Studies on induced changes in growth patterns and polarity in roots of Vicia faba L.

Summary Roots of Vicia faba were treated with colchicine (0.025%), or IAA (4.7×10^-6 M), or both, for 3 hours and fixed at various intervals over the following 11 days. The axis of spindle orientation and the distribution of mitotic figures, lateral root primordia and xylem vessel elements was examined in the apical 10 mm of median longitudinal sections of these roots.No effect of IAA was found on the orientation of the spindle. However, evidence was obtained indicating that the systems controlling the polarity of cell division and cell expansion differ in some way.The number of lateral root primordia formed was greater in roots treated with IAA or colchicine than in control roots. These primordia were always initiated adjacent to a xylem vessel. Thus, no primordium was closer to the apex than the most apical xylem vessel, suggesting that an endogenous factor involved in primordia initiation is transported in the xylem. The primordia which develop after colchicine treatment grow out as lateral roots; this is in contrast with those which form after IAA treatment and which do not undergo elongation. These results, which it must be emphasized apply only to the apical 1 cm of treated roots, indicate that lateral root primordia become sensitive to IAA at a certain stage in their development. Exogenous IAA acts as an inhibitor.The new meristem, which forms in the primary root apex after colchicine treatment, contains both diploid and polyploid cells, i.e. it was formed from cells that were unaffected and from cells that were affected by colchicine. Following colchicine treatment the size of the meristem shrinks and this can be prevented by treatment with IAA. This and other evidence presented here, suggests that IAA is a factor involved in the control of the size of the apical meristem in normal roots.     

Lateral root development and saponin accumulation as affected by IBA or NAA in adventitious root cultures of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Panax ginseng</Emphasis> C.A. Meyer

Summary The effect of indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) and 1-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) on lateral root formation was investigated in adventitious root culture of Panax ginseng. Lateral root formation was affected by IBA (24.6 μM) or NAA (9.8 μM). Lateral root primordia emerged from the explant root pericycle after about 7 d of culture when the roots were cultured on Schenk and Hildebrandt (SH) medium supplemented with 24.6 μM IBA or 9.8 μM NAA. However, no changes were observed in the explant root pericycle on auxin-free medium. The IBA treatment was more effective for lateral root induction and root growth compared to NAA. In morphological and histological aspects, the lateral roots formed under IBA treatment developed normally, while NAA-treated roots exhibited abnormal growth. The accumulation of total saponin was greater in roots treated with IBA than with NAA.     

Relationship between tissue sugar content, phloem import and lateral root initiation in wheat

Split‐root experiments were conducted to test the hypothesis that adjustments in lateral root initiation, as might occur in response to localized soil conditions, are determined by the sugar content of the root and do not depend on changes in the import of phloem‐translocated phytohormones. Wheat ( Triticum aesticum L. cv. Alexandria) seedlings were grown in hydroponics with their seminal roots divided between two compartments within the culture vessel. Two seminal roots of treated plants were supplied with standard nutrient solution supplemented with 50 m M glucose, whilst the remaining three roots received nutrient solution without glucose. Control plants had their roots divided in the same ratio, but both 'halves' received nutrient solution without glucose. Feeding glucose to one 'half' of the root system increased the frequency (number per unit length) of lateral root primordia in the fed axes. The increase was first observed 15 h after the start of treatment and was located within the apical 30 mm of root. At this time there was no significant treatment effect on the frequency of primordia in non‐fed axes. The enhanced initiation of lateral roots in glucose‐fed root tips was associated with an increase in their concentration of glucose and sucrose plus low molecular mass fructans. In contrast, there was a reduction in partitioning of ¹⁴C‐photosynthate to these root tips compared to the non‐fed roots of treated plants and controls. The results indicate that lateral root initiation can be stimulated by sugars in the absence of an increase in phloem translocation. It is proposed that proliferation of lateral roots in response to localized soil conditions, such as nutrient patches, may be signalled by an increase in sugar content of the tissue, rather than an altered flux of phytohormones or other material co‐transported with sucrose in the phloem.     

