Abstract
The curvature of roots seems to be associated with an overall inhibition of growth [1], These reactions appear to be controlled by some growth inhibiting substances produced (or released) by the cap of maize roots in response to gravity [2, 3] and to light [4]. Moving in the basipetal direction, they accumulate in the lower part of the roots, causing a downward bending (positive georeaction [5]. Abscisic acid (ABA) is present in maize roots and more especially in their tips [10]. If exogenous ABA is asymmetrically applied on the lower part of the apical cut surface of a decapitated root segment, a strong positive curvature is obtained [6, 7]. Furthermore, it has been reported that an ABA pretreatment of intact roots (5 apical mm) induced a growth inhibition and a gravireaction of horizontal roots in darkness [11]. Similar data were obtained with apical segments of the same cultivar: an ABA treatment (roots being immersed 1 h in a buffered ABA solution) enhanced significantly the georeactivity and this much more strongly for the segments kept in darkness than those illuminated [9].
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References
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© 1981 Martinus Nijhoff/Dr W. Junk Publishers, The Hague/Boston/London
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Chanson, A., Pilet, P.E. (1981). ABA effects on root growth and gravireaction of Zea mays L.. In: Brouwer, R., GaÅ¡parÃková, O., Kolek, J., Loughman, B.C. (eds) Structure and Function of Plant Roots. Developments in Plant and Soil Sciences, vol 4. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-8314-4_17
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-8314-4_17
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