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Controlling plant growth via the gibberellin biosynthesis system – I. Growth parameter alterations in apple seedlings
Author(s) -
Steffens G. L.,
Byun J. K.,
Wang S. Y.
Publication year - 1985
Publication title -
physiologia plantarum
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.351
H-Index - 146
eISSN - 1399-3054
pISSN - 0031-9317
DOI - 10.1111/j.1399-3054.1985.tb01897.x
Subject(s) - paclobutrazol , shoot , gibberellin , malus , horticulture , biology , nutrient , botany , chemistry , ecology
‘York Imperial’ apple seedlings ( Malus domestica Borkh.) were continuously supplied via the roots with paclobutrazol [(2RS, 3RS)‐1‐(4‐chlorophenyl)‐4,4‐dimethyl‐2‐(1,2,4‐triazol‐1‐yl)pentan‐3‐ol)], a triazole GA biosynthesis inhibitor, at 0.68 μ M in a nutrient solution. In comparison to controls, seedlings treated with paclobutrazol for 66 days showed a 91% reduction in shoot length, a 66% reduction in leaf area but only a 17% reduction in leaf number. This effect could be reversed by GA 3 applied to the foliage at 71.4 μ M 0, 19 or 35 days after paclobutrazol was initially supplied and leaf area values for paclobutrazol‐treated seedlings given both treatments did not differ significantly from controls. Plots of growth data indicate linearity of shoot longitudinal growth of GA 3 ‐treated seedlings. Leaf area increase was non‐linear after GA 3 treatment up to approximately 30 days, when the rate dropped. On a per shoot basis, leaf weight closely followed leaf area but on a per unit area basis, paclobutrazol‐treated leaves were heavier than controls; GA 3 applications temporarily reversed this trend.