Abstract
The effects of NAA (naphthaleneacetic acid), GA3 (gibberellic acid), CPPU (N-(2-chloro-4-pyridyl)-N'-phenylurea) and pollination on fruit set, cell division and enlargement were studied in Lagenaria leucantha, an important vegetable. NAA and GA3 were ineffective in inducing parthenocarpy, whereas CPPU induced parthenocarpic fruit significantly larger than fruit that resulted from pollination. Cell division, which occurred during the first 4 days after pollination was not reactivated by NAA or GA3, but was effectively reactivated by CPPU. The cell number of the total cross-section of CPPU-treated fruit was 117.4% of that of pollinated fruit and 154.4% of that of unpollinated at 12 DAA (days after anthesis) respectively. The CPPU-induced parthenocarpic fruit had the largest cell cross-sectional area followed, successively, by pollinated fruit, NAA-treated fruit, GA3-treated fruit and unpollinated fruit. These results indicate that CPPU induced parthenocarpic fruit growth by directly reactivating cell division and expansion.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bangerth F and Schroeder M (1994) Strong synergistic effects of gibberellic acid and N-(2-chloro-4-pyridyl)-N'-phenylurea on parthenocarpic fruit set and some other fruit characteristics of apple. Plant Growth Regul 15: 293–302
Ben-Cheikh W, Perez-Botella J, Tadeo FR and Primo-Millo E (1997) Pollination increases gibberellin levels in developing ovaries of seeded varieties of citrus. Plant Physiol 114: 557–564
Bohner J and Bangerth F (1988) Cell number, cell size and hormone levels in semi-isogenic mutants of Lycopersicon pimpinellifolium differing in fruit size. Physiol Plant 72: 316–320
Crane JC (1964) Growth substances in fruit setting and development. Ann Rev Plant Physiol 15: 303–326
Davey JE and van Staden J (1978) Cytokinin activity in Lupinus albus? Distribution in fruits. Physiol Plant 43: 87–93
Elassar G, Rudich J, Palevitch D and Kedar N (1974) Induction of parthenocarpic fruit development in cucumbers by growth regulators. HortScience 9: 238–239
Gao Z, Petreikov M, Zamski E and Schaffer AA (1999) Carbohydrate metabolism during early fruit development of sweet melon (Cucumis melo). Physiol Plant 106: 1–8
Gillaspy G, Ben-David H and Gruissem W (1993) Fruits: a developmental perspective. Plant Cell 5: 1439–1451
Goodwin PB (1978) Phytohormones and fruit growth. In: Letham DS, Goodwin PB and Higgins TJ (eds) Phytohormones and Related Compounds: A Comprehensive Treatise, Vol. 2. Amsterdam: Elsevier-North Holland Biomedical Press, pp. 175–216
Gotou T, Kamada K, Yoshida U and Yukinaga M (1989) Growth and ripening of parthenocarpic melon fruit induced by authentic cytokinin 4PU-30. J Jap Soc Hort Sci 58(Suppl 1): 326–327
Gustafson F (1960) Influence of gibberellic acid on setting and development of fruits in tomato. Plant Physiol 35: 521–523
Hasekawa K, Kuge N, Mimura T and Nakajima Y (1991) Effects of KT-30 and GA3 on the fruit set and fruit growth of persimmon cvs. Saijo and Hiratanenashi. J Jap Soc Hort Sci 60: 19–29
Hayada Y, Niimi Y and Iwasaki N (1995) Inducting parthenocarpic fruit of watermelon with plant bioregulators. Acta Hortic 394: 235–240
Hedden P and Hoad GV (1985) Hormonal regulation of fruit growth and development. Brit Plant Growth Regulator Group Monogr 12: 211–225
Iwahori S, Tominaga S and Yamasaki T (1988) Stimulation of fruit growth of kiwifruit, Actinidia chinensis plant, by N-(2-chloro-4-pyridyl)-N'-phenylurea, a diphenylurea-derivative cytokinin. Scientia Hortic 35: 109–115
