Auxin-Induced Changes in Cell Wall Properties and Growth of Avena Coleoptiles and Green Pea Epicotyls

Abstract

Auxin-induced changes in mechanical properties of the plant cell wall have been confirmed using non-automatic techniques (cf. Heyn and van Overbeek, 1931; Cleland, 1958; Masuda and Wada, 1966). A newly-developed technique using an automatic tensile testing apparatus offers several advantages in operation and in evaluation of the results obtained (Olson et al., 1965; Cleland, 1967). However, mechanical properties of the cell wall measured by a standard tensile technique, as compliance (Cleland, 1967), is not easy to interpret rheologically. We have recently developed a technique using a stress-relaxation process to determine rheological properties of the cell wall. This technique is useful for obtaining better insights into the mechanism(s) of cell growth.