On the Effects of Auxins on Membrane Permeability and Pectic Substances in Bean Endocarp

G lasziou , K enneth T. (Colonial Sugar Refining Co., Sydney, Australia), J oseph A. S acher , and D ennis R. M c C alla . On the effects of auxins on membrane permeability and pectic substances in bean endocarp. Amer. Jour. Bot. 47(9) : 743–752. Illus. 1960.—A study has been made on the differences between bean endccarp segments maintained in the presence and absence of auxin. In this tissue, the effect of auxin is to delay a senescence phenomenon which involves changes in permeability, liquid‐logging of air spaces, cellular dissociation and exudation. The results show marked changes in the composition and quantities of sugars in the tissue, the free space and the exudate from sections maintained in the absence of auxin, as well as in the permeability of cellular membranes to glucose, fructose and sucrose. The results of analyses on the composition of the exudate and the cell wall pectins are given. A working hypothesis on the mode of auxin action is presented which attempts to correlate the analytical results with visual observations.