Identification of the true nature and metabolic action of 3-methyleneoxindole (MO), a naturally occurring catabolite of the
plant auxin, indole-3-
acetic acid (IAA). Description of the two novel methods of synthesis of MO which produce the pure, biologically active
auxin compound of MO. Discovery and description of the causes for the erroneous classification of MO as an
inert compound with no
auxin activity. These findings and methods of synthesis correct the ubiquitous theoretical errors which have driven scientific investigation and
plant science research of
plant auxins for nearly forty years. Researchers have failed to observe the auxin activity of MO because of the use of standard but incorrect synthetic techniques which have consistently produced impure forms of 3-bromooxindole-3-
acetic acid (3-Brox), the synthetic precursor of MO. In addition, the use of dimethylsulfooxide as a
solvent for MO has been identified as a major source of
contamination of MO during synthesis. This invention describes two novel methods for synthesizing (MO). By using purified MO and avoiding the use of dimethylsulfoxide, it was found that the resulting MO product to be 100 to 1,00 fold more effective than IAA in promoting rooting in plant cuttings; supporting
tissue differentiation and growth in stage I,
stage II and stage III media used for the
micropropagation of explants; promoting the formation of
callus tissue over wounded plant parts; and, stimulating the production of
interstitial tissue between scion and
rootstock to increase the success rate for
grafting. Therefore, this invention identifies MO as the dominant auxin in
shoot acceleration, root development, wound sealing and scion acceptance. Finally, the correct pathway from IAA to MO is presented.