| Abstract: | In the present study, several kinds of phytohormones were used for the control of sex differentiation of the potentially female floral buds of Lagenaria siceraria var. hispida in vitro. It was shown that both GA3 and STS (silver thiosulphate) could effectively change the direction of sex differentiation of the potentially female floral buds in vitro. In the MS medium, supplemented with IAA, BA and ACC(1-aminocyclopropane-l-carboxylic acid) at l nmol/L, male flowers would be induced from the potentially female floral buds by the addition of GA3 (1–500μmol/L). Herein the male flowers were induced more effectively by GA3 within 5–-20 μmol/L but it was not as effective as STS. In the MS medium supplemented with IAA, BA and ACC at 1 nmol/L and with GA3 at 20 nmol/L more male flowers were differentiated from the potentially female floral buds with the addition of STS within 100–500 μmol/L. On the contrary, when the MS medium were supplemented with IAA and ACC at 1 nmol/L and with BA increased to 100 nmol/L more female flowers were differentiated from the potentially female floral buds, even with addition of 10–50 nmol/L of GA3. |
