Yeast Vitamine Water-Soluble B. 



85 



39 (1621) 



The effects of yeast vitamine water-soluble B on plant cell-masses 

 and on biocolloids. 



By D. T. MacDougal. 



[From the Desert Laboratory, Tucson, Arizona] 



One of the most clearly outstanding results to be derived 

 from my measurements of imbibition by cell-masses, and of 

 swelling of biocolloids (agar-pentosan mixtures) is that solutions 

 which promote growth in plants increase hydration in living and 

 dead cell-masses and of agar or agar protein mixtures. 



As the first step in testing the effects of vitamine, water-soluble 

 B on the growth of some higher plants, its action in hydration 

 was measured on a variety of materials at 15 0 C. at the Coastal 

 Laboratory, Carmel, California, July to October, 1918. A 

 solution of 1 part in a thousand in distilled water from a prepara- 

 tion furnished by Dr. Isaac Harris was used. Even when prepared 

 under chemically clean conditions and kept in the dark at 15 0 C. 

 deterioration began within 40 hours and hence freshly made 

 solutions were used, which tested by acidity by the indicator 

 method showed a P H of 5.25. 



The auxograph was used in taking the measurements, trios of 

 sections or of roots being placed in stender dishes into which the 

 solutions were poured. Taking the swellings in water as 100 

 hydration increases were measured as follows: 



Potato tubers, young, sections 75 



Potato tubers, large, sections 230 



Squash fruits, young, sections of pulp no 



Squash fruits, mature, sections of pulp ' 115 



Orange seedlings, root tips, living 150 



Orange seedlings, root tips, dried 120 



Corn root tips, small, living 88 



Corn root tips, large, living 78 



Corn root tips, large, dried 180 



Strawberry root tips, living 133 



Sunflower stems, sections of pith, mature, living 150 



Opuntia, sections of young joints 94 



Opuntia, esctions of mature joints , .1*0 



Opuntia dried slices 90 



