Use of Plant Growth Regulators in Horticultural, Plantation and Medicinal Plants

275 Pages·2012·40.37 MB·English

PROCEEDINGS
OF THE
THIRD INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM ON
SUB TROPICAL AND TROPICAL HORTICULTURE
VOLUME lIt
Use of Plant Growth
Regulators in Horticultural,
Plantation and Medicinal
Plants
Organized bV
HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY OF INDIA
Bangalore, Feb. 8-14, 1972
TODAY & TOMORROW'S PRINTERS & PUBLISHERS
24 B/5 Original Road, Karolbagh,
New Delhi-11 0005
1978
HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY OF INDIA
EXECUTIVE COUNCIL 1972
~~... . ~
President
'\. s· s.. 71". H Sbri S.L. Katyal
r -
..... "'f ~ ~.,.-ri _
Vice Presidellts
Dr. K. Kirpal Singh Dr. R.N. Singh
Secretary
U A. I. IANGALORE r. G.S. Randhawa
UNJV£RIIJY UBIWlt.
Asst. Secretary
Dr. Prem Nath
Treasurer
_iiiiiiiiiiiiii. .
lCC. ...... ..... Mr. R.R. Kohli
..0 0 _____-
~L
:.:----------/.:xecutive
Councillors
Dr. D.S. Padda Dr. R.C. Dass
Dr. K.M. Aiyappa Dr. S.N. Rao
Dr. Kirti Singh Dr. S.S. Teaotia
Mr. N.A. Pbadnis Mr. V. Jagannathan
Mr. D.P. Verma Dr. V.S. Chbonkar
Dr. Prem Nath
Editorial Board
Mr. Daljit Singh Dr. K.L. Chadha
Dr. J.P. Singh Dr. J.C. Bakhshi
Asst. Editor: Dr. C.B. Sharma
Editor: Dr. K.L. Chadha
Published by :
TODAY & TOMORROW'S PRINTERS & PUBLISHERS
'4-B/5, Original Road, Karol Bagb, New Delhi-llOO05
PREFACE
The third International Symposium on Sub-tropical and Tropical
Horticulture was organised by the Horticultural Society of India in cona~
boration with Indian Council of Agricultural Research and the Inter
national Socil!ty for Horticultural Sciences from 8-14 February, 1972 at
the Univer~ity of Agricultural Sciences at Hebbal, Bangalare. Earlier the
Society held two symposia, the first devoted to the Cytogenetics and
breeding of Tropital Fruit crops and the second to Sub-tropical and Tro
pical Horticulture during 1958 and 1967 respectively at Delhi. In the
previous two symposia emphasis was given only to a few aspects of horti
cultural crops only. However, in the third symposium, it was decided to
focus attention on plantation crops and medicinal plants also. The deli
berations of this symposium were carried out in 37 different sessions. In all
314 research papers were presented by various scientists. A. number of
distinguished scientists from various foreign countries. namely, Japan,
Thailand, U. K. France and U. S. A., participated. A meeting of the sub
group on viticulture for South East Asia formed by the International
Society of Horticulture Science was held on this occasion.
The papers presented at the symposium have been grouped subject
wise and arc being published in four w lumes as detailed below :-
Vol. I Improvement of Horticultural. plantation and medicinal
crops.
Vol. II Nutrition of Horticultural. plantation and medicinal crops.
Vol. III U ~e of Plant growt h regulators in Horticultural, plantation
and medicinal crops.
Vol. IV Disease, Pe!l1 and weed control in horticultural plantation and
medicinal crops.
The papers on grapes presented in several sessions have been grouped
together and are being published in a separate volume entitled Viticulture
in the Tropics.
The Horticultural Society of India is grateful to the Indian Council
of Agricultural Research for financial assistance and also to several emi
nent scientists for their deliberations at the symposium and help in one
form or the other. We are also grateful to convenors of different ses
sions and other scientists namely Drs. C. P. lyer, Prero Nath, S.S. Nagi,
K.V.A. Bavappa, T.R. Subramaniam, C. B. Sharma, E.K. Chacko, H.C.
