IN VITRO EFFECT OF HORMONES ON THE BARK OF PLUMERIA RUBRA LINN. VAR. ACTUIFOLIA BAILEY

Young bark (with cambium) of Plumeria rubra Linn. var. acutifolia Bailey was cultured in solid media (i) without hormone, (ii) Kinetin (K), (iii) with GA₃ and (iv) with IAA at concentrations of 0.05, 0.10, 0.15 and 0.20 mg per litre. The nutrients of the media were fed laterally through the cambium zone. The amount of the phloem zone was increased considerably by GA₃, less by K and IAA. The lignified secondary wall of the pericyclic living fibres was dissolved by each of the hormones. Sieve tube member length decreased in all treatments, more in higher concentrations. K decreased the frequency of sieve tubes (most at 0.10 mg/α) and increased the frequency of parenchyma cells (optimum at 0.10 mg/α). GA₃ also favoured formation of parenchyma cells and decrease of the frequency of sieve tubes, progressively with the increase of concentration. IAA also increased the parenchyma cell frequency progressively with concentration and decreased slightly the sieve tube frequency. IAA and GA₃ increased ray frequency and decreased parenchyma cell diameter, much at high concentration. But K had less effect on ray frequency and increased parenchyma cell diameter progressively with concentrations.     

IN VITRO EFFECT OF SUCROSE FEEDING IN THE DIFFERENTIATION OF WOOD ELEMENTS OF PLUMERIA

Wood with cambium of Plumeria rubra Linn. was cultured in modified Schenk and Hildebrandt medium for 75 days. Change in dimension and frequency of cells was compared with that grown in situ for 75 days. Feeding of 41% sucrose in vitro brought about the same type of differentiation as occurred in situ , where non-reducing sugar percentage increased (from 0.0004 before culture to 0.0032 after 75 days' growth in situ ). Sucrose favoured enlargement of axial elements and numerical increase of all lignified elements.     

Specificity of Distribution of Venation-Anastomosis Patterns in Petals of Phaseoleae (Leguminosae)

Frequency of anastomosis, types of vein anastomosis, and theirpattern of distribution in the standard, wing, and keel of fourspecies (Butea frondosa Wall., Cajanus cajan (Linn.) Millsp.,Dolichos lablab Linn., and Erythrina indica Zoll.), from fourdifferent subtribes of the tribe Phaseoleae (Leguminosae) havebeen analysed. It has been found that the species differ considerablyin these respects. The differences have been found to be significantand species-specific, having a very small range of variationwithin a species. It is suggested that this specificity in thedistribution of vein anastomosis pattern in petal sectors maybe useful in tracing phylogeny.     

Studies on the Physiology of Rice: XV. CHANGES IN THE NITROGEN METABOLISM OF SEEDS DURING GERMINATION AND THEIR RELATION TO THE APPLICATION OF GROWTH REGULATORS

Seeds of rice variety ‘Chinsurah Boro’ were treatedwith two concentrations of indoleacetic acid (IAA) and maleichydrazide (MH), 0.1 mg. per litre and 0.01 mg. per litre, duringthe first 7 days of germination, and the resulting changes innitrogen metabolism of both endosperm and embryo were determined.The seedling growth at different times during the treatmentwas recorded. Uptake of water by the embryo increased up to 72 hours, butthereafter the percentage water content fell, owing to large-scaletranslocation of dry matter to it. The endosperm showed increasingwater content for 5 days. There are two marked stages of nitrogen metabolism of the seedduring germination. During the first 72 hours hydrolysis ofprotein in the endosperm and translocation of soluble nitrogento the embryo are the predominant features. Thereafter the embryoactively synthesizes protein from the products of translocation. IAA and MH affected the seedling growth similarly. Initiallythere was a small retardation of leaf growth, but at later periodsrecovery took place. Root growth was more adversely affectedthan shoot growth, the effect also persisting longer. Thesechanges in growth were reflected in the nitrogen metabolismof the seedlings. For the first few days IAA and MH retardedthe supply of soluble nitrogen from the endosperm to the embryo,consequently there was less soluble nitrogen in the embryo thoughprotein synthesis there was affected only slightly. The differencein soluble nitrogen between the treated and untreated embryospersisted throughout the seven days. An attempt is made to explainthis on the basis that primarily IAA and MH retard the enzymaticactivity responsible for the hydrolysis of protein in the endosperm.