EVANS, LANCE S. Laboratory of Plant Morphogenesis, Manhattan College, Bronx. NY 10471. - Growth and cell population kinetics during development of roots of Pisum sativum.
Growth and cell population kinetics were determined in
terminal root segments of Pisum sativum from 20 to 40 mm in total
length. Root growth and cell production rates were not constant.
Root growth rates varied from about 0.2 mm/hr for 20 mm to about
0.6 mm/hr for 40 long roots. Since numbers of cells present in roots
did not change over length, calculated cell production rates were
0.6-1.9%/hr in 20 mm roots while for 40 mm long roots, cell
production rates were 3.5-3.9%/hr. This faster cell production rate
in longer roots was correlated with faster rates of 3H-TdR labeling
rates. Results indicate that roots were not in steady-state
conditions which is sometimes assumed for roots.
Key words: cell population kinetics, Pisum sativum, root growth