Role of Indole-3-acetic Acid in Modification of Geotropic Responses in Clinostat Rotated Avena Seedlings

Abstract

Oat seedlings were grown in a sand medium on clinostats with horizontal axes of rotation to nullify the directional component of the gravity-force vector. Coleoptile segments from such seedlings showed an enhanced absorption of apically applied exogenous auxin (indole-3-acetic acid), compared to segments from vertically rotated or stationary controls. Absorption of basally applied auxin and auxin transport were unaffected by the gravity treatments. Horizontal rotation did not materially change the amount of auxin produced and transported from excised coleoptile tips: however, plants so rotated showed an enhanced curvature response to unilaterally applied auxin.