IN-VITRO OXIDATION OF INDOLEACETIC-ACID BY CRUDE ENZYME FROM RICE HUSK - AN ASPECT OF PREHARVEST SPROUTING

Indoleacetic acid was oxidized under oxygen atmosphere by the crude en zyme solution prepared by blending rice husk in buffer solution of pH 7.3. The major oxidation products (3, 4, and 5), characterized by phys ical and chemical methods, showed little effects on germination and gr owth of lettuce seeds while IAA inhibited completely the germination a t 5 ppm. This evidence suggests that the amounts of IAA in embryos dec reases due to the oxidation by water soluble oxidation enzyme existing in rice husk. The decrease of IAA may be related, in some aspect, to dormancy breaking and also preharvest sprouting of rice seeds. The syn thesis and optical resolution of 2 was also achieved.