Some effects of grafting on the abscission of leaves of early and late shedding plants of Corchorus olitorius L.

Abstract

In the present study early leaf shedding mutant plants of Corchorus olitorius L. were grafted with the mother plants and the analyses of abscission behaviour of the leaves of ungrafted and grafted plants were followed to observe the possibility of abscission regulating factor(s) to be transmitted through grafts. In grafted plants the leaves of scion mother plants with mutant root-stock showed earlier abscission tendencies and delayed abscission tendencies of the leaves of scion mutant plants with mother root-stock were observed as compared to the leaves of ungrafted mother plants and ungrafted mutant plants respectively and this was more pronounced during reproductive phase. Laminar tissues of ungrafted mother plants showed greater amount of total nitrogen and IAA-like compounds compared to the leaves of mutant plants. In grafted plants the leaves of mother scion with mutant root-stock showed decreased amount of total nitrogen and IAA-like compounds and the leaves of mutant scion with mother root-stock showed increased amount of total nitrogen and IAA-like compounds as compared to that of ungrafted mother plants and mutant plants respectively. Free amino acids content decreased in the leaves of mutant scion and increased in the leaves of mother scion compared to that of ungrafted mutant and. mother plants respectively and this was more marked during reproductive phase.