ON THE RELATION BETWEEN GROWTH AND RESPIRATION IN THE AVENA COLEOPTILE

1. The growth of Avena coleoptile sections in sucrose and auxin solutions is inhibited by various substances which are known to act as dehydrogenase inhibitors. 2. Iodoacetate, which is particularly active in this connection, inhibits all growth at a concentration of 5 x 10(–5) M, but produces only a slight inhibition of oxygen uptake. 3. The growth inhibition by iodoacetate is completely removed by malate and fumarate, and to a lesser extent by succinate and pyruvate. 4. These acids themselves increase the effect of auxin on growth and also increase the respiration of the coleoptile sections, but only if auxin is present. 5. When sections have been soaked in malate or fumarate, the addition of auxin considerably increases the total respiration. Further, the concentration range over which this increase takes place parallels that active in promoting growth. 6. The four-carbon acids provide a respiratory system which is part of the chain of growth processes, and which is in some way catalyzed by auxin. It represents a small but variable fraction of the total respiration.