Movement of IAA in Sections from Spider Flower (Cleome hassleriana) Stamen Filaments

Movement of IAA in spider flower (Cleome hassleriana Chod.) stamen filaments was studied by placing 2-mm sections horizontally between donor agar blocks containing 14C-labeled IAA and plain agar receiver blocks and measuring radioactivity in the donor and receiver blocks and filament sections by scintillation counting after the desired transport time. Movement was strictly polar and basipetal at all stages of floral development, except in open flowers just before stamen abscission when the amounts moving acropetally and basipetally were equal. The amount of IAA moved depended upon the stage of development. As buds aged more IAA was moved, until the buds opened and the stamen filaments reached maximum elongation; then the amount of IAA moving basipetally dropped drastically. There was an insignificant amount of acropetal IAA movement except just before stamen abscission. This change in IAA movement is not due to a change in filament diameter. In time-course studies the amount of IAA moved basipetally increased with time up to 5 hr and then declined slightly. The amount of radioactivity retained by sections increased until 8 hr. The amount of IAA moved in tip sections was less than that in mid or base sections; however, this can be partially explained by differences in uptake area of these sections. The relationship of these results to the hypothesis that changes in IAA movement are important in the control of stamen filament elongation and abscission is discussed.