Auxin-induced leaf blade expansion in Arabidopsis requires both wounding and detachment

Elevation of leaf auxin (indole-3-acetic acid; IAA) levels in intact plants has been consistently found to inhibit leaf expansion whereas excised leaf strips grow faster when treated with IAA. Here we test two hypothetical explanations for this difference in growth sensitivity to IAA by expanding leaf tissues in vivo versus in vitro. We asked if, in Arabidopsis, IAA-induced growth of excised leaf strips results from the wounding required to excise tissue and/or results from detachment from the plant and thus loss of some shoot or root derived growth controlling factors. We tested the effect of a range of exogenous IAA concentrations on the growth of intact attached, wounded attached, detached intact, detached wounded as well as excised leaf strips. After 24 h, the growth of intact attached, wounded attached, and detached intact leaves was inhibited by IAA concentrations as little as 1 µM in some experiments. Growth of detached wounded leaves and leaf strips was induced by IAA concentrations as low as 10 µM. Stress, in the form of high light, increased the growth response to IAA by leaf strips and reduced growth inhibition response by intact detached leaves. Endogenous free IAA content of intact attached leaves and excised leaf strips was found not to change over the course of 24 h. Together these results indicate growth induction of Arabidopsis leaf blade tissue by IAA requires both substantial wounding as well as detachment from the plant and suggests in vivo that IAA induces parallel pathways leading to growth inhibition.     

The consequence of peroxidase overexpression in transgenic plants on root growth and development

Transgenic tobacco plants that overproduce the tobacco anionic peroxidase wilt upon reaching maturity, although having functional stomata and normal vascular anatomy and physiology. These plants were examined further to determine the cause for wilting, and thus better understand how the anionic peroxidase functions in plant growth and development. Shoots from young peroxidase overproducing plants were grafted onto wild-type tobacco root stock to determine if the roots could absorb and transmit sufficient water to maintain leaf turgidity. These grafted plants never wilted when grown in the greenhouse though shoot peroxidase activity remained ten-fold greater than in control plants, thus indicating that wilting is a consequence of peroxidase expression in the roots. Close examination of root systems revealed considerably less root mass in the transformed plant, primarily exhibited through a decrease in branching. At flowering, root growth rate and total root mass in transformed plants were less than 50% of control plants although shoot mass and growth rate were unchanged. This is in contrast to root growth in young seedlings where transformed plants performed equivalently to controls. Root hydraulic conductivity was measured to evaluate the effect of elevated peroxidase expression on water absorption and transport; however, no significant change in hydraulic conductivity was found in transformed plants. The consequence of anionic peroxidase overexpression on indoleacetic acid (IAA) metabolism was also examined. No significant difference in IAA levels was observed; however, root elongation in plants overexpressing peroxidase was insensitive to exogenous IAA. It can be concluded that the overexpression of the tobacco anionic peroxidase in transformed plants results in diminished root mass from fewer root branches, which contributes to the wilting phenomenon seen in these plants. Further, this developmental change in transformed plants may be a consequence of the metabolism of IAA by the anionic peroxidase.     

Regeneration of plantlets from leaf and petiole explants of Pelargonium x hortorum

Summary The in vitro plant regeneration potential of vegetatively propagated geraniums (Pelargonium x hortorum) has been investigated. Using various combinations of growth regulators and a choice of different explants, a regeneration protocol has been developed to raise in vitro plantlets from young petiole and leaf explants from three different cultivars of geraniums. In all three cultivars, very young petiole explants exhibited a higher regeneration potential as compared with leaf explants. Regeneration efficiencies were found to be highly dependent on the cultivar, with cv. Samba showing the highest regeneration potential, followed by cvs. Yours Truly and then Sincerity. Samba also showed the highest number of shoots from both the petiole [57 shoot buds per petiole explant in the presence of 3 μM zeatin and 1 μM indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and leaf explants (43 shoots per leaf explant with 10 μM zeatin and 2 μM IAA). Shoot buds transferred to Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with 0.44 μM N⁶-benzyladenine and 0.11 μM IAA grew vigorously and attained 1–2 cm in length in 3–4 wk. These shoots rooted with 100% efficiency on MS basal medium, and plants developed that showed normal growth and flowering under greenhouse conditions.     

