Hormonal regulation of growth of Cicer arietinum L. epicotyls. changes in the chemical composition of the cell wall.

The growth capacity of the epicotyls of Cicer arietinum L. decreased from the sub-apical region to the basal region. The pectic fraction content falls from the upper to the lower part of the epicotyls. Contrary to this, the α-cellulose content was lower in the upper part and higher in the basal one. The hemicellulosic content was almost constant over the whole epicotyl. Treatment of the epicotyls with IAA or GA3, compounds which induce growth in epicotyls, induced a decrease in galactose content in the hemicellulosic fraction as well as in the pectic fraction. On the other hand, epicotyls treated with kinetin, a compound which does not stimulate growth, did not show a decrease, though they did show a considerable increase in α-cellulose content.