Early modifications of the internodal anatomy of Glycine max sprayed with 2,4-DB

Abstract

An aqueous spray of 4-(2,4-dichlorophenoxy)butyric acid (2,4-DB) induces anatomical changes in young Glycine internodes. Four days after spraying, the first symptoms appear outside the cambium when the interfascicular parenchyma cells and the adjacent cortical parenchyma cells enlarge and divide in several planes. Four days later, the metaphloem parenchyma cells in many of the leaf traces undergo considerable periclinal cell division and extensive radial cell enlargement. The phloem parenchyma cells of the late metaphloem and first secondary phloem enlarge and divide in a less orderly fashion. Fifteen days after treatment, the cortical parenchyma is modified into a band of radially seriate cells above the protophloem fibers. Products of this cambium-like region convert the cortex into a callus-like tissue. The size of starch grains is reduced initially in the phloem and xylem and later in the cortex. It appears that the stimuli produced by 2,4-DB move into the internode via the metaphloem of leaf traces. Despite the rapid obliteration of conducting phloem by the 2,4-DB induced stimulation of phloem parenchyma, an accelerated differentiation of secondary phloem compensates for this loss.