Effect of galactose on auxin-induced cell elongation in oat coleoptile segments in mannitol solutions

Abstract

Oat coleoptile segments were treated with or without 10 mM galactose in the presence or absence of 10 μM IAA and various concentrations of mannitol (pre-incubation). Auxin-induced growth was inhibited by galactose. Segments were then transferred to buffer solutions containing or not containing 10 mM galactose (post-incubation). Expansion growth due to rapid water absorption was observed. The expansion growth during the post-incubation was inhibited by galactose when galactose was applied during the post-incubation period or all through the pre- and post-incubation but was not affected by galactose when it was applied only during the pre-incubation. This result indicates that the galactose effect on the expansion growth is due to its inhibitory action during the post-incubation period. Galactose has been reported to be a specific inhibitor for cell wall synthesis. Thus, it is suggested that the expansion growth during post-incubation requires cell wall synthesis and is not just the process of passive water absorption. The primary action of auxin does not seem to require new synthesis of polysaccharides.