Sections of stems ofSilene cucubalus, Galeopsis tetrahit, andPhaseolus vulgariswere cultured under sterile conditions in media containing inorganic salts, sucrose, agar, and the herbicides 2-methyl, 4-chlorophenoxyacetic acid, 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid, or 2-(2,4,5-trichlorophenoxy)propionic acid. The herbicide which gave the most effective control of a species under field conditions was also the most active in inducing root formation and proliferation on stem sections of that species. The response of the sections to these auxin herbicides diminished as the plants from which the sections were taken became more mature. The amount of herbicide recovered from treated shoots of these species was not correlated with susceptibility. It is postulated that susceptibility to these materials depends upon (i) the affinity of the species for the molecular configuration of the herbicide and (ii) the relative amount and functional importance of the susceptible tissues at the time of treatment.
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