Juvenile stockplant material enhances root development through higher endogenous auxin level

Stockplants with various physiological characteristics were compared in a propagation experiment with leafy cuttings of ornamental cherry Prunus subhirtella ‘Autumnalis’. At the time of severance, cuttings harvested from juvenile 3-year-old in vitro-derived plants contained in their bases nearly twice as much IAA (indole-3-acetic acid) as cuttings derived from mature 40-year-old trees. Juvenile cuttings showed better rooting success in the propagation season. They developed a significantly higher number of primary roots and grew better than physiologically older cuttings. IAA time-course levels in cutting bases in the days after severance were similar in both cuttings types. They decreased over the first day (rooting late initiation phase) after severance until the third day after severance when the levels increased again (rooting induction phase and beginning of the root developing phase). At the time of severance, juvenile cuttings also contained higher concentrations of IAAasp (indole-3-acetyl aspartic acid) in their bases than mature cuttings. IAAasp time-course levels were similar to those measured for IAA.     

Aeroponics for adventitious rhizogenesis in evergreen haloxeric tree <Emphasis Type="Italic">Tamarix aphylla</Emphasis> (L.) Karst.: influence of exogenous auxins and cutting type

Tamarix aphylla (L.) Karst., a drought resistant halophyte tree, is an agroforestry species which can be used for reclamation of waterlogged saline and marginal lands. Due to very low seed viability and unsuitable conditions for seed germination, the tree is becoming rare in Indian Thar desert. Present study concerns the evaluation of aeroponics technique for vegetative propagation of T. aphylla. Effect of various exogenous auxins (indole-3-acetic acid, indole-3-butyric acid, naphthalene acetic acid) at different concentrations (0.0, 1.0, 2.0, 3.0, 5.0, 10.0 mg l^?1) was examined for induction of adventitious rooting and other morphological features. Among all three auxins tested individually, maximum rooting response (79%) was observed with IBA 2.0 mg l^?1. However, stem cuttings treated with a combination of auxins (2.0 mg l^?1 IBA and 1.0 mg l^?1 IAA) for 15 min resulted in 87% of rooting response. Among three types of stem cuttings (apical shoot, newly sprouted cuttings, mature stem cuttings), maximum rooting (~ 90%) was observed on mature stem cuttings. Number of roots and root length were significantly higher in aeroponically rooted stem cuttings as compared to stem cuttings rooted in soil conditions. Successfully rooted and sprouted plants were transferred to polybags with 95% survival rate. This is the first report on aeroponic culture of Tamarix aphylla which can be utilized in agroforestry practices, marginal land reclamation and physiological studies.     

Endogenous auxins in plant growth-promoting Cyanobacteria—Anabaena vaginicola and Nostoc calcicola

Three isolates of heterocystous cyanobacteria, belonging to the genera Anabaena and Nostoc, gathered from Iranian terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems exhibited considerable growth promotion effect on several vegetables and herbaceous plants. To study the ability of these three isolates to produce auxins, three endogenous auxins, including indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), and two of its main homologues, indole-3-propionic acid and indole-3-butyric acid, were extracted and analyzed with high-performance liquid chromatography equipped with diode array detector and fluorescence detector, and the results were further confirmed with liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) in the negative-ion mode. The dominant auxin observed in all isolates was indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) in the range of 140.10–2146.96 ng g^?1 fresh weight (FW), and only small amounts of IAA (2.19–9.93 ng g^?1 FW) were detected. The predominance of IBA in these strains is reported for the first time which is different from the previously reported auxin profiles in microalgae and algae with the predominance of IAA.     

The lose of juvenility elicits adventitious rooting recalcitrance in apple rootstocks

For perennial woody plants, softwood cutting is an efficient technique for larger scale propagation and adventitious rooting of cuttings is one of the most crucial steps. To evaluate the significance of juvenility on adventitious rooting, rooting rates was compared between softwood cuttings collected from apomictic seedlings (juvenile), in vitro cultured plants (rejuvenated), suckers (juvenile like) and canopy shoots (adult) of reproductively mature trees in Malus xiaojinensis. After pre-treatment with indole-3-butytric acid (IBA) (3,000 mg L^?1) + H₂O₂ (50 mM), rooting rates in cutting from juvenile, juvenile like and rejuvenated donor plants were significantly higher (>90 %) than that from adult trees. The effects of IBA on adventitious rooting were enhanced significantly by exogenous H₂O₂. After 15 passages of in vitro subculture, the micro-shoots from adult phase explants were rejuvenated successfully, marked by the elevated expression of miR156 in the leaflets of the micro-shoots. But the rooting ability of rejuvenated micro-shoots was recovered delayed at the 18th or 21st passage of subculture. During the process of rejuvenation, the leaf indole-3-acetic acid contents and the expressions of rooting related genes CKI1, ARRO-1, ARF7 and ARF19 increased significantly. In contrary, the leaf abscisic acid contents decreased. A lack of juvenility is the most important limiting factor governing adventitious rooting of softwood cuttings in apple rootstocks.     

