Sains Malaysiana 44(4)(2015): 483–489

Growth and Anatomical Responses in Xanthostemon chrysanthus as Influenced by Paclobutrazol and Potassium Nitrate

(Tindak Balas Tumbesaran dan Anatomi Xanthostemon chrysanthus yang Dipengaruhi oleh Paklobutrazol dan Kalium Nitrat)

M.R. AHMAD NAZARUDIN¹*, F.Y. TSAN², O. NORMANIZA³ & Y. ADZMI²

¹Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM), 52109 Kepong, Selangor Darul Ehsan

Malaysia

²Faculty of Plantation and Agrotechnology, Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM)

40450 Shah Alam, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia

³Institute of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Universiti Malaya (UM)

50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Received: 26 September 2013/Accepted: 14 December 2014

ABSTRACT

A study was conducted to determine the effects of a plant growth regulator (paclobutrazol, PBZ) and commercial fertilizer (Krista-K Plus) as a source of potassium nitrate (KNO₃) on the growth of Xanthostemon chrysantus. It was also attempted to investigate the anatomical changes in the leaf and stem after the treatment. Nine treatments, i.e. control (no PBZ and Krista-K Plus application), 0 PBZ gL^-1 + 100 g Krista-K Plus, 0 PBZ gL^-1 + 200 g Krista-K Plus, 0.125 PBZ gL^-1 + 0 g Krista-K Plus, 0.125 PBZ gL^-1 + 100 g Krista-K Plus, 0.125 PBZ gL^-1 + 200 g Krista-K Plus, 0.25 PBZ gL^-1 + 0 g Krista-K Plus, 0.25 PBZ gL^-1 + 100 g Krista-K Plus and 0.25 PBZ gL^-1 + 200 g Krista-K Plus, were tested. PBZ was soil drenched at the commencement of the study while Krista-K Plus was applied at three-month intervals. Plant growth performances such as tree height, diameter at breast height, canopy diameter and leaf area were recorded monthly throughout the study period. Stem and leaf samples were collected before the application of treatments and after six months of treatments for anatomical observation by using electron microscope. Plant height, diameter at breast height, crown diameter and leaf area were significantly reduced with the application of PBZ. Palisade parenchyma thickness was increased by 33.83% with 0.25 PBZ gL^-1 + 200 g Krista-K Plus, while only 2.44% increment recorded in the control tree. Xylem thickness in the stem was reduced by 21.81% after treated with the highest dosage of PBZ, while the control tree only had 1.78% increment. Spongy parenchyma thickness in the leaf was unaffected. However, palisade parenchyma was found the thickest after combined treatment with 0.25 PBZ gL^-1 + 200 g Krista-K Plus. Micrograph images of the cross-section of leaf lamina and stem showed that the cells were tightly arranged in response to the application of PBZ.

Keywords: Growth inhibition; ornamental plant; plant anatomy; plant growth regulator; scanning electron microscope

ABSTRAK

Suatu kajian telah dijalankan untuk mengenal pasti kesan pengawal atur pertumbuhan pokok (paklobutrazol, PBZ) dan baja dagangan (Krista-K Plus) sebagai punca kalium nitrat (KNO₃) terhadap tumbesaran pokok Xanthostemon chrysanthus. Kajian ini juga bertujuan untuk mengkaji perubahan anatomi di dalam daun dan batang pokok selepas rawatan. Sembilan rawatan, iaitu kawalan (tanpa PBZ dan Krista-K Plus), 0 PBZ gL-1 + 100 g Krista-K Plus, 0 PBZ gL^-1 + 200 g Krista-K Plus, 0.125 PBZ gL^-1 + 0 g Krista-K Plus, 0.125 PBZ gL-1 + 100 g Krista-K Plus, 0.125 PBZ gL^-1 + 200 g Krista-K Plus, 0.25 PBZ gL^-1 + 0 g Krista-K Plus, 0.25 PBZ gL^-1 + 100 g Krista-K Plus dan 0.25 PBZ gL^-1 + 200 g Krista-K Plus, telah diuji. Aplikasi PBZ dilakukan secara siraman tanah pada permulaan kajian, manakala Krista-K Plus diberikan setiap tiga bulan. Tindak balas tumbesaran pokok seperti ketinggian pokok, garis pusat batang, garis pusat silara dan keluasan daun direkodkan setiap bulan sepanjang tempoh kajian. Sampel daun dan batang diambil sebelum rawatan dan selepas enam bulan rawatan untuk menilai perubahan anatominya menggunakan mikroskop elektron imbasan. Ketinggian pokok, garis pusat batang, garis pusat silara dan keluasan daun didapati berkurangan selepas rawatan PBZ. Ketebalan sel palisad parenkima dalam daun didapati meningkat sebanyak 33.83% selepas rawatan 0.25 PBZ gL^-1 + 200 g Krista-K Plus, manakala hanya 2.44% peningkatan direkodkan pada pokok kawalan. Ketebalan xilem di dalam batang berkurangan sebanyak 21.81% selepas dirawat dengan PBZ pada kepekatan yang paling tinggi, manakala pokok rawatan hanya meningkat sebanyak 1.78%. Ketebalan sel parenkima span di dalam daun pula tidak terjejas. Walau bagaimanapun, sel palisad parenkima didapati paling tebal selepas dirawat dengan 0.25 PBZ gL^-1 + 200 g Krista-K Plus. Imej mikrograf keratan rentas lamina daun dan batang pokok menunjukkan sel tersebut tersusun dengan padat akibat tindak balas terhadap rawatan PBZ.

Kata kunci: Anatomi pokok; mikroskop elektron imbasan; pengawal atur pertumbuhan pokok; perencatan pertumbuhan; pokok hiasan

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*Corresponding author; email: nazarudin@frim.gov.my