Enhancement of lateral bud growth in Coleus blumei BENTH. by (2-chloroethyl) trimethylammonium chloride (CCC)

The relationship of GA to apical dominance in Coleus was examinedby substituting 1 % IAA, in lanolin, for the shoot apex of CCC-treated,control and GA-treated plants containing, theoretically, hyponormal,normal and hypernormal GA levels, respectively. The greatestinhibition of lateral bud growth was obtained in the treatmentcombining 1 % IAA and 100 ppm GA, suggesting that GA may beimportant in the apical dominance of Coleus. CCC inhibited main axis growth, reduced the level of endogenousGA and caused a marked release of lateral buds from apical dominance. The significant stimulation of lateral bud growth by CCC couldnot be ascribed to reduced endogenous GA since it was not reversedby exogenous GA, or by GA plus IAA, whereas 100 ppm GA overcamethe inhibition of main axis growth by CCC. It was also shownthat the CCC stimulation was not a result of compensatory growth,that is, enhanced lateral bud growth resulting from reducedapical bud growth. The CCC effect on lateral buds was interpretedas involving a system independent of auxin and GA or else apossible immobilization of auxin in addition to inhibition ofGA biosynthesis. (Received December 5, 1967; )