Anatomy of Adventitious Root Formation in Microcuttings of Malus domestica Borkh. `Gala'

Anatomical events of adventitious root formation in response to root induction medium, observing changes during induction and post-induction stages, were made with microcuttings of `Gala' apples. Shoot explants on root induction medium containing water, 1.5 μ m IBA, 44 m m sucrose, or 1.5 μ m IBA + 44 m m sucrose after 4 days of treatment averaged 0, 0.2, 2.2, and 11.9 meristemoids per microcutting, respectively. Meristemoids formed in response to sucrose were confined to leaf gaps and traces. Time-course analysis of root induction with 1.5 μ m IBA + 44 m m sucrose over 4 days revealed that some phloem parenchyma cells became densely cytoplasmic, having nuclei with prominent nucleoli within 1 day; meristematic activity in the phloem was widespread by 2 days; continued division of phloem parenchyma cells advanced into the cortex by 3 days; and that identifiable root primordia were present by 4 days. Cell division of pith, vascular cambium, and cortex did not lead to primordia formation. Meristematic activity was confined to the basal 1 mm of microcuttings. Time-course analysis of post-induction treatment revealed differentiation of distinct cell layers at the distal end of primordia by 1 day; primordia with a conical shape and several cell layers at the distal end by 2 to 3 days; roots with organized tissue systems emerging from the stem by 4 days; and numerous emerged roots by 6 days. Root initiation was detectable within 24 hours and completed by day 4 of the root induction treatment and involved only phloem parenchyma cells. Chemical names used: 1 H -indole3-butryic acid (IBA).