttings had been made. The early process of root primordium formation is distinguishedby the following three phases: the first phase during whichno cell division occurs (0–8 hr), the second phase duringwhich transverse cell divisions occur (8–16 hr) and thethird phase during which longitudinal divisions occur (16–24hr). Cuttings in each phase responded differently to test substances. ¹Supported in part by Grant No. 139011 from the Ministry ofEducation, Japan. ² Present address: Junior College of Toyo University, Hakusan,Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 112, Japan. (Received October 24, 1977; )     

COMPARATIVE STUDIES ON GROWTH, RESPIRATION, PHOTOSYNTHESIS AND PIGMENT CONTENT IN RHODOPSEUDOMONAS PALUSTRIS

1. Comparative studies were performed on growth, photosyntheticand respiratory activities, and pigment content in Rhodopseudomonaspalustris.
2. The growth of the organism, as influenced by variousculturalconditions such as light, aerobiosis, anaerobiosisand nutritionalfactors was investigated.
3. The respiratoryactivity of the bacterium was found to be higherin dark-growncells than in cells grown in the light. The photosyntheticactivitydid not significantly depend on the growth conditionsof theculture. Cells of younger cultures were found to be moreactivethan those of older cultures, with respect both to respirationand photosynthesis.
4. The pigment content was found to be higherin the light-growncells than in the dark-grown ones. The ratiophotosyntheticactivity/bacteriochlorophyll was significantlyhigher in thelatter than in the former.
5. Light, as well asvarious nutritional factors, was found toexert a marked accelerationon pigment formation, although ithas not yet been possibleto culture cells completely lackingin photosynthetic pigmentsand accordingly in photosyntheticactivity.

¹ Present address: Division of Dermatology and Urology, TokyoMetropolitan Hiroo Hospital, Tokyo. ² Present address: Department of Biology, Saitama University,Urawa. ³ Present address: Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine,Yokohama University, Yokohama. ⁴ Present address: Department of Biophysics and Biochemistry,Faculty of Science, University of Tokyo, Tokyo. (Received July 23, 1961; )     

Studies on the destruction of indole-3-acetic acid by a species of Arthrobacter II. Properties of the oxidation system

1. Some properties of the IAA-oxidizing activity of lyophilizedcells of Artkrobacter sp. were examined.
2. 1. IAA oxidationseems not to be catalysed by peroxidase, polyphenoloxidase,laccase or dehydrogenase, but by an oxidase systemdifferentfrom the one reported earlier.
3. 2. The optimal pH for the oxidizingsystem is ca. 6.0, and thesystem is comparatively stable atpH 5 to 10.
4. 3. The optimal substrate (IAA) level is 10^–3M.
5. 4. Activity is inhibited by metal-chelating reagents, suchassodium azide, potassium cyanide, sodium diethyldithiocarbamate,potassium xanthogenate and 8-hydroxyquinoline, and sulfhydrylreagents, such as iodoacetamide, monofluoroacetic acid, p-chloromercuribenzoate,isatin, ß-naphthoquinone and ß-naphthoquinone-4-sulfonate.Hydroxybenzoic acid, sulfosalicylic acid and 2,4-dichlorophenolare also inhibitory.
6. 5. None of the IAA analogs tested (indole,skatole, 2,3-dihydroxyindole,indole-3-aldehyde, -3-carboxylicacid, -3-propionic acid, -3-lacticacid, -3-butyric acid, 5-hydroxyindole-3-aceticacid and D,L-tryptophan) are oxidized by the cells, and someanalogs (indole-3-carboxylicacid, -3-propionic acid, -3-butyricacid, 5-hydroxyindole-3-aceticacid, naphthalene-acetic acidand 2,4-D) are inhibitory at comparativelyhigh concentrations.
7. 6. The oxidizing activity is not stimulated by Mn⁺⁺ and isinhibitedby Co⁺⁺, Cu⁺⁺ and Hg⁺⁺.
8. 7. The oxidizing activitydisappears completely within 6 hrat 30, but is kept unchangedat least for two weeks at –20.

