Effects of Naproanilide on Tuberization and RNA Synthesis of Cyperus serotinus Rottb.

Abstract

Effects of naproanilide [1-(2-naphthoxy) propionanilide] treatment at different growth stages on tuberization and RNA synthesis of C. serotinus Rottb. was studied in relation to its effect on growth.
The inhibition of tuberization concomitant with the stimulation of hill production and rhizome abnormality were induced regardless of age when treated. The inhibitory and formative effects on the growth of shoot or root were observed in the early stage, but these effects diminished as the growth stage of the treated plant advanced. With treatment during tuberization, tuber initiation was inhibited while neither the enlargement nor the tuber sprouting activity were affected.
RNA synthesis in rhizome, expressed by uracil incorporation into RNA, was stimulated more remarkably than in the other organs by treatment at any given growth stage.
The results suggested that naproanilide inhibited tuber initiation through its action on the RNA synthetic process related to the development of rhizome into tuber.