Dass, A.C. Mathur, V.O. Prasad, H.S. Sohi, K.S.M. Sastry, V.R. Rao.
4
H.S. Dhuria, S.D. Khandujo, K.K. Bami, K.M. Alyappa, Sib Lodh, V.R.
Rao, K. Shama Bhat and R.N. Bhatt for their help in coducting various
sessions and editing of the articles.
The printing of the proceedings of the Symposium has been delayed
due to late submission of the articles by the authors and partly due to
some other unavoidable circumstances. However, it is hoped that despite
the delay caused in its publication, the proceedings would prove to be a
valuable asset to the scientific libraries. besides being useful to resean.:h
and extension workers as well as the growers engaged in research and cul
tivation of horticultural, plantation and medicinal crop all over the world.
K.L. CHADHA
O.S. RANDHAWA
CONTENTS
FRUIT CROPS
Kinetin Effects on in Vivo Nucleic Acid Synthesis in Growing
Fruits: V. L. Prasad, J. L. Das and S. P. Sen
Role of Juvenility and Auxins on the Rooting of Cuttings of
./ Guava (Psidium Guajava L.) : Dr. N. Vijaya Kumar and
K. S Chauhan 7
Effect of Plant Growth Substances and Boron on Initiation of
Flowering and Sex Expression of Papaya: R. N. Singh and
K. K. Jindal 15
Effect of Plar.t Growth Regulators on Flowering and Fruiting
of Mango (Mangifera Indica L) : R. K. Singh and
B. N. Verma 21
Biochemical Studies of Leaves with their Ageing Process in
Mango (Mangifera Indica L.) Cultivars. III. Changes of
Total RNA Contents: B.C. Mazumdar and S. K. Chatterjee 29
Biochemical Studies of Leaves with their Ageing Process in
Mango (Mangifera IndicaL.) Cultivars. IV. Changes of
Basic Protein (Histone) Level: B. C. Mazumdur and
S. K. Chatterjee 41
On the Occurrence of an Inhibitor of Ga3-lnduced Growth in
Fruit Quality of the Dashehari Mango (Mangifera Indica L.)
Shoots: Elias K Chucko, R. N. Singh and Raj B. Kachru 45
Effect of 2, 4-D Sprays on Pre-Harvest Fruit-Drop, Yield and
Different Sweet Orange Cultivars: J. S. Jawanda. Raghbir
Singh and R. N. Pal 49
Effect of Some External Factors on "The Growth and Fruiting
of Strawberry" Effect of Ga, Growth Retardants and
Cloching on Flowering, Fruit Set and Yield: Ranjit Singh
and R. K. Pathak 57
Quantitative Differences in Amino Acids and Qualitative
Differences in Fluorescent Compounds in Normal and
Shot Berries of Perlette Variety of Grapes. (Vilis
Vinifera L.) : S. D. Chitkara, J. P. Singh, R. P. Nangia and
V. P. Bhular' 65
Seasonal Fluctuations in Free Amino Acid Content in Healthy
and Declined Sweet Orange (Citrus Sinensis L. Osbec)
Trees: O. P. Gupla and J. P. Nauriyal 73
Effect of Gibberellic Acid and Growch Regulators on Fruit Set
in Lemon, Sweet Orange and Mandarin: B. I. Patel and
S. L. Soni 83
Effect of Gibberellic Acid on Vegetative Growth, Yield, Fruit
Quality and Mineral Content in Washington Navel and Jaffa
Oranges in the U. A. R. : Dr. T. A. Nasr and E.M. EI-Azab 91
An Appraisal of Some Exogenous and Endogenous Factors
Affecting Size of Citrus Fruits: S. P. Monse/ise 101
Effect of Plant Growth Regulators, Wax Emulsions and their
Combinations on the Storage Behaviour and Physico
Chemical Changes During Storage of Banana : S. L. Soni,
K. S. Chauhan and S. C. Jain I II
Storage Trial on Mango Fruits : S. Roy, A. K. Saha and
T. K. Chattopadhyay 119
Effect of 2, 4-0, Naa, Ga, and 2, 4, 5-T on Tnitial Set,
Retention and Growth of Fruits in Litchi, Var.
