Further analytical and experimental studies on the shoot apex of Helianthus annuus: variable activity in the central zone

The cytologically distinctive central zone of the vegetative shoot apex of Helianthus annuus L. cv. Peredovic has a mitotic frequency considerably lower than that of the surrounding peripheral zone in intact plants. Apices excised and grown in culture for 5 days before being supplied with [H 3 ]thymidine reveal a correspondingly low level of DNA synthesis in the central zone when autoradiographed. In similarly cultured apices, mitotic activity in the central zone is less than that recorded for intact plants. Labelling immediately after excision of the apex indicates that the central zone cells are activated by the operation and quiescence returns during the following 5 days. This activation is confirmed by mitotic counts 2 days after excision. The removal of only two young leaves from the apical buds of otherwise intact plants results in a comparable stimulation of mitotic activity in the central zone. These observations cast doubt upon the significance of mitotic activity in living shoot apices when these have been exposed for observation by removal of leaves. They also raise questions about the validity of labelling techniques which involve the partial dissection of the shoot apex.