Polar Transport of Indole-3-Acetic Acid in Relation to Rooting in Carnation Cuttings: Influence of Cold Storage Duration and Cultivar

The influence of cold storage of cuttings on the transport and metabolism of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and the rooting were studied in two carnation (Dianthus caryophyllus L.) cultivars (Oriana and Elsy), which are known to exhibit very distinct rooting characteristics. The percentage of rooting at 11 d after planting increased with the storage period particularly in Oriana, but the values in Elsy were higher than in Oriana. Auxin transport was measured by applying ³H-IAA to stem sections. Irrespective of the section localization, the oldest node (node) or the basal internode (base), the transport increased as the storage period increased from 2 to 12 weeks in Oriana and from 2 to 8 weeks in Elsy cuttings. The auxin transport rate was higher in bases than in nodes and also in Elsy than in Oriana at a given storage period. IAA oxidation and hydrolyzation of IAA conjugates (determined by extracting the sections with acetonitrile and NaOH once the basipetal IAA movement ceased after a 24 h transport period) showed a negative, highly significant correlation with the amount of IAA transported. Although the rooting percentage and IAA transport were higher in Elsy than in Oriana, the differences in rooting between the cultivars could not be explained solely by differences in IAA transport.     

Endogenous indoles and the biosynthesis and metabolism of indole-3-acetic acid in cultures of Rhizobium phaseoli

Gas chromatography-mass spectrometric analyses of purified extracts from cultures of Rhizobium phaseoli wild-type strain 8002, grown in a non-tryptophan-supplemented liquid medium, demonstrated the presence of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), indole-3-ethanol (IEt), indole-3-aldehyde and indole-3-methanol (IM). In metabolism studies with ³H-, ¹⁴C- and ²H-labelled substrates the bacterium was shown to convert tryptophan to IEt, IAA and IM; IEt to IAA and IM; and IAA to IM. Indole-3-acetamide (IAAm) could not be detected as either an endogenous constituent or a metabolite of [³H]tryptophan nor did cultures convert [¹⁴C]IAAm to IAA. Biosynthesis of IAA in R. phaseoli, thus, involves a different pathway from that operating in Pseudomonas savastanio and Agrobacterium tumefaciens-induced crown-gall tumours.Abbreviations IAA indole-3-acetic acid - IAld indole-3-aldehyde - IAAm indole-3-acetamide - IEt indole-3-ethanol - IM indole-3-methanol - HPLC-RC high-performance liquid chromatography-radio counting - GC-MS gas chromatography-mass spectrometry     

The effect of indole-3-acetylaspartic acid on adventitious root formation on bean cuttings

The influence of indole-3-acetylaspartic acid (IAAsp) on rooting of stem cuttings from bean plants (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) of different ages, cultivated at different temperatures (17°, 21° and 25°C) was studied and compared to that of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA). At a concentration of 10^–4 M, IAAsp only nonsignificantly stimulated adventitious root formation, approximately to the same level as IAA in all treatments. IAAsp at 5×10^–4 M further enhanced rooting, by up 200% of control values, with little influence of temperature conditions and stock plant age. This concentration of IAA usually stimulated rooting more than the conjugate. The largest differences between the effects of IAAsp and IAA occured at the highest cultivation temperature of 25°C where stock plant age also influenced the response. The number of roots produced in comparison with the control, was enhanced from 350% on cuttings from the youngest plants to more than 600% on cuttings from the oldest. In contrast to the conjugate, 5×10^–4 M IAA induced hypocotyl swelling and injury of the epidermis at the base of cuttings, in all treatments.     

