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.