Influence of temperature on root development and phosphate influx in winter wheat grown at different P levels

Root development was studied in winter wheat ( Triticum aestivum L. cv Starke II) grown at 5,10, 15 and 20°C in nutrient solutions with phosphate concentrations of 10, 100 or 1000 μM . The plants were grown for 38 days (5 and 10°C), 19 days (15°C) or 14 days (20°C). At the end of the cultivation period the phosphate influx in the roots was determined with ³²P-phosphate. Root development (lateral and seminal roof length and number) was monitored throughout the cultivation period on the same individuals by repeated (approximately every second day) photocopying of the roots for measurements with digitizer and appropriate software. The 5°C treatment yielded no laterals, and the seminals were only slightly affected by the different phosphate treatments. The 10 μM phosphate treatment gave high root:shoot dry weight ratio, high average lateral root length and high specific root length [m root (g root fresh weight)^-1]. The 1000 μM phosphate treatment yielded the highest number of laterals per m seminal root, and usually also the highest absolute numbers. Phosphate influx decreased with increased P status of the roots. It is argued that phosphate influx is dependent on factors such as P status, root geometry and relative root extension rate.     

Site, Scale and Time-course for Adjustments in Lateral Root Initiation in Wheat Following Changes in C and N Supply

The pattern of lateral root initiation in seminal roots of wheat(Triticum aestivumL. cv. Alexandria) and the location, scaleand time-course for adjustments in initiation were studied afterchanges in C and N supply. Macroscopically visible primordiaappeared in a non-acropetal sequence with the frequency (numberper unit length) increasing with distance behind the main rootapex to a maximum at 40–50 mm behind the root tip. Pruningthe root system to a single seminal axis increased the primordiafrequency by 23% within 15 h. After longer periods, the effectof root-pruning was greater. The enhanced primordia frequencywas first observed in tissue located 0–10 mm behind theapex at the start of treatment. Feeding glucose (50 mM) alsoincreased primordia frequency within 15 h, but to a greaterextent, and here additional primordia were initiated in tissuelocated 0–10and10–20 mm behind the apex at the startof treatment. Withdrawing NO₃^-from one part of a split-rootsystem, whilst maintaining the supply to the other, reducedprimordia frequency in the non-fed roots and, in some cases,a compensatory increase in the NO₃^--fed roots was observed.The location and scale of the adjustments were similar to thosefound with root-pruning and glucose-feeding, but were slightlyslower to appear. In spite of some differences in detail, therewas a broad similarity in site, scale and time-course for adjustmentsin lateral root initiation with these treatments, which is consistentwith the operation of a common mechanism. Whenever an increasein primordia frequency was observed, it was associated withan increase in the ethanol-soluble sugar content of the tissue.However, the reduction in frequency in NO₃^--deprived roots wasalso accompanied by an increase in sugar content. There wasno consistent relationship between total N content of the tissueand primordia frequency, but there was between primordia frequencyand the rate of net NO₃^-uptake. The possible mechanisms controllinglateral root initiation are discussed. Compensatory growth; correlative growth; glucose; initiation; lateral root; nitrate; primordium; split-root; Triticum aestivum; wheat     

Exogenous auxin effects on growth and phenotype of normal and hairy roots of Pueraria lobata (Willd.) Ohwi

Pueraria lobata hairy roots have faster elongationand more branches than normal roots. The responses of hairy roots and normalroots to treatment with three auxins, indole-3-acetic acid (IAA),indole-3-butyric acid (IBA), and naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) were different.In normal roots, all three auxins strongly stimulated lateral root formation atall tested concentrations. Responses to IAA and IBA in primary root growth andlateral root elongation were similar and depended on concentration; promotionat0.1 M, no effect at 1.0 M, and inhibition at2.5 M. In hairy roots, lateral root formation varied inresponseto the different auxins, i.e. depressed by NAA, unaffected by IAA, and promotedby IBA. Primary root growth was slightly inhibited by IBA and was unaffected byIAA. However, mean lateral root length was reduced in response to IAA and IBA.Only NAA exerted strong inhibition on primary and lateral root elongation inboth root types. The similar free IAA and conjugated IAA content but quitedifferent basal ethylene production and biosynthesis in hairy and normal rootssuggested different mechanisms of response to exogenous auxins in the two roottypes.     

Lateral root formation in the strawberry Fragaria × ananassa Duch. revealed by histone H4 in situ hybridisation

Abstract

Our study was carried out in bench rhizotrons using the Camarosa variety of strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa Duch.), by exciding the apex of fast-growing primary roots at two distances (1 or 8 cm) from the apex. It was demonstrated that new lateral meristems were rapidly induced by excision of the root apex at either distance; after 24 h, histone H4 in situ hybridisation detected groups of cell-organising root primordia just a few millimetres below the cut. After a further 24 h, new lateral roots were about to protrude from the original root. Results show that lateral roots can be formed anywhere along the primary roots of strawberry plants from a few stem cells distributed along the pericycle close to the protoxylem arches.     

