The effect of ancymidol on hyperhydricity, regeneration, starch and antioxidant enzymatic activities in liquid-cultured Narcissus

Addition of the growth retardant ancymidol to Narcissus shoots and lower inner leaf sections isolated from shoots cultured in liquid medium induced hyperhydric malformations associated with morphogenetic changes. Meristematic centers initiated on the basal proximal ends appeared over the entire surface of the hyperhydric leaf sections after 6 weeks in culture. The meristematic centers which formed clusters on the leaf sections developed later into buds. In leaf sections grown in the liquid medium lacking ancymidol, hyperhydricity was not induced, and regeneration was not observed. Starch and protein levels and ascorbate peroxidase and catalase activities were examined in shoots and isolated leaf sections that were either hyperhydric or non-hyperhydric. In ancymidol-treated, hyperhydric leaf sections, ascorbate peroxidase and catalase activities were lower than in control, untreated leaf sections. The changes in starch and protein levels and in antioxidant enzymatic activities appeared to be related to the onset of meristematic-center initiation and further bud development on Narcissus hyperhydric leaf sections.