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STUDIES ON PLANT GROWTH‐REGULATING SUBSTANCES
Author(s) -
SMITH M. S.,
WAIN R. L.,
WIGHTMAN F.
Publication year - 1952
Publication title -
annals of applied biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.677
H-Index - 80
eISSN - 1744-7348
pISSN - 0003-4746
DOI - 10.1111/j.1744-7348.1952.tb01012.x
Subject(s) - biology , antagonism , avena , mode of action , plant growth , stereochemistry , biochemistry , botany , chemistry , receptor
Three synthetic growth‐regulating substances, α‐(2‐naphthoxy)‐, α‐(2:4‐dichloro‐phenoxy)‐ and α‐(2:4:5‐trichlorophenoxy)‐propionic acids, have been resolved into their (+)‐ and (‐)‐forms. The physiological activity of these isomers and of the racemic compounds has been investigated using the pea curvature and Avena cylinder test methods of assessment. The (+)‐isomers in each case displayed high activity in both tests, whereas that exhibited by the (‐)‐isomers was negligible. The racemic compounds showed intermediate activity. The mode of action of aryloxyalkylcarboxylic acids is discussed in the light of the results presented. These considerations suggest the possibility that the activity of the (+)‐isomers might be antagonized by the presence of the corresponding inactive enantiomorphs. Our experiments show that such antagonism does in fact operate.