Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1948-12-27
Stars, Men and Atoms
Plant Milk Discovered
To Be Growth-StimuIutino
Experiments Show Coconut Substance
Speeds Development 10 Fold
By Thomas r. Henry

~ lHOm0S N. henry
Mothers milk of the plant world contains
an extremely powerful and hitherto unknown
growth stimulating substance.
It has been demonstrated in coconut milk.
Some Of 1t also exists in corn in the milk"
stage. Both these milks are intended by ma
ture for the nourishment Of plant musings,
seedlings in the embryonic stage.
Presence OF this powerful growth substance
has been reported to the American Associa-
ton for the Advancement Of Science by Drs.
S. M. Caplin and P. c. Steward Of the
University of Rochester. They were trying
to make tissue cultures of carrot root cells.
In ordinary culture preparations they grew
very slowly, even with the addition Of indole
acetic acid, one Of the most powerful of plant
hormones.
Growth Speeded.
Addition Of the coconut milk speeded the
growth tenfold. The substance may prove to
be one of natures essential life chemicals.
The nature of the material, the two botanists
report cannot be determined but they have
carried out experiments which demonstrate
that 1t Is none of the known growth vitamins
and none Of the plant hormones. It is pres.
ent only in the liquid milk and cannot be
found in the milk ash
The experiments indicate they say, that it
has quite small molecue, compared to any
Of the known vitamins or hormones It ap.
parently acts, however, in a vitamin- like fash.
ion, its essential function being to harness
energy for the creation OF proteins, the build.
ing blocks of tissue. There also are some in
dications that 1t acts in conjunction with
Vitamin A.
Although the practice has been without any
known medical basis, it is pointed out, coconut
milk often has been used for nourishment Of
human babies in the tropics. The newly de-
termined substance may have an effect on all
growing cells.
An apparently successful start has been made
under an Office Of Naval Research contract in
the synthesis of the vitality important strate.
gic mineral tourmane, essential in all sorts
of electric appliances and highly valued, in
various colored forms, as a gem stone.
It's significance as strategic mineral is due
to the phenomenon of piezzo electricity. When
pressure is applied to one Of its crystals
minute current of electricity is generated. This
constitutes probably the most delicate known
means OF detecting pressure differences such az
would be encountered in the ascent OF plane
or the descent of submarine.
TouImaline crystals combine with this the
phenomenon of pyroelectricity, the generation
of an electric current with heating. This makes
them among the most sensitive heat detectors
known.
Material IL Rare.
It is essential however to use pure, high.
grade material which is extremely rare. A little
Is found In Maine and California. Brazil sup
piled great deal Of OUR war supply. One Of
the best sources is the island of Elba, scene Of
Napoleons exile northeast Of Corsica.
The efforts to synthesize the material for the
Navy are being carried out at Rutgers Univer-
sity at New Brunswick, N. J. Methods being
used are similar to those which have proved
successful for some time In the synthesis Of
various precious gems.
Tourmaline Is a. compound Of silica and
boron, with various impurities In different
forms Of the mineral which account for its
color range of red yellow, green, blue and
black Silica and boron dust are being blown
through an extremely hot flame. The difficulty
Is that the melting point u 20 low.
Up to now, Navy scientists say, 1t has been
possible to produce single crystals but these
have not yet positively been identified al
tourmaline. There is little reason to believe,
however, that they could be any other SUBJ
stance.
The method holds forth the possibility Of
producing cheap gems Of great beauty. The
green forms obtained in Brazil, are widely
known as Brazilian emeralds."