Analysis of exogenous auxin and cytokinin action in overcoming root restriction in green and variegated Ficus Benjamina

Greenand variegated Benjamin fig (Ficus benjamina) often suffer from rootrestriction when grown in pots. While exogenous cytokinin applications haveproven effective in reversing this stress, the possibility that exogenousauxins, either alone or in combination with cytokinin, may also be helpful hasr...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Di Benedetto, Adalberto Hugo, Galmarini, Claudio Romulo, Tognetti, Jorge Alberto
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Estado:Versión publicada
Fecha de publicación:2023
País:Argentina
Institución:Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas
Repositorio:CONICET Digital (CONICET)
Idioma:inglés
OAI Identifier:oai:ri.conicet.gov.ar:11336/220564
Acceso en línea:http://hdl.handle.net/11336/220564
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Ficus Benjamina
Plantas ornamentales
Reguladores del crecimiento
https://purl.org/becyt/ford/4.1
https://purl.org/becyt/ford/4
Descripción
Sumario:Greenand variegated Benjamin fig (Ficus benjamina) often suffer from rootrestriction when grown in pots. While exogenous cytokinin applications haveproven effective in reversing this stress, the possibility that exogenousauxins, either alone or in combination with cytokinin, may also be helpful hasreceived little attention. In this work, we analyse the response of green andvariegated Ficus benjamina rooted cuttings growing in small pots to exogenoussupply of auxin and cytokinin at different concentrations, either in single orcombined applications. Our results show that both benzyl aminopurine (BAP) andindole acetic acid (IAA), at the highest concentration tested (100 mg L-1 )increased leaf development and plant biomass accumulation in green andvariegated Ficus genotypes. However, exogenous IAA and BAP appeared to elicitdifferential plant morpho-physiological responses. While BAP tended to enhanceleaf appearance more than IAA did, the latter promoted leaf expansion in asteadier manner than BAP, thus resulting in plants with less, but larger,leaves than those treated with cytokinin. Despite these differences in plantarchitecture, regression analysis suggests that hormonal-induced growthpromotion was solely attributable to enhanced carbon assimilation. Ratherunexpectedly, IAA promoted net assimilation and photosynthesis rates at leastas effectively as cytokinin. Possible mechanisms involved in growth anddevelopment promotion by exogenous application of both hormones are discussed. Auxintreatment may help overcome root restriction in Ficus as effectively ascytokinin in terms of growth promotion, although differences in plantarchitecture may arise as compared with plants sprayed with the latter hormone.