Summary
Apical application of silver nitrate (AgNO3; 50 and 100 μg per plant) and silver thiosulphate anionic complex (Ag(S2O3) 3−2 ; STS; 25, 50 and 100 μg per plant) to female plants of Cannabis sativa induced the formation of reduced male, intersexual and fully altered male flowers on the newly formed primary lateral branches (PLBs); 10 μg per plant of AgNO3 was ineffective and 150 μg treatment proved inhibitory. A maximum number of fully altered male flowers were formed in response to 100 μg STS. The induced male flowers produced pollen grains that germinated on stigmas and effected seed set. Silver ion applied as STS was more effective than AgNO3 in inducing flowers of altered sex. The induction of male flowers on female plants demonstrated in this work is useful for producing seeds that give rise to only female plants. This technique is also useful for maintaining gynoecious lines.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
Literature
Ankineedu, G.; Rao, N.G.P. (1973): Development of pistillate castor. Indian J. Genet. Plant Breed. 33, 416–422
Atsmon, D.; Tabbak, C. (1979): Comparative effects of gibberellin, silver nitrate and aminoethoxyvinyl glycine on sexual tendency and ethylene evolution in the cucumber plant (Cucumis sativus L.). Plant Cell Physiol. 20, 1547–1556
Beyer, E.M. (1976a): A potent inhibitor of ethylene action in plants. Plant Physiol. 58, 268–271
Beyer, E.M. (1976b): Silver ion: A potent antiethylene agent in cucumber and tomato. HortScience 11, 195–196
Byers, R.E.; Baker, L.R.; Sell, H.M.; Herner, R.C.; Dilley, D. (1972): Ethylene: a natural regulator of sex expression of Cucumis melo L. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. (USA) 69, 717–720
Dimalla, G.G.; Van Staden, J. (1980): The effect of silver thiosulphate preservative on the physiology of cut carnations I. Influence on longevity and carbohydrate status. Z. Pflanzenphysiol. 99, 9–17
Heslop-Harrison, J. (1964): Sex expression in flowering plants. Brookhaven Symp. Biol. 16, 109–122
Jaiswal, V.S. (1972): Effect of some growth regulators on extension growth and sex expression of Cannabis sativa L. Ph. D. Thesis submitted to the University of Delhi, Delhi, India
Kalloo, S. (1978): Chemical induction of staminate flowers in four determinate gynoecious lines of pickling cucumber. Gartenbau 43, 280–282
Mohan Ram, H.Y. (1980): Hormones and flower sex. Plant Biochem. J. S. M. Sircar Memorial Volume, pp. 77–88
Mohan Ram, H.Y.; Sett, R. (1980): Induction of male flowers in a pistillate line of Ricinus communis L. by silver and cobalt ions. Planta 149, 413–415
Reid, M.S.; Paul, J.L.; Farhoomand, M.B.; Kofranek, A.M.; Staby, G.L. (1980): Pulse treatment with silver thiosulphate complex extends the vase life of cut carnations. J. Am. Soc. Hort. Sci. 105, 25–27
Sarath, G.; Mohan Ram, H.Y. (1979): Comparative effect of silver ion and gibberellic acid on the induction of male flowers on female Cannabis plants. Experientia 35, 333–334
Takahashi, H.; Suge, H. (1980): Sex expression in cucumber plants as affected by mechanical stress. Plant Cell Physiol. 21, 303–310
Tolla, G.E.; Peterson, G.E. (1979): Comparison of gibberellin A4/A7 and silver nitrate for induction of staminate flowers in a gynoecious cucumber line. HortScience 14, 542–544
Veen, H. (1979): Effects of silver on ethylene synthesis and action in cut carnations. Planta 145, 467–470
Veen, H.; van de Geijn, S.C. (1978): Mobility and ionic forms of silver as related to longevity of cut carnations. Planta 140, 93–96
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Communicated by D. von Wettstein
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Mohan Ram, H.Y., Sett, R. Induction of fertile male flowers in genetically female Cannabis sativa plants by silver nitrate and silver thiosulphate anionic complex. Theoret. Appl. Genetics 62, 369–375 (1982). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00275107
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00275107