Hormonal regulation of secondary abscission in pear pedicels in vitro

In vitro cultivated pear, Pyrus communis L. cv. Beurré Hardy, pedicels cut above their primary abscission layer can form a secondary abscission layer, especially under the influence of auxins or cytokinins in the culture medium. The maximum percentage of abscission reached by auxin application was always higher than that by cytokinin. The presence of the flower was of no consequence to the abscission. Characteristic differences in abscission were observed between pear and apple pedicels. In contrast to apple (1) secondary abscission in pear could also be induced by cytokinins, and (2) the site of abscission in pear was dependent on the auxin concentration. At lower auxin concentrations abscission was induced in the basal parts of the pedicels inserted in the medium, whereas at higher auxin concentrations the abscission layer was formed in the terminal parts of the pedicels above the culture medium. A clear effect of gibberellins, ABA and CEPA could not be detected.