Muzaffarpur : Dr. V. Suryanarayana and R C. Das 12Q
Effects of Gibberellic Acid on Banana Plants Infected with
Bum.hy Top Virus: S. Ramaswamy, K. Ramakrishnan and
C. V. Govindaswamy 133
Interaction of Chilling and Ethrel on Strawberry Seed
Germination: Dr. C. P. A. Iyer and M. D Subramanyam 139
Effect of Growth Regulators on Sex Expression of Mango
(Mangifera Indic, L.) : Dr. S. C. Maiti and S. K Maiti ]47
Degreening of Mosambi Orange with Ethrel (2-Chloroetha-
nephosphonic Acid) : K. S. Chauhan and C. Parmar 153
Effect of Plant Growth Regulators on Fruit-Set in Almonds
(Amygdalous Communis Linn) : M. A. Beg 157
VEGET ABLE CROPS
Effect of some New Chemicals on the Sex Modification and
Fruiting in Watermelon (Citrullus Lanatus Thumb.
Mansf) : B. Choudhury and E. Elkholy 163
Effect cf Plant Grcwth Regulators, Light and their Interactions
on Seed Germination in Bittergourd (Memordica Charantia
L.) : Prem Nath, S. L. Soni and Rajesh Charon 173
Growth and Sex Expression in Muskmelon (Cucumis melo L)
As Affected by Some Plant Growth Substances:
M. S. Saimbhi and M. R Thakur 183
Effect of Certain Plant Growth Regulators and Urea on Yield
and Quality of some Vegetable Crops: Dr. S. N. Roo,
K. Pampapathi, S. Mashiuddin and M. Narayana Rao 191
Effect of Plant Growth Substances on Growth, Sex Expression
and Yield of Bottlegourd (Lagenaria siceria SER.) :
G. M. Mishra. B. Prasad and S. C. Sinha 199
Effect of Plant Growth Regulators on Growth Yield and Quality
of Some lmportant Vegetables: V. S. Chhonkar and ..
B. N. Sengupta , 209
Physiological and Biochemical Changes Associated with
/ Gibberellin Effects on Adventitious Root Formation in
Vigna Hypocotyl Cuttings: P. K. Sirear and S.K. Chatterjee 217
Effects of Defloration on t-he Root of Pachyrrhizus erosus :
/ C. A. Shroeder . 229
ORNAMENTAL CROPS
Propagotion of Rose by "Graft-Cuttage" Method: R. G. Maiti 233
Physiology of Rooting Response in Stem Cuttings of
Bougainvillea Comm. : N. Seetharama and H. Y. Mohan Ram 241
Organcgenesis and Mycotrophy in Cymbidiums:
Hiroshi Veda and Hirotaka Torikata 247 /
PLANT AT ION CROPS.
Effect of Growth Regulators on Air-Layering of Cashew:
S. K. Sen and S. P. Chakraborty .. , 261
Kinetin Effects on in Vivo Nucleic Acid Synthesis in
Growing Fruits.
V. L. PRASAD, J. L. DAS AND S. P. SEN
Radi(lhiochemical Labora/ory, Bo/any Depar/mell/.
Kalyani Unil'ersity. W. Bengal.
INTRODUCTION
That plant hormonei\ affed nucleic acid rr.etabolisrr.. is now
well established (see review by Key, 4). The growth of a tissue
involving cell division and enhancement of dry matter weight. de
pend. in ultimate analysis, on nucleic acid and protein synthesis.
Fruit growth, for exarr.ple, in plies a stirrulation of the n etabo
lic processes and a rr.obilisation of n.etabolites. Since, the cyto
kinins are rerr,arkable for their 'apacity to influence n obilisation
and cell divlsion, we (:onsidered it of interest to investigate. the
relahonship between nucleic acid metabolism, mobilis.>tion and
fruit growth in relation to kinetin action.
