INHIBITORY EFFECT OF LEPIDIMOIDE ON SENESCENCEIN AVENA LEAF SEGMENTS

The effect of lepidimoide (Na l-4-deoxy-alpha-L-threo-hex-4-enopyranos iduronate) and its free carboxylic acid (hereafter referred as lepidim oic acid), on senescence in oat (Avena sativa L. Cii. Victory I) leaf segments in the dark was studied. Lepidimoic acid inhibited loss of to tal chlorophyll in excised oat leaf segments during the initial phase of senescence. The loss of total chlorophyll was also retarded in the presence of 10 mu mol/L kinetin. Lepidimoic acid preserved chlorophyll content synergistically with kinetin. Lepidimoide (Na salt) preserved chlorophyll content in the absence or presence of kinetin to a simila r extent as did lepidimoic acid. These facts suggest that lepidimoide causes, especially in cooperation with cytokinin, a retardation of lea f senescence as characterized by the loss of total chlorophyll in the leaves.