Effect of indoleacetic acid, abscisic acid, root tips and coleoptile tips on growth and curvature of maize roots.

The effect of externally applied indoleacetic acid (IAA) and abscisic acid (ABA) on the growth of roots of Zea mays L. was measured. Donor blocks of agar with IAA or ABA were placed laterally on the roots and root curvature was measured. When IAA was applied to vertical roots, a curvature directed toward the donor block was observed. This curvature corresponded to a growth inhibition at the side of the root where the donor was applied. When IAA was applied to horizontal roots from the upper side, normal geotropic downward bending was delayed or totally inhibited. The extent of retardation and the inhibition of curvature were found to depend on the concentration of IAA in the donor block. ABA neither induced curvature in vertical roots nor inhibited geotropic curvature in horizontal roots; thus the growth of roots was not inhibited by ABA. However, when, instead of donor blocks, root tips or coleoptile tips were placed onto vertical roots, a curvature of the roots was observed.