Gravitropic response of adventitious roots cultivated in light and darkness on sucrose-free medium.

Elongation of adventitious roots of Dracaena fragrans was investigated under photoautotrophic conditions. Root elongation decreased and stopped when cultures were transferred to darkness. Upon return to light roots renewed growth after a 5 day lag period. During the first two days of intensive new growth roots were agravitropic elongating in random directions. Investigation showed that transient absence of geotropic response was connected with disappearance of starch grains in root tip which occurred due to sucrose starvation of cultures in continuous darkness.