Indole-3-butyric acid in plants: occurrence, synthesis, metabolism and transport

Indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) was recently identified by GC/MS analysis as an endogenous constituent of various plants. Plant tissues contained 9 ng g^?1 fresh weight of free IBA and 37 ng g^?1 fresh weight of total IBA, compared to 26 ng g^?1 and 52 ng g^?1 fresh weight of free and total indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), respectively. IBA level was found to increase during plant development, but never reached the level of IAA. It is generally assumed that the greater ability of IBA as compared with IAA to promote rooting is due to its relatively higher stability. Indeed, the concentrations of IAA and IBA in autoclaved medium were reduced by 40% and 20%, respectively, compared with filter sterilized controls. In liquid medium, IAA was more sensitive than IBA to non-biological degradation. However, in all plant tissues tested, both auxins were found to be metabolized rapidly and conjugated at the same rate with amino acids or sugar. Studies of auxin transport showed that IAA was transported faster than IBA. The velocities of some of the auxins tested were 7. 5 mm h^?1 for IAA, 6. 7 mm h^?1 for naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) and only 3. 2 mm h^?1 for IBA. Like IAA, IBA was transported predominantly in a basipetal direction (polar transport). After application of ³H-IBA to cuttings of various plants, most of the label remained in the bases of the cuttings. Easy-to-root cultivars were found to absorb more of the auxin and transport more of it to the leaves. It has been postulated that easy-to-root, as opposed to the difficult-to-root cultivars, have the ability to hydrolyze auxin conjugates at the appropriate time to release free auxin which may promote root initiation. This theory is supported by reports on increased levels of free auxin in the bases of cuttings prior to rooting. The auxin conjugate probably acts as a ‘slow-release’ hormone in the tissues. Easy-to-root cultivars were also able to convert IBA to IAA which accumulated in the cutting bases prior to rooting. IAA conjugates, but not IBA conjugates, were subject to oxidation, and thus deactivation. The efficiency of the two auxins in root induction therefore seems to depend on the stability of their conjugates. The higher rooting promotion of IBA was also ascribed to the fact that its level remained elevated longer than that of IAA, even though IBA was metabolized in the tissue. IAA was converted to IBA by seedlings of corn and Arabidopsis. The K_m value for IBA formation was low (approximately 20 μM), indicating high affinity for the substrate. That means that small amounts of IAA (only a fraction of the total IAA in the plant tissues) can be converted to IBA. It was suggested that IBA is formed by the acetylation of IAA with acetyl-CoA in the carboxyl position via a biosynthetic pathway analogous to the primary steps of fatty acid biosynthesis, where acetyl moieties are transferred to an acceptor molecule. Incubation of the soluble enzyme fraction from Arabidopsis with ³H-IBA, IBA and UDP-glucose resulted in a product that was identified tentatively as IBA glucose (IBGIc). IBGIc was detected only during the first 30 min of incubation, showing that it might be converted rapidly to another conjugate.     

Rooting Substances in Water Extracts of Castanea sativa and Salix viminalis

The rooting activity of water extracts of cuttings of chestnut (Castanea sativa Mill.) and willow (Salix viminalis L.) was studied throughout the year by the bean rooting test. The chestnut extract nullified the rooting activity of 10^?5M IAA, but on the whole it did not modify the rooting pattern of the bean cuttings. The willow extract increased rooting and showed a rhythm in the content of endogenous growth substances. IAA was found at the time when the extract showed the strongest rooting activity. The extract from willow contained two synergistic root-promoting fractions with the R_f's of 0.0–0.2 and 0.6–0.8 in isopropanol: ammonia: water. The latter one promoted rooting without added IAA. In this fraction a high amount of catechol was detected. No clear correlation was found between the ability to induce roots and the total phenol content in the two species.     

Indole-3-methanol is the main product of the oxidation of indole-3-acetic acid catalyzed by two cytosolic basic isoperoxidases from Lupinus

The nature of the products of the auxin catabolism mediated by both basic and acidic isoperoxidases has been studied. While indole-3-methanol is only a minor product of the oxidation of indole-3-acetic acid catalyzed by extracellular acidic isoperoxidases, it is the only product of the oxidation of indole-3-acetic acid catalyzed by two cytosolic basic isoperoxidases (EC 1.11.1.7) from lupin (Lupinus albus L.) hypocotyls. The putative indole-3-methanol formed by these latter isoperoxidases was isolated and then characterized by mass spectrometry and ¹H-nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometry. These results are discussed with respect to the diversity and compartmentation of the catabolism of indole-3-acetic acid in plant tissues.Abbreviations DCP 2,4-dichlorophenol - IAA indole-3-acetic acid - IM indole-3-methanol     

