Plant, Chemicals and Growth

Plants, Chemicals and Growth investigates natural and synthetic chemicals that control plant growth and development. It examines how plant growth regulators, such as 2,4-D, 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid, 2,4,5-T, 2,4,5-trichlorophenoxyacetic acid, ammonium sulfamate, indole-3-butyric acid, disodium 3,6-endoxohexahydrophthalate, gibberellic acid, and 2-chloroethyltrimethylammonium chloride, induce biological responses in plants. These responses range from tropism and chemotropism to growth of organs by cell division and enlargement, rhythmic phenomena in growth and development, initiation of lateral organs and problems of phyllotaxy, and the regulatory effects of light and temperature on growth and form. Comprised of 10 chapters, this volume begins with an overview of chemical regulators and the ways in which they elicit biological responses in plants; how chemical regulation of plants is related to the growth and development of flowering plants; cell growth and cell division; cell cycle; and cellular ontogeny. It then looks at the history and modern concepts of growth-regulating compounds, such as auxins, cytokinins, and gibberellins. The book introduces readers to how chemicals induce growth in quiescent cells; natural sources of growth stimulatory substances; synergisms and interactions of growth regulatory systems; growth-regulating effects in free cell systems; examples of biologically active compounds; the mechanisms of action of plant growth regulators; concepts and interpretations of plant growth regulation; and prospects and problems associated with chemical regulation of plant growth and behavior. Teachers, biology students, agriculturalists, and researchers will find this book extremely useful.

Preface

Introduction

Chapter 1. Some Chemical Regulators: Some Biological Responses

Chapter 2. The Totipotency of Cells and Their Exogenous Regulation

The "Division of Labor"

Cell Growth and Cell Division

The Cell Cycle

Cellular Ontogeny

Growing Regions

Chapter 3. History and Modern Concepts of Growth-Regulating Substances

Genesis of the Problem

Problems of Terminology

Auxins

Cytokinins

Gibberellins

Chapter 4. The Induction of Growth in Quiescent Cells

The Onset of Growth in Mature Cells

Bioassays

Natural Sources of Growth Stimulatory Substances

Chapter 5. Some Growth Regulatory Systems

Synergisms and Interactions

Responses of Cells in Their Milieu: "Biochemical Ecology"

Chapter 6. Growth-Regulating Effects in Free Cell Systems: Morphogenesis

Organized and Unorganized Development of Cultured Cells and Tissues

The Chemical Control of Unorganized Systems : The Challenge

Chapter 7. The Range of Biologically Active Compounds

Indolyl Compounds

Adenyl Derivatives

Terpenes and Terpenoids

Lactones

Carbamates and Their Derivatives

Substituted Ureas

Triazine Compounds

Hydrazine Derivatives

Quarternary Ammonium Compounds

Phosphoniums

Phenolics

Hexitols

Amino Acids and Peptides

Alkaloids

Glycosides

Ethylene and Ethylene-Releasing Agents

Phthalides

Alkyl Esters

Fatty Alcohols

Aldehydes

Other Classes of Compounds

Chapter 8. What Do the Growth-Regulating Substances Do?

General Approaches

Controls of Growth versus Controls of Metabolism

Embryological Controls: Plants versus Animals

Stimuli and Response: Levels of Manifestation

Cellular Compartmentation and Integration

Specific Approaches

The Role of Adenyl Compounds

Chapter 9. Concepts and Interpretations of Growth Regulation

"Plant Hormones" and "Action at a Distance"

Presentation to the Sites of Action

Mechanisms of Action

Concepts Involving Cell Walls in Growth Regulation

Concepts Relating Auxins and Ethylene

Concepts Involving Proteins and Nucleic Acids

Concepts Involving Light and Phytochrome

Chapter 10. Prospects and Problems

The Complexity of the System: Its Multivariate Responses

Growth Regulators and the Tumor Problem

Chemicals Which Affect Plant Growth : Their Use and Abuse

Summation

Bibliography

Subject Index