Ascorbic acid‐induced progression of quiescent centre cells from G₁ to S phase

Abstract

summary Quiescent centre cells, which are known to have their cycle extended mostly in G, and to divide rarely, art‐stimulated to undergo DNA synthesis in root meristems of Allium cepa L. by treatment with ascorbic acid. The effect of ascorbic acid is dramatic: 21% of all the cells in the quiescent centre remain in the G, phase while 79% enter S phase. From a mean value of 2204 × 10 3 μ 3 in water‐grown roots, the volume of the quiescent centre drops to a mean value of 167 × 10 3 μ 3 following treatment with ascorbic acid. These results indicate that ascorbic‐acid stimulates not only the activity of the quiescent centre cells but also cell proliferation in the entire root meristem. The rate of cell progression through the cycle may be related to cellular ascorbic acid content.