The ambiguous role of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid in wheat tissue culture

The very basal, highly immature regions of dissected young leaves of Triticum aestivum L. cv. Kite formed adventitious roots on a nutrient medium supplemented with comparatively low concentrations (0.16 to 0.63 μ M ) of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D). Higher concentrations (up to 640 μ M ) had to be applied to stimulate growth from more mature regions higher up the leaf. Yet, already at 2.5 μ M roots were less distinct and more callus-like, and eventually (at 10 to 640 μ M ) only a subculturable callus of apparently suppressed, slowly proliferating root primordia developed. Furthermore, at the most basal, highly immature regions growth was significantly retarded when the auxin concentration was raised. The leaf culture system appears to reflect the dual action of 2,4-D known from herbicide research, namely growth stimulation from differentiating (or differentiated) cells, but growth suppression at or in the vicinity of apical meristems. Correspondingly, when the callus of apparently suppressed, slowly proliferating root primordia was transferred to media without 2,4-D or with low concentrations (0.16–2.5 μ M ) rapid proliferation commenced, leading to profuse root outgrowth. The system demonstrates the ambiguous role which this auxin appears to have, at least in wheat tissue culture.     

MESOCOTYL ROOT FORMATION IN ECHINOCHLOA PHYLLOPOGON (POACEAE) IN RELATION TO ROOT ZONE AERATION

Echinochloa phyllopogon was grown hydroponically under four root zone gassing treatments to determine aeration effects on the growth and development of the plant root system. Although mesocotyl growth and the number of nodal roots were unaffected by the treatments, other aspects of plant growth were altered. Shoot growth was reduced by hypoxic (5 kPa partial pressure O₂ in nitrogen gas) and anoxic conditions (O₂ free nitrogen gas), but not by ethylene (0.1 ppm in air). Seminal root growth was unaffected by hypoxia or ethylene treatments, but was reduced under anoxia. Hypoxic environments stimulated the emergence of roots along the length of the mesocotyl when compared to aerobic controls; anoxic and ethylene treatments had no significant effects. Mesocotyl roots elongated from primordia that were produced de novo in response to the hypoxic treatment. Under hypoxic conditions, aerenchyma was present in the cortex of nodal roots and to a lesser extent in seminal roots, but mesocotyl roots were devoid of aerenchyma under these conditions. The results are compared with the literature concerning flooding and aeration effects on growth and development in other species.     

Extension rate and respiratory activity in the growth zone of wheat roots: Time-course for adjustments after defoliation

The time-course for adjustments in the rate of extension of wheat (Triticum aestivum L. cv. Alexandria) roots, and the activity and capacity of respiratory pathways in the root apex, were determined after pruning the shoot to the ligule of the first leaf. Leaf pruning reduced the extension rate of both seminal and lateral roots. The onset of the response occurred within 1 h of pruning for laterals and between 2 and 3 h for seminals. The reduction in rate appears to be the result of a decrease in carbohydrate availability because (1) in seminal roots it was preceded by a decrease in soluble sugar content of the apical part of the growth zone (0–5 mm behind the root apex) and (2) supplying glucose (50 mM) to the roots of plants defoliated 24 h earlier led to a steady increase in extension rate of both seminal and lateral roots compared to non-fed controls. Supplying 3-O-methyl glucose had no effect. The reduction in extension rate of seminal roots was accompanied (or slightly preceded) by a reduction in respiratory O₂ uptake in the apical part of the growth zone (0–5 mm). Changes in respiratory activity in the basal part of the growth zone (5–10 mm) only occurred several hours later. At the time root extension rate was reduced, the rate of O₂ uptake could be stimulated with FCCP, which indicates that respiration was under the fine control of adenylates. From these results we suggest the following sequence of events occurs after defoliation. Firstly, defoliation reduces the supply of sugars to the root apex, this leads to a reduction in rate of extension through some form of coarse control by carbohydrates on cell division and expansion, which in turn reduces the rate of respiratory O₂ uptake because of a smaller demand for ATP. The results also indicate that there is a rapid (<1.5 h) reduction in respiratory capacity in the root apex after defoliation which occurs before any change in the overall rate of respiration.     

