The Movement and Physiological Effect of Indoleacetic Acid Following Point Applications to Root Tips of Zea mays

Pinpoint applications of labeled and non-labeled indoleacetic acid (IAA) on resin beads were made, without injury, to vertical roots of intact seedlings of Zea mays. Points of application were at the extreme tip of the root, 0.5, 2 and 5 mm from the root tip. The movement of label and bending of the roots was recorded. Radiolabel was found to move basipetally from the extreme tip and 0.5 mm applications to a similar extent, reaching 8 mm from the tip. The level of label in the growing zone after 4 h was 10% of that found in the extreme tip. Movement from 2 and 5 mm applications was equal in both directions. Higher amounts of non-labeled IAA caused bending towards the point of application if applied at 0.5 or 2 mm but not at 5 mm from the tip. It is proposed that any endogenous IAA in the root cap could move to the growing zone and cause a unilateral inhibition of growth, provided that it was in the same transport pool as the exogenously applied IAA.