A Histochemical Study of Abscission Layer Formation in the Bean

In debladed bean petioles calcium and dry weight increased in the abscission zone during an induction period of 14 hr. Before the microscopic appearance of the abscission layer calcium decreased in the abscission zone and increased in the petiole. Dry matter began to decrease in both the abscission zone and the petiole 24 hr after deblading. The first visual change in the cells of the abscission zone was a swelling of the pectic materials of the cell walls. This was followed by breakdown of other cell wall components, i.e., non-cellulosic polysaccharides and cellulose. The cellulose of the cell walls adjacent and distal to the abscission layer was found to be altered; however, no lignin was present during abscission layer development. The alteration of pectic materials, coupled with breakdown of cell wall components, resulted in the collapse of cells of the abscission layer just prior to separation. Auxin delayed abscission and also delayed the initial increase in calcium, the movement of calcium from the abscission zone to the petiole, and the decrease in dry weight.