Effect of Coconut Milk on the Growth In vitro of Plant Virus Tumor Tissue

Abstract

1. The addition of coconut milk to a basal medium capable of supporting good growth of virus tumor tissue from Rumex acetosa results in a pronounced stimulation of growth, which is not due to indoleacetic acid. 2. Pure coconut milk is capable of supporting excellent growth of the virus tumor tissue. The carrot explants of Caplin and Steward will not grow on coconut milk alone. The other tissues discussed have not been tested on this substrate alone. 3. Autoclaved milk is much more stimulatory than sterile-filtered milk for the growth of virus tumor tissue. This suggests that there is a heat-labile factor (or factors) in the milk inhibitory to the growth of this tissue which partially negates the effect of the stimulatory substance. The stimulatory substance (or substances) is apparently heat-stable.