1 here is considerable amount of literature on cytokinin action
in vitro (Roychoudhury 13, Roychoudhury et al. 12. Datta & Sen 1).
v..lrile experiments with tissue slices or subcellular fr.actions
have illun inated considerably the nature of cytokinin effect on
nucllic acid metabolism, a clearer insight into the nature of hor
mone action.in vivo necessitates the performance of properly
designed in vivo experin:ents. The::-e are some reports concern
ing horrr,anal effects on nucleic acid n.etabolism in intact plants;
for example, an increase in the level of nucleolar RNA and the
RNA of the cells of tne elongatinb root., hus bee'1 reported in onion
bulbs (Guttn.an 2, Jensen 3; and Clsze\\ skd., J). Benzyl adenine
has also been reported to stin·.ulate the synthesis of different
fractions of ribonucleic acids in Lemna.
A lthough it has not been unequivoc:uly den.onstrated that cyto
kinins control fruit growth, there are several reports of occur
rence of cytokinins in fruits (see Leopold, 6). Mobiliz tion of
the nutrients to the region of cytokinin application in leaves w ... s
shown by Mothes..!:.!. al. (7), Muller (8), Leopold (5) and others.
2
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Pea (Pisurr. satiVlfrrJ Linn.) cv. Pioneer and tomato (Lyco
persicon esculentum Miller) cv. Best of All were used as the ex
perimental plants. The seeds were obtained from Sutton and Co .•
Calcutta. The plants were grown in the experimental farm of the
university in the winter of 1970-71. When the fruits were develop
ed. experimenta~ ~lants were. trea~ed as follows: Kinetin at a c~n­
c entration of 10M was applled elther on the stalks or on the tlps
of the growing fruits. in the form of lanolin paste. 32P-ortho
phosphate was applied on the nearest leaf three hours after kine
tin treatment. The fruits were har"ested after 1. 3 and 7 days.
Each sarr pIe was divided into three parts; one part was dried in a
hot air oven, powdered and counted and the other two parts were
used for the extraction of DNA and RNA. The nucleic acids were
extracted by Kirby's phenol method. DNA was estimated colori
metrically at 660 nm using a Spectronic 20 colorimeter. RNA
was measured at 660 nm after colour development with orcinol.
Counts were. taken with an end window counter connected to a
Bcaler manufactured by the Electronics Corporation of India.
Autoradiograms were prepared by exposing the radioactive plants
to Kodak X-ray films.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
The trans lac ation of 32p to pea pods was found to increase
with time. Kinetin stimulated translocation from the leaf to the
fruit only for the first three days. No difference was discernible
on the seventh day. DNA synthesis also increased with time. but
kinetin effects on the synthesis of DNA was noticed in the pods
only on the seventh day. About 30% increase was noted. A simi
lar picture was also revealed in the case of RNA synthesis, where
the enhancement observed on the seventh day was of the order of
160/0 (Table 1). Kinetin increased fruit weight by 57% in 7 days.
In the case of tomato 32p mobilization into the fruits was most
marked three days after treatment. On the seventh day. however,
a decrease in the total 32p activity in the fruits was noted. Appa
rently a part of the 32p was translocated out of the fruits by the
seventh day. Kinetin treatment brought about a greater mobilisa
tion into the fruit and the trend remained unaffected. Kinetin fail
ed to arrest the movem ent of 32p out of the fruit in the later
stage's of development (Table 2). Fruit weight increased by 70%.
DNA synthesis in the fruits revealed by 32Pincorporation, was
rraximurr on the third day. Kinetin enhanced the stirr:ulation dur
ing the entire period of observation. the maximum being on the
third day when the promotion was of the order of 101;%. There
was a decrease in DNA synthesis on the seventh day and kinetin
failed to arrest this trend. In the untreated control RNA synthe
sis was maxin-,um on the third day; on the seventh day very little
3
synthesis of RNA could be observed. Kinetm stin:ulated RNA
synthesis was quite prominent. alth?ugh there was a steady de
cline of RNA synthesis from the first day onwards. To what ex
tent this is due to RNase activity is not known.
