Rootlets, Xylary Region and Abnormal Initiation of Cambium in the Root of Cicer arietinum L. Following Treatments with GA3, IAA and Kinetin

Effect of growth hormones i.e., gibberellic acid (GA3), indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and Kinetin was studied on the root of Cicer arietinum L. after forty-five and sixty days of treatments and compared with control. The application of GA3 alone and in combination with IAA or Kinetin or both caused extension growth and insignificant increase in the number of rootlets accompanied with decrease in the diameter of root. Applied IAA caused expansion in radial diameters and decreased the length of root. The application of IAA also registered an increase in number of rootlets. With 20 ppm Kinetin, a negligible increase in the length of root as well as in the number of rootlets was observed. With the application of IAA + Kinetin, a remarkable increase in diameter and number of rootlets was revealed. In the internal structure, the application of GA3 alone had no effect on the secondary growth but in combination with IAA and Kinetin individually as well as in combinations, secondary growth was initiated earlier. When IAA and Kinetin were applied alone and even in the combination of the two, enhancement of the cambium was registered. One significant observation was the abnormal initiation of cambium around the pith region in the dose of 20 ppm Kinetin and in the mixed dose of IAA + Kinetin.