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Gibberellin-induced ethylene production and its effect on cowpea epicotyl elongation

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Abstract

The effect of gibberellin A1 (GA1) on production of ethylene by cowpea (Vigna sinensis cv Blackeye pea no. 5) epicotyl explants and its relationship to epicotyl elongation was investigated. The explants were placed upright in water and incubated in sealed culture tubes or in large jars. GA, and IAA in ethanol solution were injected into the subapical tissues of the decapitated epicotyls. Cowpea epicotyl explants elongated after GA but not after IAA treatment, and they were very sensitive to exogenous ethylene. As little as 0.14 μ1/1 ethylene reduced significantly GA1-induced epicotyl elongation.

Treatment with GA1 induced the production of ethylene which began 10 h after GA application, showed a peak at about 22 h and then declined. The yield of ethylene was proportional to the amount of GA, injected. The inhibition of epicotyl elongation in closed tubes was avoided by absorbing ethylene released with Hg(Cl04)2 , or by adding AVG to the incubation solution to inhibit ethylene production. Treatment with IAA elicited a rapid production of ethylene which ceased about 10 h after application. The effects of IAA and GA1 on ethylene production were additive.

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Abbreviations

AVG:

aminoethoxyvinylglycine 2-amino-4-(2′-aminoethoxy)-trans-3butenoic acid

ACC:

1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid

GA:

gibberellin

IAA:

indole-3-acetic acid

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Garcia-Martinez, J.L., Ben-Shalom, N. & Rappaport, L. Gibberellin-induced ethylene production and its effect on cowpea epicotyl elongation. Plant Growth Regul 2, 209–216 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00124769

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