The distribution of acetylcholine in the Malayan jack-fruit plant, Artocarpus integra.

The distribution of acetylcholine in the seeds and leaves of the Malayan Jack-fruit plant, Artocarpus integra, has been studied with the view to obtaining evidence for the site of its formation. The terminal growing leaves on the side branches had a very high concentration of acetylcholine (770 mug./g.), while the acetylcholine content of the other leaves on the same branch progressively decreased with age. The total amount of acetylcholine stored in the terminal growing leaves was only 42 mug., but in the second leaves which had grown nearly to their full size it was 540 mug. From the third leaves, the amount of acetylcholine stored gradually decreased. The midribs and the secondary veins of the leaves when combined had a higher concentration of acetylcholine than had the blades. The acetylcholine concentration of the pith of the stem was 4.2 times higher than that of the cortex-phloem layer while that of the xylem layer was the lowest; in the root the pith had a value only one-seventh of the cortex. The younger part of the pith and the cortex-phloem layers of the stem contained more acetylcholine than the older parts. These findings support the view that the acetylcholine is synthesized in the growing leaves. An unusual lenticel-like structure in the cortex layer of the root contained more acetylcholine than the surrounding tissue.