Effectiveness of Growth Substances in Delaying Abscission of Coleus Petioles

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Abstract
The following plant hormone chemicals were tested at 4 cone, levels and by 2 methods of application as to their effectiveness in delaying the abscission of debladed Coleus petioles[long dash]indoleacetic acid, indolebutyric acid, methyl indolebutyrate, indoleace-tamide, o-naphthaleneacetic acid, B-naphthoxyacetic acid, a-naphthylmethylacetate, a-naphthylacetamide, and a-naph-thylthioacetamide. The first method of application was by spraying the plants with aqueous solns. and subsequently deblading the petioles. The 2d method was to cut off the leaf blades first and cover the cut petiole stubs with lanolin-hormone mixtures. By the spray application method the most effective compound was B-naphthoxyacetic acid followed in order by a-naphthaleneacetic acid and methyl indolebutyrate. By the lanolin method methyl indolebutyrate was most effective of the indole compounds and a-naphthaleneacetic most effective of the naphthalene group. The 2 groups could not be compared in the 2d method because of a time lag in the naphthalene compounds delaying the start of the effect of all members of this group. No such lag was evident in the indole compounds. Presumably the naphthalene compounds were transported longitudinally down the petioles to the point of abscission at a slower rate than the indole compounds. With both groups of compounds the longer the petiole stub the greater the effectiveness of the lanolin-hormone application suggesting the presence in the petioles of naturally occurring substances necessary for the action of the applied hormones.

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