The Carbohydrate Nutrition of Tomato Roots

Abstract

Variation of the concentration of sucrose in White‘s medium markedly affects the increase in length of the main axis, and the number and total length of the laterals developed by excised tomato roots. Highest values for these three features are obtained with medium containing 1.5 per cent, sucrose. Root material has been analysed anatomically. Root diameter, cortical thickness, number of xylem vessels, and development of the cortical air-space system increase with increase in sucrose concentration. The degree of vacuolation of extra-stelar meristematic cells increases, and protophloem differentiates further from the promeristem with rising sucrose concentrations. The interpretation of these results is discussed.