Growth-Promoting Effects of Alcohols on Excised Wheat Roots.

Isolated wheat roots in light and in the presence of iron, show a marked inhibition of the cell elongation. Six low molecular weight, primary alcohols (ethyl, n-propyl, n-butyl, isobutyl, n-amyl, isoamyl) are able to reverse the light inhibition and to restore the cell length as compared with the dark controls, if added in moderate concentrations (10^-2 M to 10^-3 M). They exert no growth promotion in the dark. Methyl alcohol and three secondary and tertiary alcohols examined (isopropyl, sec-butyl, tert-amyl) have very little or no effect, either in light or in darkness. Cell multiplication is not influenced, except in concentrations near the toxic ones. These alcohols, except methyl alcohol, became toxic in concentrations of 10^-1 M to 10^-3 M, the material being more sensitive to the higher molecular weight compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]