732 Colchicine 



1000 p.]).ni., respectively. In other words, a control solution that 

 reduced 25 cc. of Benedict's solution in a certain time was equal to 

 100 and the solution (1:1000) with colchicine showed a value of 70.3 

 ± 1.7 because the time taken to reduce the standard amount was 

 shortened, as expressed by these values.^-' 



These data are interesting when correlated with reports of stimula- 

 tion in growth through seed and shoot treatments.'^" Colchicine may 

 act upon enzymes in such a way as to accelerate the transfer of starch 

 to sugar, which processes may in turn stimulate growth. 



Excised roots of maize treated with colchicine showed lowered 

 rates of respiration and dipeptidase response. Also, the elongation 

 of individual roots was retarded. Since conditions vary from test to 

 test the comparisons may not be wholly alike. ^^^ 



Virus tumor tissues (Black's original R, strain from Rumex acetosa 

 L.) were treated with a wide range of concentrations (0.00001 to 

 100.0 p. p.m.) of colchicine. i*^! Growth was stimulated with concen- 

 trations of 0.02 to 0.2 }).|xm. with maximum acceleration at 0.1 p. p.m. 

 Increasing the concentrations beyond a point of stimulation brought 

 inhibition. The maxinuuu uptake of oxygen occurred at 0.1 p.]).m. 

 This value was estimated at 25 per cent above the control. Growth 

 was measured over a period of .'5 weeks and respiration tests ran for 

 3 hours. Curves were plotted to show the similarities and differences. ^"^^ 



Decreases in structural viscosity paralleled the formation of c- 

 tumors in root tips of Alii inn; the decreases were most pronounced 

 at 24 hoias.io-^ Changes in cyto])lasmic jiroteins were correlated ^\'ith 

 changes that led to formation of tumors. 



Rates of plasmolysis among Elodca were changed by a pretreat- 

 ment with colchicine. '^'^ Not only the time for changing the form of 

 cytoplasm but the sha}je of structures formed after plasmolysis was dif- 

 ferent in controls and treated cells. 



REFERENCES 



1. Amkrio, G., and Dai.i.a, N. Studi di cilologia sperinientale: I'efelo di agcnti 

 chimici et fisici diversi sopra la stnittnra della cellule vegetale. 1st. Lombaido 

 Rcndic. III. 75:109-18. 1942. 



2. Bariskr, H. The experimental a)iUi()l of chromosome pairing in Fritillaria. 

 Jour. Genet. 43:359-74. 1942. 



3. Barros, R. a colchicina eos Paramccios. Univ. Sao Paido Bol. Fac. Filos. 

 Cien. e Letras III Biol. Gcral. 17:97-116. 1940. 



4. Bauch. R. Bczichnngcn zwischcn polvploidisierenden, carcinogenen imd 



phytohormonalen Substanzen. Auslosung von Gigas-Mutationen der Hefe 

 durch pflanzliche Wuchsstoffe. Naturwiss. 30:420-21. 1942. Sulfonamides as 

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5. Beams, H., et al. Cytological studies on yeast cells with special reference to 

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>6. Benekk, E., and Wilson, G. Treatment of Allomyces javanicus var. Japone- 

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