Injection of growth regulators into seeds growing in situ on plants of Phaseolus vulgaris with a double-fruit sink system

Abstract

An injection procedure to deliver growth substance solutions continuously to developing seeds of dwarf bean plants for periods of up to 10 days with minimal damage to seed development is described. Its use in conjunction with experimental plants having a double-fruit sink system enabled a comparison for any growth substance effect within the plant. It was demonstrated that supply of 6-benzylaminopurine (10−5 M) and abscisic acid (10−6 M) singly or in combination to seeds increased seed dry weight significantly but only in plants that were defoliated severely beforehand.