CHANGES IN CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF THE STEMS OF RED KIDNEY BEAN PLANTS TREATED WITH 2, 4-DICHLOROPHENOXYACETIC ACID

Abstract

Both protein and amino acids accumulated in greater quantities in the stems of plants treated with 2,4-D than in the stems of the non-treated plants. The amino acids, calculated as % of crude protein, showed the greatest differences in the quantity of amino acids of the stem tissue to occur in aspartic acid, lysine, valine, methio-nine and phenylalanine. The variations in the content of amino acid indicate that the character of the protein is different in the treated stems than in the controls. The reducing and non-reducing sugars were depleted in the 2,4-D treated plants. The treated plants also showed a considerable reduction in carbohydrate reserves and a decrease in acid hydrolyzable polysaccharides. This decrease in sugar content and the tremendous increase in total protein suggests that a large portion of the carbohydrates is utilized in protein synthesis. The amt. of crude fiber decreased in the stems of 2,4-D treated plants as compared to the controls. The decrease in crude fiber and acid hydrolyzable polysaccharides indicates that the simple sugars are not utilized in the formation of structural constituents in 2,4-D treated plants. The ash content was greater in the stems of the treated plants; this increase of ash may be due to an accumulation of organic acids or an increase in free carboxyl groups in the protein of the stems of the treated tissue. The amts. of ether extract, unsaponifiable material and fatty acids of the ether extract were slightly greater in the stems of the treated plants. These differences may be due to the conversion of some of the carbohydrates to lipid material.