Abstract: Reed, Phragmites communis Trin.,is one of the important herbaceous plants used as the raw material for paper pulp in China. They distribute widely all ovar the country and is, therefore, a rich natural resource for paper industry. Since the length of its fibre is short and the length/width ratio is low, they are considered as a relative inferior raw material for making paper pulp.Attempt has been made in this experiment to lengthen the fibre cells by treating them with plant hormone, gibberellic acid, and the trace element, boron.The experiments were carried out in cement blocks as well as in small plots in Panshan County of Liaoning Province in North China.The plants were sprayed weekly during the growing season ( from late May to the early part of July ) with various concentrations of GA3 or H3BO3, used either separately or in combination. The plants were harvested in November. The length and the width of the fibre cells were measured and the chemical composition was analysed.Results show that the treatment with GA3 alone or in combination with H3B03 could not only enhance the fibre quality but also improve the overall growth pattern. The most effective dosage of GA3 was found at a concentration of 10ppm plus 12ppm H3B03. The results can be summarized as follows: fibre length increased 51.5%; length/width ratio, 48%, cellulose content, 9.6%; stem height, 9.8%; numbers of nodes, 11.3%; and the fresh weight, 15%,In addition to the above improvement, it appears to have advantage in paper pulp processing, owing to the fact that it has a low silica content of ash, approximately 10% less than that of the controls. The mechanism of this synergetic effect of GA3 and H3BO3 was suggested due probably to the cell elongation and cell wall biosynthesis enhancement. Large scale field trials will be conducted prior to practical application in paper industry.

Key words: Reed, Fibre, Gibberellic acid, Boron