Brassinosteroid-induced exaggerated growth in hydroponically grown Arabidopsis plants

The effects of root application of brassinolide (BL) on the growth and development of Arabidopsis plants ( Arabidopsis thaliana ecotype Columbia [L.] Heynh) were evaluated. Initially, all leaves were evaluated on plants 18, 22, 26 and 29 days old. The younger leaves were found to exhibit maximal petiole elongation and upward leaf bending in response to BL treatment. Therefore, based on these results leaves 6, 7 and 8 on 22–24-day-old plants were selected for all subsequent studies. Elongation along the length of the petiole in response to BL treatment was uniform with the exception of an approximately 4 mm region next to the leaf where upward curvature was observed. Both BL and 24-epibrassinolide (24-epiBL) were evaluated, with BL being more effective at lower concentrations than 24-epiBL. The exaggerated growth induced by 0.1 μ M BL was not observed in plants treated with 1 000-fold higher concentrations of GA₃, IAA, NAA or 2,4-D (100 μ M ). In addition, no exaggerated growth effects were observed when plants were treated with 200 ppm ethylene or 1 m M ACC. All treatments with BL, NAA, 2,4-D, IAA or ACC promoted ethylene and ACC production in wild type Arabidopsis plants, but only BL triggered exaggerated plant growth. BL also promoted exaggerated growth and elevated levels of ACC and ethylene in the ethylene insensitive mutant etr1-3 , showing that the effect of BR on growth is independent of ethylene. This work provides evidence that BR-induced exaggerated growth of Arabidopsis plants is independent of gibberellins, auxins and ethylene.     

Effect of polyamines on adventitious root formation from Tobacco (Nicotiana tabaccum) leaf segments

To elucidate the effect of polyamines on adventitious root formation, we investigated the relationship between the frequency of adventitious root formation and the endogenous content of free polyamines in tobacco leaf segments which had been treated with polyamine biosynthesis inhibitors and polyamines. Adventitious root formation was inhibited in rooting medium (10 μM IAA) with methylglyoxal-bis(guanylhydrazone) (MGBG) or cyclohexylamine (CHA), and promoted with spermidine and putrescine. Treatment with high IAA (100 μM) medium plus CHA or MGBG promoted rooting up reversion of the rooting inhibition than the one treated with high IAA concentration alone. Spermidine promoted adventitious root numbers on low IAA (1 μM) medium when applied during culture period. The rooting inductive phase (in the presence of IAA) was determined by periodical transfer of leaf segments from IAA-containing medium to IAA free medium, and by changing polyamine contents, to be inductive phase. Putrescine and spermidine were accumulated to a maximum during the inductive phase. Therefore, the results point out the involvement of polyamines in inductive phase of adventitious root formation in tobacco leaf segments.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">In vitro</Emphasis> regeneration of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Salvia nemorosa</Emphasis> L. from shoot tips and leaf explants

Summary Shoot tips and leaves excised from in vitro shoot cultures of Salvia nemorosa were evaluated for their organogenic capacity under in vitro conditions. The best shoot proliferation from shoot tips was obtained on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with 8.9 μM 6-benzylaminopurine (BA) and 2.9 μM indole-3-acetic acid (IAA). Leaf lamina and petiole explants formed shoots through organogenesis via callus stage and/or directly from explant tissue. The highest values for shoot regeneration were obtained with 0.9 μM BA and 2.9 μM IAA for lamina explants. No shoot organogenesis was obtained on leaf explants cultured on MS medium supplemented with α-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA). The regenerated shoots rooted the best on MS medium containing 0.6 μM IAA or 0.5 μM NAA. In vitro-propagated plants were transferred to soil with a survival rate of 85% after 3 mo.     

Direct shoot organogenesis and assessment of genetic stability in regenerants of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Solanum aculeatissimum</Emphasis> Jacq.

