This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via CrossRef Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Whitmore, F. W. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Whitmore, F. W. Agricola Articles by Whitmore, F. W.

Articles

Lignin Formation in Wheat Coleoptile Cell Walls

A Possible Limitation of Cell Growth ¹

^a Department of Forestry, Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center, Wooster, Ohio 44691

Four growth-influencing compounds—hydroxyproline, 2,2'-dipyridyl, 2-chloroethylphosphonic acid, and indoleacetic acid—were used to examine the relationship between lignin formation and growth of wheat coleoptile sections. Hydroxyproline and 2-chloroethylphosphonic acid, at low concentrations, inhibited growth and increased lignin content. Dipyridyl, which promoted coleoptile elongation, decreased lignin content. Indoleacetic acid caused a 300% increase in growth at 0.1 mM but resulted in lignin content no different from controls with no auxin. Chemical and anatomical evidence is given which indicates that lignin is present in the epidermal cell walls of the wheat coleoptile. It is thus possible that bonding between lignin and hemicellulose may have some influence on coleoptile growth.