Co-Authors:
Salomon, E., The Volcani Center, Agricultural Research Organization, Bet Dagan, Israel
Abstract:
Young seedlings of various citrus species give rise, after decapitation, to adventitious buds at the cut end of the epicotyl. With such treatment, more buds formed on seedlings of sweet orange, sour orange, and grapefruit than of lemon, mandarin, and calamondin. Anatomical observations at the cut stem end show formation of buds occurring from tissues close to the cambium. Growth regulators applied at the cut epicotyl end modified the patterns of bud formation. 6-Benzylaminopurine (BAP) promoted bud formation; indole-3-butyric acid (IBA), abscisic acid (ABA), and gibberellic acid (GA3) inhibited it. BAP reversed the inhibitory effect of GA3. Gibberellic acid caused a typical elongation of the sprout axis. The use of decapitated seedlings as a tool for studying stem differentiation in citrus is suggested. © 1975 Oxford University Press.