A simple and efficient procedure was developed for in vitro propagation of Solanum aculeatissimum Jacq. using leaf and petiole explants cultured on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with α-naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) and 6-benzyladenine (BA). Effects of various plant growth regulators, explant types, carbohydrates, and basal salts on induction of adventitious shoots were also studied. Leaf explants appeared to have better regeneration capacity than petiole explants in the tested media. The highest regeneration frequency (79.33 ± 3.60%) and shoot number (11.33 ± 2.21 shoots per explant) were obtained in leaf explants in MS medium containing 3% sucrose and 0.8% agar, supplemented with 0.1 mg/l NAA and 2.0 mg/l BA, whereas petiole explants were more responsive to 0.1 mg/l NAA and 1.0 mg/l thiadiazuron. Developed shoots rooted best on MS medium with 1.0 mg/l indole acetic acid (IAA), producing 18.33 ± 2.51 roots per shoot. Histological investigation showed that the shoot buds originated mainly from epidermal cells of wounded tissues, without callus formation. The regenerated plantlets were successfully acclimatized in a greenhouse, where over 90% developed into morphologically normal and fertile plants. Results of flow cytometry analysis on S. aculeatissimum indicated no variation in the ploidy levels of plants regenerated via direct shoot formation and showed almost the same phenotype as that of mother plants. This adventitious shoot regeneration method may be used for large-scale shoot propagation and genetic engineering studies of S. aculeatissimum.     

Brassinosteroid-induced epinasty in tomato plants

The effects of root treatments of brassinosteroid (BR) on the growth and development of hydroponically grown tomato plants (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill cv Heinz 1350) were evaluated. There was a dramatic increase in petiole bending when the plants were treated with 0.5 to 1.0 micromolar BR. The leaf angle of the treated plants was almost three times that of untreated controls. BR-induced epinasty appeared to be due to stimulation of ethylene production. Excised petioles from BR-treated plants produced more than twice as much ethylene as did untreated controls. As ethylene production increased, the degree of petiole bending also increased, and inhibition of ethylene production by AOA or CoCl₂ also inhibited epinasty. BR-treated plants had increased levels of the ethylene precursor 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC) in the leaf tissue. ACC appeared to accumulate primarily in the petioles with the greatest amount of ACC accumulating in the youngest petioles. Time course evaluations revealed that BR treatment stimulated ACC production. As ACC accumulated, ethylene increased, resulting in epinasty. Little or no ACC was found in the xylem sap, indicating that there was a signal transported from the roots which stimulated ACC synthesis in the leaf tissue.     

Regeneration of Salvia sclarea via organogenesis

Summary The present work provides a system for regeneration of clary sage, (Salvia sclarea L.) via organogenesis using plant tissue culture techniques in a multistage culturing medium containing 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) (9.05–181.00 μM). A higher frequency of organogenic tissue initiation was obtained from immature zygotic embryo cotyledons (IZEC) 2–3 wk after pollination on the medium supplemented with 9.05 μM 2,4-D. The organogenic tissues were then proliferated on media containing both indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and 6-benzylaminopurine (BA). Organogenic lines were established via selection, isolation and continuous subculture of organogenic tissues on a medium containing 22.19 μM BA and 2.85 μM IAA. Shoots were regenerated from both the proliferated tissues and IZEC, and propagated in the presence of IAA or α naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA), BA and gibberellic acid (GA₃). Although roots were induced from regenerated shoots on the media containing a low concentration of IAA, IBA (0.98 μM) in combination with desiccation of regenerated shoots with a stem ∼10 mm in length promoted more and stronger root formation. After the root system was well established (20 mm in length), the regenerated plants were transferred to soil in plastic pots for further growth and production of R1 seeds in the greenhouse.     

Function of phenolic substances in the degradation system of indole-3-acetic acid in strawberries

The homogenate of different strawberry organs inhibits the degradation of IAA in the presence of horse radish peroxidase, while intact strawberry tissues are able to degrade IAA. The chemical nature of peroxidase inhibitors present, in strawberry tissues was in vestigated. Using paper chromatography the following polyphenolic substances inhibiting peroxidase activity were identified: chlorogenic, caffeic, ellagic, gentisic, gallic, and vanillic acids, quercetin and pelarginidin. Monophenolic compounds, also present in strawberry, such as p-hydroxy-phenyloacetic acid and p-hydroxybenzoic acid, are strong stimulators of IAA oxidase. Abscisic acid in very high concentration (1×10^?4M) enhances degradation of IAA by peroxidase. When both poly-and monophenolic compounds at equimolar concentrations are present in the system, only the inhibition of IAA degradation occurs. Tissue explants from the strawberry leaves and petiole degrade less IAA if they are previously forced to synthetize more polyphenols under illumination. Although the difference in IAA-decarboxylation activity between the illumination and dark treated explants was relatively small, nevertheless it was consistent and appears to be very important from a physiological point of view suggesting that there exists a regulatory relationin vivo between IAA degradation and the presence of phenolsin plant tissue. Electron microscope data revealed that phenolic substances are specially isolated from cytoplasm of the receptacle cells.     

