Auxin Transport in Zea mays L. Coleoptiles I. Influence of Gravity on the Transport of Indoleacetic Acid-2-C.

(14)C-methylene labeled IAA was used to determine the influence of reorientation with respect to gravity on auxin transport in Zea mays L. coleoptile segments. It was observed that inversion of the segments leads to a decrease in the capacity to transport (14)C-IAA basipetally, as well as, in certain instances, the linear velocity of that transport. Segments were also reoriented horizontally, and the transport velocity and capacity of the upper and lower tissue halves compared with vertical halves. There was no significant change in the velocity, but the transport capacity of lower halves was higher than that of the vertical halves, which in turn was higher than the capacity of the horizontal upper halves. It is suggested that the geocurvature of horizontally placed coleoptiles may be caused primarily by the effect of reorientation on auxin transport.