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 in ner leaf sections isolated from shoots cultured in liquid medium induced hy perhydric malformations associated with morphogenetic changes. Meristematic centers initiated on the basal proximal ends appeared over the entire surf ace of the hyperhydric leaf sections after 6 weeks in culture. The meristem atic centers which formed clusters on the leaf sections developed later int o buds. In leaf sections grown in the liquid medium lacking ancymidol, hype rhydricity was not induced, and regeneration was not observed. Starch and p rotein levels and ascorbate peroxidase and catalase activities were examine d in shoots and isolated leaf sections that were either hyperhydric or non- hyperhydric. In ancymidol-treated. hyperhydric leaf sections, ascorbate per oxidase and catalase activities were lower than in control, untreated leaf sections. The changes in starch and protein levels and in antioxidant enzym atic activities appeared to be related to the onset of meristematic-center initiation and further bud development on Narcissus hyperhydric leaf sectio ns.