The specificity of the auxin transport system

Abstract

In an effort to examine the specificity of the auxin transport system, the movement of a variety of growth substances and of auxin analogues through corn coleoptile sections was measured in both the basipetal and acropetal directions. In contrast to the basipetal, polar transport of the auxins indoleacetic acid (IAA) and 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid, no such movement was found for benzoic acid or for gibberellin A1. A comparison of the α- and β-isomers of naphthaleneacetic acid showed that the growth-active α-form is transported, but not the inactive β-analogue. Both the dextro (+) and leavo (-) isomer of 3-indole-2-methylacetic acid showed the basipetal movement characteristic of IAA, the dextro isomer being more readily transported than the (-)-form. In this instance, too, the transport was roughtly proportional to the growth promoting activity. The antiauxin p-chlorophenoxyisobutyric acid inhibited auxin transport as it inhibited auxin-induced growth. These results agree with the hypothesis that processes involved in auxin transport are closely linked to or even identical with the primary auxin action.