STUDIES ON PLANT GROWTH- REGULATING SUBSTANCES. XIII CHLORO- AND METHYL-SUBSTITUTED PHENOXYACETIC AND BENZOIC ACIDS

The physiological activity of complete series of mono- and di-substituted chloro-and methyl-phenoxyacetic and benzoic acids have been investigated using the wheat cylinder, pea segment and pea curvature tests. In the phenoxyacetic acids, high activity was associated with substitution in the 3-, 4-, 2:4-, 2:5- and 3:4-positions and in general, chlorine had a greater effect than methyl in conferring activity. With the benzoic acids, 2:3-, 2:5- and 2:6-, disubstitution gave active compounds, the chloro-derivatives again being the more active. The 2:5-compound was the most active in the dichloro-series, all members of which were less active than the 2:3:6-trichloro- and 2:3:5:6-tetrachloro-acids. Benzoic acids substituted in the 4- position were either inactive or exhibited only weak growth-promoting activity. The results are discussed in relation to recent theories which attempt to relate growth-promoting activity with the position of substituents in the aromatic ring.