Effect of copper excess in environment on soybean root viability and morphology

The effects of increase copper concentrations in medium (10–150 μM CuSO₄) on growth and viability of the roots of two-week-old soybean seedlings (Glycine max L., cv. Dorintsa) were studied. Copper excess suppressed biomass accumulation and linear plant growth; copper affected root growth much stronger than shoot growth. The presence of 10 μM CuSO₄ in medium suppressed accumulation of plant biomass by 40% and the root length by 70%; in the presence of 25 μM CuSO₄, these indices were equal to 80 and 90%, respectively. In the presence of 50 μM CuSO₄, roots ceased to grow but biomass and shoot length still increased slightly. 150 μM CuSO₄ was lethal for plants. The earliest sign of excessive copper toxicity was the accumulation of MDA, indicating activation of membrane lipid peroxidation. A significant increase in MDA content was observed at plant incubation in medium with 10 μM CuSO₄ for 1 h; in this case, the content of copper in the roots increased from 36 ±1.8 (in control) to 48 ± 2.4 μg/g dry wt. The number of dead cells (permeable for the dye Evans Blue) was doubled in the presence of 200 μg/g dry wt within the root; this occurred in 72 h of growth in medium with 10 μM CuSO₄, in 6 h at 25 μM CuSO₄, in 3 h at 50 μM CuSO₄, and 1 h at 150 μM CuSO₄. Toxicity of copper excess was manifested stronger in dividing and elongation cells of the root apex (root meristem and the zone of elongation) than in more basal root regions. Copper excess resulted in the formation of breaks in the surface cell layers of the root tips and affect root morphology. When plant grew in medium with 10 μM CuSO₄, a distance of lateral root formation zone from the root tip decreased markedly, and spherical swellings were formed on the tips of lateral roots. The higher copper concentrations (50 and 150 μM) suppressed completely the development of lateral roots.     

Regulation of root growth by auxin and ethylene is influenced by phosphate supply in white clover (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Trifolium repens</Emphasis> L.)

The influence of P-supply on root system architecture (primary root length, number and total length of lateral roots) through the effects of ethylene (ACC) and auxin [1-naphthylacetic acid (NAA)] has been examined in the legume white clover (Trifolium repens L.). Higher concentrations (1 and 10 μM) of ACC and NAA (100 nM) inhibited growth, while lower concentrations (100 nM ACC, 5 nM NAA) either had no effect or stimulated growth in P-sufficient (1 mM Pi) roots. In response to low (10 μM) P, a stimulation of primary root growth, number of lateral roots and mean length of lateral roots was observed, while a super-stimulation of these growth parameters occurred in response to subsequent 100 nM ACC treatment suggesting that the low P treatment increased the sensitivity of the roots to ethylene. Examination of the primary roots of DR5p::GUS transformants suggests that this change in sensitivity induced by low P occurs through the promotion of auxin signalling/transport to the root apex. These results are discussed in terms of the role of ethylene and the significance of changes in sensitivity to the hormone in modulating root system architecture in response to low P-supply.     

A Differential Response to Colchicine of Meristems of Roots of Vicia faba

In whole root systems of Vicia faba, including primaries andlaterals, the meristems do not respond in a uniform manner totreatment with colchicine. The meristems of the primary andfully emerged lateral roots become mixoploid and these rootsshow a temporary inhibition of growth. Lateral roots that emergewithin 48 hours of treatment show no effects of colchicine;their growth is not inhibited and they contain few or no polyploidcells. The cells of the primordia that produce these lateralsappear to be insensitive to colchicine: at the insensitive stagethese primordia contain at least 1, 000 cells. Primordia withless than 800 cells are very sensitive to colchicine. They donot recover from treatment and appear to be completely inhibited.The stages of extreme sensitivity and resistance are transientphases in the morphogenesis of a lateral root. The change insensitivity to colchicine is accompanied by a fall in the mitoticindex; this is highest in young primordia, where it is abouttwice the value found in growing laterals.     

