Manipulation of IAA‐Oxidase Activity and Auxin‐Deficiency Symptoms in Intact Cotton Plants with Manganese Nutrition

Abstract

AbstractCotton (Gossypium hirsutum L. cv. Deltapine 15) seedlings were grown in solution culture in which the Mn2+ level was varied. Following an initial period, a series of shifts in manganese nutrition were employed, each lasting 14 days. Appearance was observed and fresh weight, IAA oxidase (IAAO), peroxidase and IAAO inhibitor levels were determined. After the initial 3 weeks of treatment, growth was negatively correlated with IAAO (or peroxidase) activity. All shifts in manganese nutrition resulted in predicted changes in IAAO activity, growth and plant appearance during a second 2‐week period of the experiment. Continuously deficient plants exhibited highest leaf abscission and IAA oxidase activity, and lowest growth of all treatments. Plants shifted from deficient to control levels of Mn2+ exhibited a marked decline in IAAO activity, increase in growth and absence of leaf abscission. Plants shifted from borderline deficiency to deficient Mn2+ exhibited a major increase in IAAO activity, reduction in growth and extensive leaf abscission. Control and borderline toxicity plants maintained normal IAAO activity, growth, and appearance. During a final 2‐week period, symptom expression was intensified. In particular, the initial borderline deficiency plants shifted to deficient levels of Mn2+ abscised most of those leaves that expanded after the shift in treatment. In addition, shifts of some plants to toxic Mn2+ levels during the third phase of the experiment produced a complete cycle of manipulation. Plants initially deficient in Mn2+ with high IAAO and low growth recovered growth and declined in IAAO when shifted to control Mn2+ and then suffered severe inhibition of growth and toxicity symptoms when shifted to high Mn2+.In all cases changes in enzyme activity, growth, leaf abscission and similar symptoms were most strongly expressed in the youngest tissue or that with the greatest potential for growth during the interval of a particular treatment. Since total growth, IAAO, leaf abscission, internode length and similar symptoms were consistently manipulated in both directions (increase or decrease in intensity or degree) by raising or lowering Mn2+ levels in the plant culture medium, we conclude that there is a causal relationship between IAAO and these responses that involves destruction of auxin.