Nucellus Cultures of two Cucurbits-Luffa cylindrica and Trichosanthes anguina

Abstract

Nucellus cultures of Luffa cylindrica and Trichosanthes anguina (Cucurbitaceae) have been established. Tracheary differentiation occurred in cultures of both taxa. Supplementing the culture medium with 2,4-D caused limited and diffuse differentiation of tracheary elements. In the absence of 2,4-D, tracheary differentiation was profuse and the tracheary elements formed compact nodules; the differentiation of tracheary nodules could be traced to well-developed meristemoids. Our results show that the formation of tracheary nodules is an ultimate event in morphogenesis and bears no causal relation to organogenesis. The suitability of the nucellus as a system for studies on tracheary differentiation is emphasized.