AECD-3446 values. -82- How plants growing in coral sand can be calcium deficient js Somewhat q an anomaly and certainly warrants further study. The relative importance of e cium deficiency and radiation damagein producing the observed symptoms has not been determined, MORPHOLOGICAL DEFORMITIES The most striking morphological deformities were found on Ipomoea Tubs growing on Engebi Island, A series of photographs comprising Figures 5, 6,4 9 and 10 shows this species of plant in all degrees of severity in the daformationg observed, Figure 5 represents the control, or normal material; Figure 6 shows areas wherein deformities occurred. These areas have not been fully:covered by the dense growth of Ipomoea which surrounds them, but have persisted ingrasseg with stumps of deformed Ipomoea occurring, within the areas. Figure 7 shows close-up of the grass and Ipomoea with tumorous growths at the basal nodesof the stem, Figure 8 is a close-up of the tumorous growths. Figure 9 showsa fasciation of the stem, cas This type of deformity is not rare in nature and should not be strictly considered as a peculiarity induced by the unusual environmentof : the "bombed" island, It may occur anywhere and with rather high frequency in semi plants. Figure 10 shows the most severe deformation. encountered. There is ex x posed on the clubby stem a mass of tymorous growths some of which have regese¥%: ted rudimentary leaves from the proliferated tissues. How such a deformed plas: can manufacture sufficient carbohydrate to produce the clubby stem tissue is a8 anomaly, ’ The nature of the injury shown by these plants closely resembles that prev?ES _ duced, in a numberof species, by an excess of growth hormones or accessory» growth-stimulatingsubstances, An excess of these substances, above that whieh : is required for normal growth, induces such deformities as is shown in the accom’ shows a geranium plant, the stem of which has bees . severed and the wound smeared with a mixture of indole-3-acetic acid in lanolia e The same tissue proliferation with partial regeneration of leafy shoots is obs¢ panying Figures, Figure ui The similarities in the appearance of the tumorous tisaues on the two species at plants lead one to suspect a common causal agent, If the condition in Ipomoss, I @ ‘Unpublished results of 0, Biddulph. UNDVERS Try res UNIV. Gi