Abstract
Ascorbate free radical stimulated onion root growth when bulbs were incubated at 15°C and 25°C. The fully oxidized form, dehydroascorbate, was inhibitory. Ascorbate only stimulated cell elongation if it underwent appreciable autoxidation at 25°C or at 15°C in the presence of small amounts of Cu 2+. When ascorbate oxidation was inhibited, no stimulation of root growth was found at 25°C. Ascorbate oxidation rate was lower in the presence of onion roots, indicating that ascorbate free radical may be used as an electron acceptor for the transplasma membrane redox system regenerating ascorbate. The activation of this system could explain the reported growth stimulation.
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