The seminal root primordia in barley and the participation of their non-meristematic cells in root construction

In addition to the primary seminal primordium, the so-called secondary seminal root primordia are also initiated in a barley embryo. The primary root primordium is developmentally most advanced. It is formed by root meristem covered with the root cap, and by a histologically determined region with completed cell division. On germination, the restoration of growth processes begins in this non-meristematic region of root primordium by cell elongation, with the exception of the zone adjacent to the scutellar node, the cells of which do not elongate but continue differentiating. In the root primordia initiated later, the zone with completed cell division is relatively shorter, in the youngest primordia the non-meristematic cells may be lacking. The root meristem is reactivated after the primary root primordium has broken through the sheath-like coleorrhiza and emerges from the caryopsis as the primary root. The character of root meristem indicates a reduced water content at the embryonic development of root primordium. With progressing growth the root apex becomes thinner, the meristematic region becomes longer, and the differences in the extent of cell division between individual cell types increase. — The primary root base is formed of cells pre-existing in the seminal root primordium. Upon desiccation of caryopsis in maturation, and subsequent quiescent period, their development was temporarily broken, proceeding with the onset of germination. The length of this postembryonically non-dividing basal zone is different in individual cell types. The column of central metaxylem characteristic of the smallest number of cell cycles, has, under the given conditions, a mean length of about 22 mm, whereas the pericycle, as the tissue with most prolonged cell division, has a mean length of about 6 mm. In the seminal root primordia initiated later the non-dividing areas are relatively shorter. The basal region of seminal roots thus differs in its ontogenesis from the increase which is formed “de novo” by the action of root meristem upon seed germination.     

Root growth responses to lead in young maize seedlings

This work was undertaken to follow the appearance and development of symptoms of lead toxicity in growing roots of seedlings. The effects of lead nitrate (10^-2–10⁵ M) were studied on the roots of maize (Zea mays) seedlings, cvs. Diamant and Sterling. The roots were grown on filter paper either on glass in trays or in large Petri dishes. The following characteristics of root growth were studied: seed germination, length of primary and seminal roots, number of seminal and lateral roots, length of branching zone, length of meristem and fully-elongated cells and the number of fully-elongated cells along the daily length increment. 10^-2 M lead nitrate exerted a clear toxic effect on root elongation just after radicle emergence; its influence on shoot growth was weak. However 10^-2 M Pb solution did not affect either radicle emergence itself or seminal root emergence, which can be explained by the impermeability of seed testa to lead salt. The inhibitory effect of 10^-3 M lead nitrate appeared a day later and was not as toxic: the growth of primary and seminal roots proceeded at lower rate due to a partial inhibition of cell division and cell elongation in them. 10^-3 M lead nitrate modified the root system morphology: it exerted no effect on the emergence of lateral roots and their number, but induced a more compact distribution of lateral roots along a shorter branching zone due to a reduced length of mature cells in the primary root. As a result of the more prominent inhibition of primary root growth, a shorter branching zone with more compactly located lateral roots occupied a position much closer to the root tip than in roots grown without the influence of lead.     

Rate of differentiation and emergence of nodal maize roots

The timing of root production is one of the parameters required for modelling the root system architecture. The objectives of this study are (1) to describe the rate of appearance of adventitious root primordia of maize and their rate of emergence out of the stem; (2) to test equations for the prediction of the rank of the phytomer on which root emergence occurs, in a wide range of field situations.Maize, cultivar Dea, was grown in controlled conditions and in the field in 1987, 1988, 1989 and 1991. Plants were regularly sampled and the following data were recorded: foliar stage, number of root primordia and number of emerged roots per phytomer. Root primordia were counted in transverse thin sections in the stem.At a single plant level, root primordia differentiation occurred sequentially on the successive phytomers, with no overlapping between two phytomers. The same was true for root emergence. Roots belonging to the same phytomer emerged at approximately the same time.At a plant population level, there was a linear relationship between the rank of the phytomer on which root primordia were differentiated and cumulated degree-days after sowing. A linear relationship was also observed between the rank of the phytomer on which roots were emerging and cumulated degree-days or foliar stage. In the range of field situations tested (several years, sowing dates and planting densities), both equations gave an accurate prediction of the timing of root emergence during the plant cycle.     