Karanov EN, Iliev LK and Alexieva VS (1992) Phenylurea cytokinins - Chemistry, physiology and application. In: Kaminek M, Mok DMS and Zazimalova E (eds) Physiology and Biochemistry of Cytokinin in Plants. The Hague: SPB Academic Publishing, pp 199–204
Kim IS, Okubo H and Fujieda K (1992) Endogenous levels of IAA in relation to parthenocarpy in cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.). Scientia Hortic 52: 1–8
Lewis DH, Burge GK, Hopping ME and Jameson PE (1996) Cytokinins and fruit development in the kiwifruit (Actinidia deliciosa)? Effects of reduced pollination and CPPU application. Physiol Plant 98: 187–195
Ogawa Y, Inoue N and Aoki S (1977) Prominent promotion on the fruit growth in Cucumis sativus L. by gibberellin GA4+7 and benzyladenine. J Jap Soc Hort Sci 46: 245–249
Ogawa Y, Nishikawa S, Inoue N and Aoki S (1990) Promotive effects of different cytokinins on fruit growth in Cucumis sativus L. J Jap Soc Hort Sci 59: 597–601
Ohara H, Izawa J, Kimura S, Hiroi N, Matsui H, Hirata N and Takahashi E (1997) Induction of fruit set and growth of parthenocarpic ‘Hayward’ kiwifruit with plant growth regulators. J Jap Soc Hort Soc 66: 467–473
Patterson KJ, Mason KA and Gould KS (1993) Effects of CPPU (N-(2-chloro-4-pyridyl)-N'-phenylurea) on fruit growth, maturity and storage quality of kiwifruit. New Zealand J Crop Hort Sci 21: 253–261
Pharis RP and King RW (1985) Gibberellins and reproductive development in seed plants. Ann Rev Plant Physiol 36: 517–568
Reynolds AG, Wardle DA, Zurowski C and Looney NE (1992) Phenylureas, CPPU, and thidiazuron, affect yield components, 122 fruit composition and storage potential of four seedless grape selections. J Amer Soc Hort Sci 117: 85–89
Shudo K (1994) Chemistry of phenylurea cytokinins. In Mok DWS and Mok MC (eds). Cytokinins: Chemistry, Activity and Function. Boca Raton FL: CRC Press, pp 35–42
Takagi T, Murai H, Ueda R and Suzuki T (1994) Effects of application of gibberellic acid and N-(2-chloropyridyl)-N'-phenylurea on the enlargement of frost-induced seedless fruit of loquat (Eriobotrya japonica Lindl.) J Jap Soc Hort Sci 62: 733–739
Takahashi S, Shudo K, Okamoto T, Yamada K and Isogai Y (1978) Cytokinin activity of N-phenyl-N'-(4-pyridyl)urea derivatives. Phytochemistry 17: 1201–1206
Takeno K, Ise H, Minowa H and Dounowari T (1992) Fruit growth induced by benzyladenine in Cucumis sativus L.: Influence of benzyladenine on cell division, cell enlargement and indole-3-acetic acid content. J Jap Soc Hort Sci 60: 915–920
Talon M, Zacarias L and Primo-Millo E (1990) Hormonal changes associated with fruit set and development in mandarins differing in their parthenocarpic ability. Physiol Plant 79: 400–406
Tartarini S, Sansavini S and Ventura M (1993) CPPU control of fruit morphogenesis in apple. Scientia Hortic 53: 273–279
Yu JQ (1999) Parthenocarpy induced by CPPU (N-(2-chloro-4-pyridyl)-N'-phenylurea) prevents flower abortion in Chinese white-flowered gourd (Lagenaria leucantha). Env and Exp Bot 42: 121–128
Yu JQ, Li Y, Qian YR and Zhu ZJ (2001) Changes of endogenous hormone level in pollinated and CPPU-induced parthenocarpy fruits of Lagenaria leucantha. J Hort Sci and Biotech (in press)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Quan Yu, J., Li, Y., Qian, Y.R. et al. Cell division and cell enlargement in fruit of Lagenaria leucantha as influenced by pollination and plant growth substances. Plant Growth Regulation 33, 117–122 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1017502816250
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1017502816250