(Received August 7, 1967; )     

CHANGES IN RESTING POTENTIAL AND ION ABSORPTION INDUCED BY LIGHT IN A SINGLE PLANT CELL

1. Effect of light on ion absorption and resting potential of theinternodal cell of Nitella flexilis was investigated under variousconditions.
2. On illumination, the resting potential increasedby about 30mVin 10^–4 M KCl and by about 60 mV in 10^–4M NaClsolution. A similar photoelectric response was also observedin 10^–3 M KCl, 10^–2 M CaCl₂ and 5 x 10^–2 MCaCl₂ solutions, but not at all in 10^–2 M KCl solution.
3. Absorption of ions by the cell took place in parallel withthelight-induced change in resting potential.
4. Red and bluelights were very effective in increasing the restingpotential,while green light was almost ineffective. These differenteffectsof color lights were in good agreement with their effectsinincreasing the osmotic value of the cell.
5. The photoelectricresponse was not affected by phenylurethane,which, on the otherhand, strongly inhibited the light-inducedion absorption.
6. Theuptake of ions by the cell from the external medium intothevacuole is assumed to proceed in two different steps: thefirstis the process involving the ion movements across theoutermostplasmalemma, and the second is that involved in thetransportof ions through the cytoplasmic layer and tonoplast.The formerprocess is considered to be influenced by the increasein restingpotential probably caused by the light absorbed bychlorophyll.The process was, however, suggested to be independentof photosynthesis.On the other hand, the latter process issupposed to be relatedto photosynthesis. A discussion was madealong this line.

(Received July 26, 1962; )     

LIGHT-INDUCED OXYGEN EVOLUTION CAUSED BY HYDROGEN PEROXIDE IN CATALASE-INHIBITED CHLORELLA CELLS

1. Chlorella cells and spinach chioroplasts, whose catalase activityhad been more than 90% inhibited by 10^–5 M azide, werefound to decompose H₂O₂ photochemically to liberate oxygen,indicating that H₂O₂ was used as an oxidant of the HILL reaction.
2. That, however, the observed phenomena cannot be fully accountedfor in terms of the HILL reaction with H₂O₂ was revealed bythe observation that an extract of Chiorella cells, which hadbeen completely freed from chlorophyll, also showed a light-acceleratedO2 evolution from H₂O₂ in the presence of 10^–5 M azide.This extract contained a large quantity of catalase, which seemedto have been, in some way, involved in the reaction in question.
3. The catalatic H₂O₂ decomposition caused by crystalline catalaseof mammalian liver (in the presence of 10^–5 M azide) wasnot accelerated by the effect of light.

¹ Present address: Department of Biology, Faculty of Science,Niigata University, Niigata. (Received June 4, 1961; )     

Studies on the destruction of indole-3-acetic acid by a species of Arthrobacter I. On the induction of the enzyme responsible for the destruction

1. The induction of an IAA-destroying enzyme in Arthrobacter sp.that can utilize IAA as its sole source of carbon and nitrogenwas investigated.
2. 1. The enzyme was most effectively inducedby 10–³ to2x10–³ M IAA, at pH 6.5.
3. 2. All testedIAA analogs were unable to induce the enzyme.Analogs otherthan indole-3-lactic acid were rather inhibitoryon the inductionwith IAA.
4. 3. The induction period was shortened with the ageof culturein both polypeptone and acetate media.
5. 4. Pretreatmentof the bacterium with IAA caused a shorteningof the inductionperiod.
6. 5. The induction was inhibited by various antibiotics,aminoacid analogs and nucleobase analogs.
7. 6. The inductionwas less remarkable in actively proliferatingcells than itwas in slowly proliferating ones.

(Received July 1, 1967; )     

Promotion by gibberellin of lettuce seed germiation as a function of presoaking period

Germination of lettuce seeds (Lactuca sativa L. cv. Grand Rapids)was examined in the presence of various doses (10^–5.0–10^–3.0M) of gibberellic acid applied at various times (hour 0–8)of soaking. Germination promotion by gibberellic acid was greateras the dose of gibberellic acid was increased and attenuatedwith the length of the presoaking period. As an exception, ca.95% germination was always evoked by the largest dose (10^–3M) of gibberellic acid given at any time of soaking. The dose-responsecurve obtained for each presoaking period had a distinct sigmoidalprofile. Synergistic and photoreversible promotion by red light of thegibberellin-induced germination was also investigated. Far-redlight pulse given 6 hr after the red pulse was still effectivein removing the red light action. Application of enzyme kineticsto the gibberellin action and also to the synergism betweengibberellin and red light was suggested. ¹National Institute for Basic Biology, Myodaiji, Okazaki 444,Japan. (Received December 18, 1979; )