Biomass Partitioning in Tomato Plants Infected with Meloidogyne incognita

Tomato plants were inoculated with Meloidogyne incognita at initial populations (Pi) of 0, 1, 10, 50, 100, and 200 (x 1,000) eggs per plant and maintained in a growth chamber for 40 days. Total fresh biomass (roots + shoots) at harvest was unchanged by nematode inoculation with Pi of 1 x 10⁵ eggs or less. Reductions in fresh shoot weight with increasing Pi coincided with increases in root weight. Total fresh biomass declined with Pi above 1 x 10⁵ eggs, whereas total dry biomass declined at Pi above 1 x 10⁴ eggs. The greatest reduction percentages in fresh shoot biomass induced by root-knot nematodes occurred in the stem tissue, followed by the petiole + rachis; the least weight loss occurred in the leaflets. Although biomass varied among shoot tissues, the relationship between biomass of various shoot tissues and Pi was described by quadratic equations. The linear and quadratic coefficients of the equations (stem, petiole + rachis, or leaflets on Pi) did not differ among tissues when calculations were based on standardized values. Meloidogyne incognita-infected plants had thinner leaves (leaf area/leaf weight) than did uninfected plants. Reductions in leaf weight and leaf area with nematode inoculation occurred at nodes 5-15 and 4, 6-14, respectively. Losses in plant height and mass due to nematodes reflected shorter internodes with less plant mass at each node.     

Hormonal changes in papaya seedlings subjected to progressive water stress and re-watering

Changes on abscisic acid (ABA), jasmonic acid (JA) and indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) levels were investigated in papaya seedlings (Carica papaya L.) cv. “Baixinho de Santa Amalia” under progressive water stress and subsequent rehydration. Also, the behaviour of leaf gas exchange and leaf growth was determined under stress condition. The results indicated that ABA and JA differ in their pattern of change under water stress. ABA continuously increased in leaves and roots during the whole period of stress whereas JA showed a sharp increase and a later decrease in both organs. Re-watering reduced rapidly (24 h) leaf and root ABA to control levels whereas the influence on JA levels could not be assessed. Drought and recovery did not alter IAA levels in leaf and root tissues of papaya seedlings. In addition, water stress reduced stomatal conductance, photosynthetic rate, transpiration rate, the percentage of attached leaves and leaf growth. Rehydration reverted in few days the effects of stress on leaf growth and gas exchange parameters. Overall, the data suggest that ABA could be involved in the induction of several progressive responses such as the induction of stomatal closure and leaf abscission to reduce papaya water loss. In addition, the pattern of accumulation of JA is compatible with a triggering signal upstream ABA. The unaltered levels of IAA could suggest a certain adaptive ability of papaya to maintain active physiological processes under progressive drought stress.     

Influence of supplemental ultraviolet-B on indoleacetic acid and calmodulin in the leaves of rice (Oryza sativa L.)

IR68 and Dular rice cultivars were grown under ambient, 13.0 (simulating 20% ozone depletion) and 19.1 (simulating 40% ozone depletion) kJ m^-2 day^-1 of biologically effective ultraviolet-B (UV-B_BE) for 4 weeks. Plant height and leaf area were significantly reduced by supplemental UV-B_BE radiation. Greater reduction in leaf area than of plant height was observed. A decrease in indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) content and increase in peroxidase and IAA oxidase activities of UV-B treated plants in both cultivars were observed compared with ambient control. Calmodulin content also decreased after plants were treated with high supplemental UV-B for two weeks and medium UV-B treatment for four weeks. The results indicated that peroxidase and IAA oxidase activities in rice leaves were stimulated by supplemental UV-B, resulting in the destruction of IAA which in turn may cause inhibition of rice leaf growth. Although the mechanism is unclear, calmodulin is most likely involved in leaf growth.     

