THE INFLUENCE OF VARIOUS SODIUM AND POTASSIUM SALTS UPON THE GROWTH OF YOUNG AVENA SEEDLINGS

Abstract

Young seedlings of Avena sativa var. Black Norway were grown in solns. of several Na and K salts in the presence and absence of 2 x 10-5 [image] iodoacetate. Iodoacetate caused growth inhibition in the coleoptile and first leaf but in the root. K salts of fumarate, malate, pyruvate, succinate, malonate, acetate, chloride, sulfate and nitrate in both the presence and absence of iodoacetate increased growth of the coleoptile and first leaf. Smaller responses resulted from organic and inorganic Na salts. Iodoacetate inhibition of coleoptile growth was lessened by Na or K salts of fumarate, pyruvate, acetate, malate and sulfate and by K salts of succinate and malonate. It is concluded that responses to K salts of organic acids in the presence of iodoacetate are primarily responses to K. In addition, some organic and inorganic salts tend to alleviate iodoacetate inhibition. Growth of roots was influenced primarily by the particular anion and its concn. Fumarate, malonate, pyruvate and acetate at 0.001 [image] resulted in increased root growth. At a concn. of 0.005 [image] sulfate and malate inhibited root growth.