Components of auxin transport in stem segments of Pisum sativum L.

1. The uptake of indol-3-yl acetic acid ([1-(14)C]IAA, 0-2.0 μM) into light-grown pea stem segments was measured under various conditions to investigate the extent to which mechanisms of auxin transport in crown gall suspension culture cells (Rubery and Sheldrake, Planta 118, 101-121, 1974) are also found in a tissue capable of polar auxin transport. - 2. IAA uptake increased as the external pH was lowered. IAA uptake was less than that of benzoic acid (BA), naphthylacetic acid (NAA) or 2,4 dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4D) under equivalent conditions. TIBA enhanced net IAA uptake through inhibition of efflux, and to a lesser extent, also increased uptake of NAA and 2,4D while it had no effect on BA uptake. - 3. Both DNP and, at higher concentrations, BA, reduced IAA uptake probably because of a reduction of cytoplasmic pH. However, low concentrations of both BA and DNP caused a slight enhancement of IAA net uptake, possibly through a reduction of carrier-mediated IAA efflux. In the presence of TIBA, the inhibitory effects of DNP and BA were more severe and there was no enhancement of uptake at low concentrations. - 4. Non-radioactive IAA (10 μM) reduced uptake of labelled IAA but further increases in concentration up to 1.0 mM produced first an inhibition (0-10 min) of labelled IAA uptake, followed by a stimulation at later times. Non-radioactive 2,4 D decreased, but was not observed to stimulate, uptake of labelled IAA. In the presence of TIBA labelled IAA uptake was inhibited by non-radioactive IAA regardless of its concentration. - 5. Sulphydryl reagents PCMB and PCMBS promoted or inhibited IAA uptake depending, respectively, on whether they penetrated or were excluded from the cells. The penetrant PCMB also reduced the promotion of labelled IAA uptake by TIBA or by high concentrations of added non-labelled IAA. - 6. Our findings are interpreted as being consistent with the diffusive entry of unionised IAA into cells together with some carrier-mediated uptake. Auxin efflux from the cells also appears to have a carrier-mediated contribution, at least part of which is inhibited by TIBA, and which has a capacity at least as great as that of the uptake carrier. The data indicate that pea stem segments contain cells whose mechanisms of trans-membrane auxin transport fit the model of polar auxin transport proposed from experiments with crown gall suspension cells, although differences, particularly of carrier specificity, are apparent between the two systems.