Ex Vitro Rooting of Micropropagated Shoots of Stackhousia Tryonii

Micropropagated shoots of Stackhousia tryonii were exposed (individually or in combination) to indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), indole-3-butyric acid (IBA), and 1-naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) at concentrations 1, 2 or 4 g dm^–3 with the view to induce rooting under ex vitro conditions. The treated microshoots were grown in a mist room for four weeks and assessed for survival, rooting percentage, number of roots and root length. The results showed that IBA at 2 g dm^–3 was most effective in inducing roots. Mixing of two or more auxins markedly reduced rooting percentage indicating antagonistic effects. The results demonstrated the potential of combining ex vitro rooting and hardening in one step, with view to reducing costs of multiplying plants via micropropagation.     

Indole-3-acetic acid production,solubilization of insoluble metal minerals and metal tolerance of some sclerodermatoid fungi collected from northern Thailand

Sclerodermatoid fungi basidiomes were collected from northern Thailand and pure cultures were isolated. The morphology and molecular characteristics identified them as Astraeus odoratus, Phlebopus portentosus, Pisolithus albus and Scleroderma sinnamariense. This study investigated the in vitro ability of selected fungi to produce indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), to solubilize different toxic metal (Co, Cd, Cu, Pb, Zn)-containing minerals, and metal tolerance. The results indicated that all fungi are able to produce IAA in liquid medium. The optimum temperature for IAA production of all fungi was 30 °C, and the optimum concentration of L-tryptophan of Astraeus odoratus, Pisolithus albus and Scleroderma sinnamariense was 2 mg ml^?1. The highest IAA yield (65.29?±?1.17 μg ml^?1) was obtained from Phlebopus portentosus after 40 days of cultivation in culture medium supplemented with 4 mg ml^?1 of L-tryptophan. The biological activity tests of fungal IAA showed that it can simulate coleoptile elongation, and increase seed germination and root length of tested plants. In addition, the metal tolerance and solubilizing activities varied for different minerals and fungal species. The presence of metal minerals affected fungal growth, and cobalt carbonate showed the highest toxicity. The solubilization index decreased when the concentration of metal minerals increased. Astraeus odoratus showed the lowest tolerance to metals. This is the first report of in vitro IAA production, solubilization of insoluble metal minerals and metal tolerance abilities of the tested fungi.     

Distribution of indole-3-acetic acid in Petunia hybrida shoot tip cuttings and relationship between auxin transport, carbohydrate metabolism and adventitious root formation

To determine the contribution of polar auxin transport (PAT) to auxin accumulation and to adventitious root (AR) formation in the stem base of Petunia hybrida shoot tip cuttings, the level of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) was monitored in non-treated cuttings and cuttings treated with the auxin transport blocker naphthylphthalamic acid (NPA) and was complemented with precise anatomical studies. The temporal course of carbohydrates, amino acids and activities of controlling enzymes was also investigated. Analysis of initial spatial IAA distribution in the cuttings revealed that approximately 40 and 10 % of the total IAA pool was present in the leaves and the stem base as rooting zone, respectively. A negative correlation existed between leaf size and IAA concentration. After excision of cuttings, IAA showed an early increase in the stem base with two peaks at 2 and 24 h post excision and, thereafter, a decline to low levels. This was mirrored by the expression pattern of the auxin-responsive GH3 gene. NPA treatment completely suppressed the 24-h peak of IAA and severely inhibited root formation. It also reduced activities of cell wall and vacuolar invertases in the early phase of AR formation and inhibited the rise of activities of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and phosphofructokinase during later stages. We propose a model in which spontaneous AR formation in Petunia cuttings is dependent on PAT and on the resulting 24-h peak of IAA in the rooting zone, where it induces early cellular events and also stimulates sink establishment. Subsequent root development stimulates glycolysis and the pentose phosphate pathway.     

