EFFECT OF WOUNDING ON THE RELATIONS BETWEEN VASCULAR RAYS AND VESSELSIN MELIA-AZEDARACH L

The axial and radial derivatives of the cambium showed contrasting wou nd responses in Melia azedarach L. The vascular rays became larger, le ss spaced, and their shapes were modified following wounding. As the w ound effects vanished with time, ray size, spacing and shape returned to normal patterns. On the other hand, following wounding, vessels bec ame smaller, and fibres were not formed. Vessels returned to normal si ze, and vessels and fibres reverted to their normal pattern when wound effects vanished. These changes in the patterns of vascular rays, ves sels and fibres reflect the nature of the regulatory mechanisms of the ir formation: axial signal flows, and the involvement of wound effects .