Effect of atmospheric pressure on maize root growth and ethylene production.

Maize (Zea mays) seedlings were exposed to elevated atmospheric pressures while growing in moist sand in open plastic envelopes to evaluate the effects of directly applied atmospheric pressure on ethylene production and root growth. Effects were evaluated after 24 h. The threshold pressures necessary to promote ethylene production and decrease root elongation were about 600 and 400 kPa, respectively. Direct atmospheric pressure, at levels up to 300 kPa, mimicked the control decrease in root diameter and increased diameter only slightly at 500 to 1200 kPa. In contrast, in previous work it was shown that physical impedance resulting from compression of the growth medium by external application of 100 kPa increased the ethylene production rate 4-fold and the root diameter 7-fold while reducing elongation 75% in 10 h. The relative insensitivity of roots to direct atmospheric pressure suggests that they perceive physical impedance, achieved experimentally by compressing the growth medium, via a surface mechanism rather than via a pressure-sensing mechanism.