| Abstract: | In order to learn more about how young pistil primordia assimilateor produce the regulatory information influencing further growthand development and how the information is collated and processedwithin the primordium, young pistil primordia from two speciesof Nicotiana were excised and placed on the surface of a developmentallyneutral medium. The pistils of one type of tobacco seemed tobe almost fully autonomous for its growth and development becauseit typically grew to a size and stage of development comparableto in vivo grown pistils. Pistils of the other type did notfare so well. Other potential influences were tested; the degreeof injury to, or exposure of, the placentas, the effects ofculturing while attached to other floral members in every combination,and the effects of kinetin were investigated. Each of theseprovided clues relating to how the plant regulated pistil development. |