Shoot organogenesis from petiole explants in the aquatic plant Nymphoides indica

A protocol for rapid shoot organogenesis from petiole explants of the ornamental aquatic plantNymphoides indica L. Thwaites O. Kuntze was developed for use in future mutation breeding and cultivar selection studies. Optimum culture conditions for shoot organogenesis were determined. Effects of factorial combinations of 2-iP, BA or kinetin (0–25 μM) in factorial combination with IAA or NAA (0–25 μM) were examined. On the basis of regeneration frequency (80%) and adventitious shoot number (11.5 shoots per explant), most efficient shoot organogenesis occurred on petiole explants cultured on a basal medium consisting of full-strength MS inorganic salts, 0.56 mM myo-inositol, 1.2 μM thiamine-HCl, 116.8 mM sucrose supplemented with 10 μM BA and 20 μM IAA and solidified with 0.8% TC agar. Formation of adventitious shoots by direct and indirect shoot organogenesis from the same explant was verified by histological sectioning. With the exception of variegated leaf production on a single adventitious shoot produced in the presence of 25 μM kinetin and 15 μM NAA, no visible phenotypic abnormalities were observedin vitro in any of the shoots generated. Solid achlorophyllous adventitious shoots were recovered following culture of this variegated leaf tissue. Plantlets were easily acclimatized toex vitro conditions. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

The Effect of Triacontanol on Peroxidase, IAA, and Plant Growth in Pisum sativum var.'Alaska' and 'Little Marvel'

The present study investigates the effects of triacontanol (CH₃(CH₂)₂₈CH₂OH),on plant growth (root and stem), peroxidase activity (apicalmeristem tissue), and auxin destruction (apical meristem tissue)in ‘Little Marvel’ dwarf (LM) and ‘Alaska’peas (AP). Triacontanol inhibited root growth in LM comparedto untreated controls. However, root growth in AP tissue wasenhanced by 1.0 mg I^–1 triacontanol and inhibited by allother treatments, in comparison to untreated controls. Wateruptake in triacontanol-treated AP plants was greater than inuntreated controls, with the converse being the case for LM.Triacontanol treatment caused an increase in peroxidase activityin both LM and AP plants compared to untreated controls. Interms of (1–¹⁴C)IAA destruction, GA₃ + 0.01 mg 1^–1triacontanol caused appreciable auxin breakdown (40%) in LMtissue, with GA₃ + 0.1 mg 1^–1 triacontanol giving a 43%decrease compared to untreated controls. In AP tissue, 10 µMGA3 increased auxin destruction by 188% whereas 0.1 mg I^–1triacontanol caused a 20% decrease compared to untreated controls.The effects of triacontanol on root and stem growth, peroxidaseactivity, and auxin destruction appear to be cultivar-specific,with respect to LM and AP varieties of peas.     

Abscission in Coleus: Light and Phytohormone Control

Light control of leaf abscission in Coleus (Coleus blumei Benthcv. Ball 2719 Red) appears to be regulated by the quantity ofendogenous auxin transported from the leaf blade to the abscissionzone. Gas chromatographic—mass spectrophotometric analysisindicated that diffusate collected from leaf tissue treatedwith red light contained significantly higher levels of auxinthan dark and far-red light-treated leaf tissue. In addition,diffusate from red light-treated tissue inhibited abscissionof leafless petioles while diffusate from far-red light-treatedtissue promoted abcission when compared with diffusate fromdark-treated tissue. The effect of red light on abscission couldbe mimicked by IAA, but not by other phytohormones. An auxintransport inhibitor, 2, 3, 5-triiodobenzoic acid (TIBA), appliedeither as a lanolin ring around the petiole or vacuum infiltratedinto tissue, could completely eliminate any red light effecton abscission. The data are consistent with a phytochrome-mediatedlight regulation of endogenous auxin level in the leaf whichthen controls abscission. Key words: Abscission, Coleus, IAA, plant hormones, red (far-red) light, TIBA     