Autoradiograms of the treated plants revealed that 32p was
translocated from the leaves, on which it was applied. straight to
the fruits using the shortest available routes. Translocation to
other branches was negligible. Essentially similar results were
obtained in potato and sugar beet where 32p was translocated to
the tuber or the root, without significant mobilisation into other
branches. Kinetin application at the base of the leaf whorls in
sugar beet or on the region of the above-ground part of the sterr.
nearest to the tuber, remarkably enhanced the rate of transloca
tion within 24 hours of application (Prasad & Sen. unpublished
data). In the case of tomato. however. no such stimulation could
be detected in tne first 24 hours.
The fruits of pea and tomato undoubtedly are storehouses of
natural growth substances. To what extent the mobilization is
regulated by these growth substances. cannot be assessed at pre
sent. Decapitation of the shoot apex which is the site of auxin
synthesis has been found to inhibit completely the flow of 32p_
phosphate to the leaves. Application of auxin and kinetin to the
cut end restores the normal mobilisation pattern within 24 hours
(Prasad & Sen. unpublished data).
Increase in fruit weight both in the case of pea and tomato due
to kinetin application on the fruit tip is of considerable interest.
We have also noted an increase in the case of wheat and rice (Das
and Sen. unpublished data). These observations are suggestive
of an enhancement of translocation rate to the fruit due to kinetin
application.
How the growth substances regulate the flow of metabolites is
not well understood at present. Octa and Takata (10) have pre
sented some evidence to show that RNA may move from older
tissue to meristems whereby they maintain the mobilising
centres. We have no evidence to indicate that 32P-RNA synthe
sised in the leaves receiving 32p had moved to the fruits; it is
quite possible that RNA was synthesised within the fruits. Stimu
lation of DNA synthesis within the fruits is in agreement with the
requirement of active cell division in growing fruits.
SUMMARY
Kinetin at the concentration of 10-5M was applied either on the
~eduncles or on the tips of the growing fruits in lanolin paste and
2P-orthophosphate was applied on the nearest leaf 3 hours after
kinetin treatment . . 32P-translocation into pea fruits was found to
increase with time, but no kinetin-induced enhancement was Qb
served after 7 days. No stimulation was observed in sin:ilar
experiments with tomato fruits. RNA and DNA syntheses on the
,.
seventh day were found to be stirr.ulated to the exteni. of 150/0-300/0
in pea fruits. Torrato fruits treated with kinetin at the tip re
vealed an enhancement of DNA synthesis by 25-1000/0. In control
tomato tissues RNA synthesising capacity decreased markedly on
the 7th day; this was arrested in a remarkable manner by kinetin
application. Both in pea and in tomato fruit weight increased with
kinetin application.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The investigation wal? supported in part by a grant from the
Indian Council of Agricultural Research, for which grateful ack
nowledgement is rr,ade.
LITERATURE CITED
1. Datta, A and S. P. Sen, (1865). The mechanism of action of
plant growth substances: Growth substance stin ul.:..
tion of amino acid incorporation into nuclear protein.
Biochim. Biophys. Acta, 107: 352-7.
2. Guttman, R. (1957). Alteration in nuclear ribonucleic acid
metabolism induced by kinetin. J. Biophys. & Bio
chem. Cytol., 3: 129-31.
3. Jensen, W. A .• E. G. Pollock, P. Healey and M. Ashton.
(1964). Kinetin and the nucleic a id content of onion
E:
root tips. Exptl. Cell Res .• 523-30.
4. Key, J. L. (1969). Hormones and nucleic acid metabolisrr...
Annu. Rev. PI. PhysioI., 20: 449-74.
5. Leopold. A. C. (1963). Kinins and the regulation of leaf
aging. Colloq. Reg. Nat. Croiss. Veg., 101-3.
6. Leopold, A. C. (1964). Plant Growth and Development
McGraw-Hill Book Co., New York.
7. Mothes, K., L. Engelbrecht and O. Kulajewa. (1969).
Uber die Wirkung de~ kinetins auf stick-stoffvertei
lung und Eiweiss synthese in isoliertre Blatten, Flora
(Jena), 147: 445-64.
8. Muller, K., (1964). Kinetin action and senescence. Docto-
ral thesis, Ludwig Maxmillian University, Munich.