Changes in Some Enzyme Activities and Respiration in the Early Stage of Callus Formation in a Carrot‐root Tissue Culture

The respiratory rate increased in two phases during early stages of callus formation in carrot ( Daucus carota )‐root phloem slices cultured in vitro , showing separate peaks at about 24 and 96 h of culture. In the first phase (within 24 h of culture), the activities of phosphoglucose isomerase, phosphofructokinase and succinate dehydrogenase did not increase, but active syntheses of RNA and protein, indicated by experiments with incorporation of [ 14 C]‐uracil and ‐leucine, resulted in an active turnover of ATP, to which the first increase in the respiratory rate may be attributable. On the other hand, the activity of phosphoribosylpyrophosphate synthetase, an enzyme related to nucleic acid synthesis, increased in the first 24 h of culture. In the second phase (24–96 h of culture), the activities of the respiratory enzymes investigated increased. This increase was repressed by cycloheximide, indicating de novo syntheses of the respiratory enzymes during this time, which may result in an enlargement of the respiratory capacity, to which the second increase in respiration may be mainly attributable. In the first phase, exogenous supplied 2,4‐dichlorophenoxyacetic acid had little or no effect on the respiratory rate and the activities of the respiratory enzymes, but it enhanced synthesis of RNA and the activity of phosphoribosylpyrophosphate synthetase. In the second phase, it increased all the activities of enzymes investigated as well as the respiratory rate and RNA synthesis.