Glycosidases and acid-invertase activities are not correlated with Phaseolus hypocotyl growth

Changes in alpha-galaclosidase, beta-galactosidase,beta-glucosidase and aci d invertase activities were examined in Phaseolus vulgaris hypocotyls treat ed with gibberellic acid (GA), naphthyl acetic acid (NAA) and distilled wat er (DW) (control) in light condition. The activities were estimated both in cytoplasmic and ionically wall-bound fraction. The upper segment showed co nsiderable elongation growth while there was hardly any growth in lower seg ment. GA and NAA showed distinct promotion and inhibition respectively in h ypocotyl growth in upper segment. The glycosidase activities were detected in both the fractions but the activity was more pronounced in cytoplasmic t han in wall fraction. Acid invertase activity was present only in cytoplasm ic fraction. In lower segment, in both cytoplasmic and wall fraction, the g lycosidase activity, in general, showed a decreasing trend and no effect of treatment could be envisaged. In upper segment, though the trend was simil ar to the lower one, in alpha- and beta-galactosidase NAA treated segment h ad more activity. Invertase activity also did not show a clear trend to imp licate its function in hypocotyl elongation growth. The results are discuss ed in relation to establishing a correlation between an activity (glycosida se and invertase) and a physiological process (hypocotyl elongation). It is concluded that these wall-loosening enzymes have no role in elongation gro wth of Phaseolus vulgaris hypocotyls.