An innovative approach to <Emphasis Type="Italic">ex vitro</Emphasis> rooting and acclimatization of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Fragaria</Emphasis> × <Emphasis Type="Italic">ananassa</Emphasis> Duch. microshoots using а biogenic silica- and green-tea-catechin-based mechanocomposite

A new approach for rapid ex vitro rooting and acclimatization of Fragaria × ananassa micropropagated plantlets of two cultivars (“Alpha” and “Festivalnaya”) has been developed using a mechanocomposite based on biogenic silica and green-tea catechins. Two different mechanocomposite treatments were studied: dipping the cut ends of microshoots in the mechanocomposite powder (the dry dip method) and single watering with solutions at concentrations of 0.3, 1.0, and 3.0 g L^?1. These variants were compared with pulse treatment of microplants with 30 mg L^?1 indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) for 4 h and a control group of microshoots that were moistened with hormone-free ¼-strength MS medium. The frequencies of ex vitro rooting at the end of the acclimatization period (30 d) varied from 24.8 to 99.7%. The dry dip treatment was best (rooting frequency about 100%) with up to 7.15?±?0.54-cm root length, and 6.10?±?0.31 roots per plantlet. Moreover, this study showed that the growth-stimulating effect of this mechanocomposite treatment on root formation resulted in increased rosette height, leaf number, leaf area, and dry weight of aerial parts. Histological analysis of the leaf blades revealed decreased mesophyll thickness of microshoots treated with the mechanocomposite (up to 88.77?±?2.95 vs. 111.51?±?3.56 μm for the control). Morphometric analysis of scanning electron microscopy data showed that mechanocomposite treatments led to increased stomata density and stomata length. These structural changes led to normalization of the water regime and indicated successful acclimatization. The combination of ex vitro rooting and acclimatization reduced the procedure time by 4 wk, and may be used for commercial strawberry micropropagation.     

Construction of high efficiency regeneration and transformation systems of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pyrus ussuriensis</Emphasis> Maxim

The purpose of the present study was to establish a simple and efficient protocol for pear regeneration and transformation. Major factors that influence multiplication, rooting, regeneration, and transformation (concentrations of plant growth regulators, pre-culture or co-culture times, and kanamycin concentration) were examined in wild Pyrus ussuriensis Maxim ‘Shanli’. The results showed that the best multiplication index (5.1) was obtained on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium containing 1.5 mg L^?1 N6-benzyladenine (BA) and 0.2 mg L^?1 indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) with healthy and strong growth. On 1/2 MS medium supplemented with 1.0 mg L^?1 IBA or 0.2 mg L^?1 indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), the rooting percentage was up to 94.4%. The highest regeneration rate (100%) and number of adventitious shoots per explant (6.30) were obtained on Nitsch and Nitsch 1969 (NN69) medium containing 2.0 or 3.0 mg L^?1 thidiazuron (TDZ) and 0.2 mg L^?1 IAA with leaves as explants. Transformation was successfully achieved using the following protocol: cut-wounding leaves pre-cultured for 5 days were co-cultivated with the Agrobacterium tumefaciens strain EHA105 harboring 35S::DHN3 plasmid for 2 days, then were transferred to regeneration medium containing 15 mg L^?1 kanamycin to select the resistant plants, and followed by being cultured on rooting medium supplemented with 5 mg L^?1 kanamycin. PCR analysis revealed that 27 independent transgenic lines were obtained, with the transformation rate up to 11.72%. We postulate that the regeneration and transformation system in this study is an alternative method for pear breeding.     

Endophytic actinomycetes isolated from Aquilaria crassna Pierre ex Lec and screening of plant growth promoters production

A total of 10 endophytic actinomycete strains were successfully isolated from healthy shoots and roots of Aquilaria crassna Pierre ex Lec (eaglewood). Analysis of 16S rDNA sequencing of those isolates showed that they belong to members of the genera Streptomyces (2 isolates), Nonomuraea (1 isolate), Actinomadura (1 isolate), Pseudonocardia (1 isolate) and Nocardia (3 isolates). The remaining 2 isolates were unidentified. All of isolates produced the amount of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and ammonia ranging between 9.85 ± 0.31 to 15.14 ± 0.22 μg ml^?1 and 2 to 60 mg ml^?1, respectively. Among 10 isolates tested, the amount of hydroxamate-type siderophore produced by 2 isolates was undetectable. While the remaining 8 isolates produced the amount of hydroxamate-type ranging between 3.21 ± 0.12 and 39.30 ± 0.40 μg ml^?1. Also, catechols-type siderophore produced by 9 isolates was undetectable. Actinomadura glauciflava is only one isolate that produced catechols-type 4.12 ± 0.90 μg ml^?1. In addition, 10 endophytic actinomycetes showed protease activity ranging from undetectable to 8.16 ± 0.15 unit ml^?1. Genetic relatedness amongst these isolates was determined base on Random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) and Enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus polymerase chain reaction (ERIC PCR). Both methodologies generated specific patterns corresponding to particular genotypes. RAPD fingerprinting proved to be slightly more discriminatory than ERIC PCR. This study is the first published report that actinomycetes can be isolated as endophytes within this plant. It is also the first published report that endophytic actinomycetes are capable of producing IAA and siderophores.     

