Seed Coat Retention and Hypocotyl Hook Development in Mutants of Arabidopsis thaliana L.

Germination and growth of wild-type and two mutant strains (aux-1and Dwf) of Arabidopsis thaliana L. have been examined. Seedlingsof aux-1 exhibit agravitropic roots whereas Dwf display bothagravitropic roots and shoots. Wild-type seedlings retained the seed coat at the root-hypocotyltransition zone and developed hypocotyl hooks. In contrast,aux-I and Dwf seedlings did not retain their seed coats andlacked hypocotyl hooks. A positive gravitropic response of theroots was essential for the retention of the seed coat at theroot—hypocotyl transition zone by the attachment of roothairs to the seed coat. The development of the hypocotyl hookwas aided by the retention of the seed coat. The apical regionof the hypocotyl apparently remained agravitropic during formationand maintenance of the hypocotyl hook. Arabidopsis thaliana L., auxins, gravitropism, hypocotyl hook, mutants, peg formation, germination