Growth-Modifying & Antimetabolite Effects of Amino Acids on Chrysanthemum

Abstract

Four of 20 natural amino acids (L-isoleucine, L-leucine, L-methionine and L-valine) had significant growth-modifying effects when applied to the roots of chrysanthemum. Racemic mixtures of alloisoleucine, norleucine, ethionine, methionlne, valine, isovaline and norvaline each caused pronounced changes in growth and morphology. DL-Alloisoleucine reproduced the symptoms of yellow strapleaf of chrysanthemum, apparently acting as an antimetabollte of natural amino acids. The use of DL-valine and DL-leucine as corrective metabolites caused nearly normal growth. Other metabolite-antimetabolite relations studied were methionine-ethionine, and methionine-norleucine.