Auxin inhibition of acid-and fusicoccin-induced elongation in lentil roots

Abstract

Both acid pH (4.0) and fusicoccin (FC) strongly stimulate root elongation in intact lentil (Lens culinaris Med.) seedlings. FC-induced elongation is apparently mediated by FC-enhanced H⁺ secretion since the toxin induces massive secretion of H⁺ in these roots after a latent period of less than 5 min. Auxin (indole-3-acetic acid) strongly inhibits elongation in control roots as well as acid-induced and FC-induced root elongation. Treatment of apical root segments with auxin causes only a slight apparent uptake of H⁺ and has no inhibitory effect on FC-induced H⁺ secretion, whether the hormone is given before or after the toxin. Auxin induces ethylene production in excised roots of lentil but the latent period is at least 30 min while inhibition of root elongation by IAA is maximal within 30 min. It is concluded that the inhibitory action of auxin on acid-and fusicoccin-induced root elongation is a direct effect, independent of auxin-induced ethylene production or auxin-mediated modification of cell-wall pH.