In-vitro induction of aerial leaves and of precocious flowering in submerged shoots ofLimnophila indica by abscisic acid.

Nodal explants of submerged shoots ofLimnophila indica (L.) Druce were cultured in Nitsch's liquid medium containing abscisic acid (ABA, 10(-9)-10(-6) M). At 10(-7) and 10(-6) M, ABA induced typical aerial leaves (entire, ovate, opposite-decussately arranged) even under submerged conditions and completely suppressed the development of water leaves (pinnately dissected and whorled). Flowers that invariably arise from aerial shoots were induced precociously by ABA even on submerged nodes.