Changes in Chemical Composition of the Stems of Red Kidney Bean Plants Treated with 2, 4-dichlorophenoxyacetic Acid.

It has been shown (2, 5, 8, 11) that treatment of plants with 2, 4-D results in a reduction in carbohydrate content and an accumulation of nitrogen. Investigators (4, 6,) have reported that some plants sprayed with solutions of 2, 4-D develop enlarged and proliferated tissues, noted primarily in the stems. It has also been observed that some plants which were sprayed with 2, 4-D and which developed proliferated tissue of this type were eaten more readily by animals (7). Since little is known about the chemical composition of this abnormal tissue, the work reported in this paper was projected to include the analysis for amino acids, ether extract, carbohydrates, ash and crude fiber. Results of chemical analyses are presented for the stems of untreated red kidney bean plants and for those treated with 2, 4-D.