Investigations of Some Plant Wound Hormones

Author: Viglierchio, David Richard

Year: 1955

Degree: Dissertation (Ph.D.)

Advisor: Haagen-Smit, Arie Jan

Committee Member: Unknown, Unknown

Option: Biochemistry; Biology

DOI: 10.7907/XXKJ-HW24

Abstract

Research has shown that renewed cell division and growth may be induced in many mature living cells either by wounding or treating with an extract of certain tissue macerates. During the past decade there have been no publications in the field of wound hormones along the lines of Haberlandt (4) (5) or Bonner, English and Haagen-Smit (11-13). The latter authors isolated a natural wound hormone of beans, traumatic acid; the present investigation seeks to extend their work by the study of a wound hormone from another source. The modified Wehnelt test used as an assay in the earlier isolation work was adopted. Variety of beans but not environment was shown to influence the test. Of a number of natural products investigated for wound hormone activity, citrus products were found exceptionally active. From lemon peel infusion it was possible to prepare a very active concentrate. This concentrate could be subjected to catalytic hydrogenation without losing its activity. Pressed Valencia Orange Oil contains an active component which upon purification was found to be a mixture of unsaturated fatty acids. Preparations of pure linoleic and linolenic acids were found active as wound hormones. In lemon peel infusion there was a water soluble complement, which though inactive itself, was able to augment the activity not only of the wound hormone of lemon peel infusion but also those of orange oil, linoleic and linolenic acids. Several purified water soluble factors which enhanced the activity of wound hormones were found, the most effective being Coenzyme A and Cytochrome C. Several positional and geometrical isomers of linolenic acid were found only slightly active.

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