Hormonal responses to partial drying of the root system of Helianthus annuus

Plants of Helianthus annuus were pot-grown in soil, with approximately30% of the root system protruding through the base. After 7d, the upper part of the root system of half of the plants wasexposed to drought (internal roots) while the lower part waskept in aerated nutrient solution (protruding root). The treatmentrapidly reduced the internal roots' water content from 26.1to 21.9 g g^–1 dry weight (DW), while in protruding rootsof stressed plants it slowly and continuously decreased from31.9 to 25.2 g g^–1 DW. Leaf water content rapidly decreasedin treated plants from 7.4 to 6.4 g g^–1 DW in the first2d and then reached a plateau. In stressed plants leaf stomatalresistance was significantly higher in the first 3 d while leafwater potential was lower only on the last day. Abscisic acid (ABA) concentration in treated plants increasedsignificantly compared to the controls. In treated internalroots, ABA rose from the first day, reaching a maximum of 1.48±0.49nmol g^–1 DW after 3 d. In treated protruding roots a maximumof 0.99±0.09 nmol g^–1 DW was reached after 1 d.ABA concentration in the xylem sap increased 2 d and 3 d afterthe start of soil drying, with a maximum of 113±12nmoll^–1 during the third day. The ABA rise in the leaves oftreated plants was less significant. Indol-3yl-acetic acid (IAA) concentration in internal rootsof treated plants reached a maximum of 22.54±3.34 nmolg^–1 DW on the third day, then decreased dramatically.The protruding root system of control plants showed a maximumvalue of 16.05±1.77 nmol g^–1 DW on the sixth day. Little difference in cytokinin content of xylem sap was notedbetween control and treated plants. Hormonal variations in different parts of the plant are discussedin relation to drought stress. Key words: Soil drying, roots, ABA, IAA, cytokinins     

Photosystem II organisation in chloroplasts of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Arum italicum</Emphasis> leaf depends on tissue location

The growth of plants under stable light quality induces long-term acclimation responses of the photosynthetic apparatus. Light can even cause variations depending on the tissue location, as in Arum italicum leaf, where chloroplasts are developed in the lamina and in the entire thickness of the petiole. We addressed the question whether differences in plastids can be characterised in terms of protein–protein interactions in the thylakoid membranes. Thylakoid assembly was studied in the palisade and spongy tissue of the lamina and in the outer parenchyma and inner aerenchyma of the petiole of the mature winter leaf of Arum italicum. The chlorophyll–protein complexes were analysed by means of blue-native-PAGE and fluorescence emission spectra. The petiole chloroplasts differ from those in the lamina in thylakoid composition: (1) reaction centres are scarce, especially photosystem (PS) I in the inner aerenchyma; (2) light-harvesting complex (LHC) II is abundant, (3) the relative amount of LHCII trimers increases, but this is not accompanied by increased levels of PSII–LHCII supercomplexes. Nevertheless, the intrinsic PSII functionality is comparable in all tissues. In Arum italicum leaf, the gradient in thylakoid organisation, which occurs from the palisade tissue to the inner aerenchyma of the petiole, is typical for photosynthetic acclimation to low-light intensity with a high enrichment of far-red light. The results obtained demonstrate a high plasticity of chloroplasts even in an individual plant. The mutual interaction of thylakoid protein complexes is discussed in relation to the photosynthetic efficiency of the leaf parts and to the ecodevelopmental role of light.     

The Role of Gibberellins in Early Growth and Development of Sugar Beet

Two gibberellin(GA)-like compounds were found in both rootsand shoots of sugar beet plants using the barley endosperm bioassay.One had chromatographic properties similar to GA₃ and GA₁; theother was highly non-polar, relatively inactive in the endospermassay, and may be a new gibberellin. Presence of the GA_3/1-likecompound was confirmed with the dwarf rice bio-assay. The quantityof this GA was relatively high in the root compared with theshoot at the 3–4 leaf stage when the first supernumerarycambia are being formed in the root. As plants developed throughthe 8–9 leaf stage and the 15–16 leaf stage thequantity of GA per unit fresh weight of material decreased. Application of gibberellic acid (GA₃) to the roots of youngsugar beet plants caused a significant increase in root dryweight shortly after treatment and the rate at which supernumerarycambia were produced was increased. Application of GA₃ to asingle petiole caused a significant increase in both root andshoot dry weight. GA₃ applied to either root or shoot causeda reduction in the rate of leaf formation although total leafarea per plant and shoot dry weight were unaffected. The probablerole of GA-like substances in controlling the growth and developmentof young sugar beet plants is discussed.