Articles
STIMULATION OF ROOT GROWTH OF LETTUCE BY AGAR AND ITS EXTRACT
Article number
393_14
Pages
127 – 134
Language
Abstract
Commercial preparations of plant polysaccharides, agar, agarose, cellulose, gelrite, pectin, sodium alginate and starch were immersed in water, and effects of these polysaccharides on the root growth of lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) were examined.
Seven kinds of agar markedly stimulated root growth.
Agarose, cellulose, gelrite and starch somewhat stimulated root growth, but pectin and sodium alginate rather inhibited.
Root growth of lettuce was also stimulated by water extract of agar.
The agar extract stimulated root growth much more than inorganic nutrient solution, suggesting that root growth stimulating substances are not inorganic nutrient.
When agar extract was fractionated by gel filtration using Sephadex G-25 column, root growth stimulating activity was found in low molecular weight fraction.
These results indicate that commercial agar contains water extractable root growth stimulating substances which are of low molecular weight.
Seven kinds of agar markedly stimulated root growth.
Agarose, cellulose, gelrite and starch somewhat stimulated root growth, but pectin and sodium alginate rather inhibited.
Root growth of lettuce was also stimulated by water extract of agar.
The agar extract stimulated root growth much more than inorganic nutrient solution, suggesting that root growth stimulating substances are not inorganic nutrient.
When agar extract was fractionated by gel filtration using Sephadex G-25 column, root growth stimulating activity was found in low molecular weight fraction.
These results indicate that commercial agar contains water extractable root growth stimulating substances which are of low molecular weight.
Authors
K. Ichimura, M. Oda
Keywords
agar, lettuce, polysaccharide, root growth, root growth stimulating substance
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