The Control of Lateral Root Development in Cultured Pea Seedlings. II. Root Fasciation Induced by Auxin Inhibitors

Lateral root development in cultured seedlings of Pisum sativum (cv. Alaska) was modified by the application of auxin transport inhibitors or antagonists. When applied either to replace the root tip or beneath the cotyledonary node, two auxin transport inhibitors, 2,3,5-triiodobenzoic acid (TIBA) and 3,3a-dihydro-2-(p-methoxyphenyl)-8H-pyrazolo[5,1-α]isoindol-8-one (DPX-1840), increased cell division activity opposite the protoxylem poles. This resulted in the formation of masses of cells, which we are calling root primordial masses (RPMs), 2 to 3 days after treatment. RPMs differed from lateral root primordia in that they lacked apical organization. Some roots however developed both RPMs and lateral roots indicating that both structures were similar in terms of the timing and location of cell division in the pericycle and endodermis leading to their initiation. Removal of the auxin transport inhibitors allowed many of the RPMs to organize later into lateral root primordia and to emerge in clusters. When the auxin, indoleacetic acid (IAA) was added to the growth medium along with DPX-1840, 3 ranks of RPMs now in the form of fasciated lateral roots emerged from the primary root. The auxin antagonist, p-chlorophenoxy-isobutyric acid (PCIB), also induced RPM formation. In contrast to DPX-1840 treatment, the addition of IAA during PCIB treatment caused normal lateral root development.     

Lateral Root Development in Attached and Excised Roots of Zea mays L. Cultivated in the Presence or Absence of Indol-3-yl Acetic Acid

The initiation of lateral root primordia and their subsequentemergence as secondary roots have been examined in attachedand excised roots of Zea mays grown in the presence or absenceof indol-3-yl acetic acid (IAA). Exposure to IAA enhanced anlageinception in both batches of roots. In the attached roots, theIAA-induced stimulation of primordium initiation was followedby a similar increase in lateral emergence. IAA treatment, however,had no effect on the number of laterals produced, per centimetreof root, in the excised primaries. Thus, exposure to IAA didnot directly enhance lateral emergence in the attached rootsnor did it stimulate such emergence in the excised ones. Nocorrelation was found between proliferative activity in themeristem at the apex of the primary or the rate of root elongationon the one hand, and either the number of primordia initiated,or the number of laterals produced, per centimetre of primary,on the other. Zea mays, maize, root, primordium, lateral, indol-3-yl acetic acid, meristematic activity     

Cereal Cyst Nematode (Heterodera avenae) on Oats. II. Early Root Development and Nematode Tolerance

The effect of Heterodera avenae infestation on early seminal and lateral root growth was examined in four oat genotypes differing in tolerance to H. avenae. Recently emerged seminal roots were inoculated with a range of H. avenae larval densities, then transferred a hydroponic system to remove the effect of later nematode penetration on root development. Intolerance to H. avenae was assessed in terms of impairment of seminal root extension resulting in fewer primary lateral roots emerging from the seminal root below the zone of juvenile penetration. Tolerant plants infested with H. avenae had longer lateral root systems than infested intolerant plants. The decline in lateral root growth below the penetration zone was partly offset by increased growth above. This did not contribute to tolerance, however, as there were no differences between cultivars for this feature. Nematodes induced earlier nodal root emergence in all cultivars. Nodal root development was most advanced on the most tolerant cultivar.     

Ethylene as a possible mediator of light-induced inhibition of root growth

Eliasson, L. and Bollmark, M. 1988. Ethylene as a possible mediator of light-induced inhibition of root growth. - Physiol. Plant. 72: 605–609.
Pea seedlings ( Pisum sativum L. cv. Weibull's Marma) were used to investigate the possible role of ethylene in light-induced inhibition of root elongation. Illumination of the roots with white light inhibited root elongation by 40–50% and increased ethylene production by the roots about 4-fold. Our main approach was to use exogenous 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC), supplied in the growth solution, to monitor ethylene production of the roots independent of light treatment. Ethylene production of excised root tips increased with increasing ACC concentrations. The rate of ethylene production in dark-grown roots treated with 0.1 μ M ACC was similar to that caused by illumination. Low ACC concentrations (0.01–0.1 μ M ) decreased the rate of root elongation, especially in seedlings grown in the dark, and 0.1 μ M ACC inhibited elongation to about the same extent as light. In light the roots curved and grew partly plagiogravitropically. This effect was also simulated by the 0.1 μ M ACC treatment. At 1 μ M and higher concentrations, ACC inhibited root growth almost completely and caused conspicuous curvatures of the root tips both in light and darkness. Inhibitors of ethylene synthesis and action partially counteracted the inhibition of root elongation caused by light. These observations suggest that the increase in ethylene production caused by light is at least partly responsible for the decreased growth of light-exposed roots.