Auxin and gibberellin effects on cell growth and starch during abscission in cotton.

An increase in starch content of cells in the abscission zone of the cotton explant appeared correlated with an increase in number of cells. A large increase in the number of cells in the abscission zone, concomitant with an increase in starch content, followed treatment with gibberellin as compared to auxin. In the final stages of abscission starch was hydrolyzed in the cells of the separation layer. Some starch remained after the petiole abscised.A positive phloroglucinol-hydrochloric acid reaction in the cells of the petiole distal to the line of separation indicated the presence, not of lignin, but of soluble sugars and uronic acids. This reaction was especially intense following gibberellic acid treatment.It was concluded that gibberellin in accelerating abscission leads to (1) an increase in cell number and starch content in the abscission zone, (2) the hydrolysis of starch in the separation layer just before abscission, and (3) the breakdown of polysaccharides and the release of soluble sugars and uronic acids. Auxin, an abscission retardant, either delays or prevents these events.