Metabolic changes during rooting in stem cuttings of Casuarina equisetifolia L.: effects of auxin, the sex and the type of cutting on rooting

Rooting in terminal shoot and lateral shoot cuttings from 10-year-old elite trees of Casuarina equisetifolia L. in different sex groups was achieved after 20 days when the basal ends of the cuttings were dipped for 3 h in 20 ppm indole-3-butyric acid (IBA). Shoots derived from male plants rooted better than their female and monoecious counterparts, and the lateral shoots were more responsive to rooting than the terminal shoots. During rooting, the metabolic activities varied in both lateral shoot and terminal shoot cuttings derived from plants under different sex groups. Peroxidase and polyphenoloxidase activities were high during root initiation and showed a sharp decline thereafter. The polyphenoloxidase activity was higher in the lateral shoot than the terminal shoot cuttings. The rooted plantlets survived and established well in the field.Abbreviations IAA indole-3-acetic acid - IBA indole-3-butyric acid - NAA 1-naphthaleneacetic acid - PVP polyvinylpyrrolidone     

Phytohormones,Rhizobium mutants, and nodulation in legumes. IV. Auxin metabolites in pea root nodules

High specific activity [³H]indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) was applied directly to root nodules of intact pea plants. After 24 h, radioactivity was detected in all plant tissues. In nodule and root tissue, only 2–3% of³H remained as IAA, and analysis by thin layer chromatography suggested that indole-3-acetyl-L-aspartic acid (IAAsp) was a major metabolite. The occurrence of IAAsp in pea root and nodule tissue was confirmed unequivocally by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The following endogenous indole compounds were also unequivocally identified in pea root nodules by GC-MS: IAA, indole-3-pyruvic acid, indole-3-lactic acid, indole-3-propionic acid, indole-3-butyric acid, and indole-3-carboxylic acid. Evidence of the occurrence of indole-3-methanol was also obtained. With the exception of IAA and indole-3-propionic acid, these compounds have not previously been unequivocally identified in a higher plant tissue.     

Phytohormones,Rhizobium mutants,and nodulation in legumes. IV. Auxin metabolites in pea root nodules

High specific activity [³H]indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) was applied directly to root nodules of intact pea plants. After 24 h, radioactivity was detected in all plant tissues. In nodule and root tissue, only 2–3% of³H remained as IAA, and analysis by thin layer chromatography suggested that indole-3-acetyl-L-aspartic acid (IAAsp) was a major metabolite. The occurrence of IAAsp in pea root and nodule tissue was confirmed unequivocally by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The following endogenous indole compounds were also unequivocally identified in pea root nodules by GC-MS: IAA, indole-3-pyruvic acid, indole-3-lactic acid, indole-3-propionic acid, indole-3-butyric acid, and indole-3-carboxylic acid. Evidence of the occurrence of indole-3-methanol was also obtained. With the exception of IAA and indole-3-propionic acid, these compounds have not previously been unequivocally identified in a higher plant tissue.     

Ethylene and auxin-ethylene interaction in adventitious root formation in mung bean (Vigna radiata) cuttings

The role of ethylene in adventitious root formation and its involvement in auxin-induced rooting were investigated in cuttings ofVigna radiata (L.). Treatment with 30 M indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) for 24 h slightly inhibited rooting, whereas the same concentration of indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) significantly stimulated it. Ethylene derived from 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC) increased the number of adventitious roots but inhibited their emergence and elongation. Endogenous levels of ethylene, ACC, and malonyl-ACC (MACC) were initially higher in cuttings treated with IAA. This trend was quickly reversed, and cuttings, particularly hypocotyls, treated with IBA produced higher levels of ethylene and had more ACC and MACC during most of the rooting process. Aminoethoxyvinylglycine significantly inhibited rooting, but its inhibitory effect could not be reversed by ACC. The data suggest that the stimulating effect of IBA on rooting is closely associated with its induction of ACC and ethylene biosynthesis.