The Role of Ascorbic Acid in Growth, Differentiation and Metabolism of Plants

There is a paucity of information on the dynamics of Ascorbic Acid (AA) turnover in relation to germination, metabolism, growth, differentiation and development of a plant and in those undergoing stress of various types. in presowing treatment of seeds etc. The turnover of AA plays an important role during the juvenile phase of growth of a plant and has a significant bearing on its subsequent growth, development and maturation. The beneficial effect of presowing treatment of seed with Ascorbic Acid (AA) + H2 O highlights the validity of the AA-nucleic acid­ 2 protein metabolism concept of growth and development of plan ts. During the course of the last 30 years, work has been undertaken by the author and his collaborators on the meta­ bolic drifts of regulatory substances during juvenile, vegetative, reproductive and senescent phases. The most important of these growth regulatory substances was found to be Ascorbic Acid. The dynamiC role of AA turnover is revealed by its control of rates of metabolic processes as well as those of enzymic reactions which paves the way to "New Genetics".