Rapid elicitation of second messengers by nanomolar doses of triacontanol and octacosanol.

Triacontanol (TRIA) increases the dry weight and alters the metabolism of rice (Oryza sativa L.) seedlings within 10 min of application to either the shoots or roots. This activity is prevented if octacosanol (OCTA, C28 primary alcohol) is applied with the TRIA on the roots or shoots. Triacontanol activity is also stopped if the OCTA is applied at least 1 min before the TRIA on the opposite part of the seedling.Triacontanol rapidly elicits a second messenger that moves rapidly throughout the plant resulting in stimulation of growth (dry-weight increase) and water uptake. Octacosanol also produces a second messenger that inhibits TRIA activity. We have named the putative secondary messengers elicited by TRIA and OCTA, TRIM and OCTAM, respectively. The water-soluble TRIM extracted from plants treated with TRIA increases the growth of rice seedlings about 50% more than extracts from untreated plants, within 24 h of application. Both OCTAM and OCTA inhibit the activity of TRIA but not of TRIM.The TRIA messenger was isolated from rice roots within 1 min of a foliar application of TRIA. The TRIM elicited by TRIA will pass through a 4-mm column of water connecting cut rice shoots with their roots and can also be recovered from water in which cut stems of TRIA-treated plants have been immersed. Triacontanol applied to oat (Avena sativa L.) or tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) shoots connected to rice roots by a 4-mm water column also results in the appearance of TRIM in rice roots.

Growth enhancement of plants by femtomole doses of colloidally dispersed triacontanol.

Colloidal dispersions of crystalline 1-triacontanol in water, upon foliar application to corn (Zea mays L.) seedlings, resulted in growth increases at femtomole dosages (spray concentrations as low as 1 nanogram per cubic decimeter). The maximum growth increase occurred at 100 nanograms per cubic decimeter; at both higher and lower concentrations lessened growth increase was observed. The dispersions were prepared by sonication, with control of temperature and composition. Selected surfactants, which facilitate the dispersion process, are effective at 1 percent of the 1-triacontanol composition and are nontoxic.