An Examination of the Factors affecting Variability in the Growth of the Mesocotyl and Coleoptile of Etiolated Avena Seedlings

• Published in: Annals of botany Vol. 17; no. 4; pp. 569 - 578
• Main Author: MER, C. L.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford University Press 01-10-1953
• ISSN: 0305-7364; 1095-8290
• DOI: 10.1093/oxfordjournals.aob.a083370

Experiments were carried out on the effect of rate of air-flow and of humidity on the growth of Avena seedlings. The experimental methods used are described in some detail. The effect of air-flow on mesocoryl growth was considerable when unsaturated air was used, but with saturated air growth was independent of air-flow. The effect must therefore be due to variation in transpiration rate. A 10 per cent, variation in relative humidity, at a constant rate of flow, caused a 30 per cent, variation in mesocotyl length. The coleoptiles showed less pronounced effects, but even in saturated air variability was not eliminated. Under the conditions used a difference of 2·3 mm. in mesocotyl length (per 50 plants), i.e. 8 per cent., was significant at P = 0·05; for the coleoptiles a difference of 1 mm. (8 per cent.) was significant at this level.