Effects of sugars on the growth and chlorophyll content in excised tulip stem in the presence of Indole-3-acetic acid

The purpose of this study was to clarify the effect of sucrose on auxin-induced growth of stem excised from growing tulips and excised directly from cooled and not cooled bulbs, and on the growth of excised IV internode from growing plants in the presence of auxin. In all cases flower bud was replaced by IAA (indole-3- acetic acid, 0.1%, w/w in lanolin) and basal part of excised segments of stem was kept in distilled water or in solution of various sugars at different concentrations. IAA-induced growth of excised stems isolated from growing tulips was inhibited by sucrose at concentrations of 5.0% and 10.0%, but sucrose at 1.25% and 2.5% did not. Sucrose at all concentrations used evidently delayed senescence and increased chlorophyll contents in excised stems in the presence of IAA. Sucrose induced stiffing in isolated stems in the presence of IAA, and much less infective by pathogen in comparison to stem treated with IAA only. Mannitol and sorbitol at concentrations of 5.0% and 10.0% substantially inhibited IAA-induced growth of stem segments. Stem segments excised from cooled and not cooled tulip bulbs were more sensitive than those isolated from growing shoots due to application of sucrose and glucose; more inhibitory effect was observed. Sucrose at concentrations of 5.0% and 10.0% only slightly inhibited growth of IV internode treated with IAA and all concentrations of sucrose (1.25%, 2.5%, 5.0% and 10.0%) substantially increased chlorophyll content. The possible mode of actions of sucrose interacting with auxin to regulate stem growth is also discussed although sugar response is complicated by the fact that plants have multiple sugar-response pathways.