| Abstract: | Previous experiments on the effects of auxins on the geotropicresponses of seedling pea roots (Audus and Brownbridge, 1957)have been extended using the ‘anti-auxin’  -(I-naphthylmethylsulphide)propionicacid (NMSP) alone and in combination with indole-3-acetic acid(IAA) and 2:4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2:4-D). NMSP action differs from that of the auxins in that it reducesthe rate of curvature progressively as the concentration isincreased, irrespective of whether the overall extension growthof the roots is being stimulated (10 and 30 p.p.m.) or inhibited(100 p.p.m.). Correspondingly the reaction time is lengthenedby 25–50 per cent. in all concentrations. Studies of responsesin mixtures of growth-stimulating concentrations of NMSP (30p.p.m.) and growth-inhibiting concentrations of IAA (10–8)and 2:4-D (3 x 10–8) show that auxins and ‘antiauxins’are mutually antagonistic in most, if not all, their actionson growth and curvature. The results suggest that the anti-auxin NMSP may stimulate rootgrowth and inhibit curvature by interfering with the synthesisor distribution of a natural endogenous inhibitor, which isnot IAA. NMSP inhibition of root growth in high concentrationsmust, however, be exerted independently of this natural inhibitor.The mutual antagonisms shown between the auxins and NMSP arebest explained in terms of an interference with access to thegrowth centres; competitive action at the growth centres themselvesseems not to be involved. |
