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Growth retardant activity of paclobutrazol enantiomers in wheat seedlings

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Abstract

The resolved enantiomers of paclobutrazol appeared to have different primary modes of action as plant growth retardants in rht3 (tall) wheat seedlings. 2S,3S-Paclobutrazol reduced shoot growth more effectively than root growth, whereas the opposite was the case with the 2R,3R-enantiomer. Low concentrations (0.03–1.0 μM) of 2S,3S-paclobutrazol specifically inhibited gibberellin A1 (GA1) production in Rht3 (dwarf) seedlings without affecting shoot growth, confirming that inhibition of GA biosynthesis is the primary mode of action of this enantiomer. Reductions in shoot growth of rht3 (tall) wheat treated with 2S,3S-paclobutrazol were associated with reductions in GA1 content, an effect that could be reversed by gibberellic acid (GA3) application, showing that GAs are important regulators of light-grown shoot growth in wheat. The inhibition of root growth of wheat seedlings following treatment with 2R,3R-paclobutrazol was associated with a decline in de novo synthesis of major sterols, a decrease in stigmasterol: sitosterol ratio and an accumulation of the 14α-methyl sterol, obtusifoliol. Concentrations >3 μM 2S,3S-paclobutrazol also affected de novo sterol production in wheat roots, suggesting that root growth is more responsive to interference with sterol than GA biosynthesis. There was a decline in abscisic acid (ABA) content in Rht3 (dwarf) shoots treated with relatively high concentrations of 2S,3S-paclobutrazol but no effect with its optical isomer.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Agricultural Sciences, University of Bristol, Institute of Arable Crops Research, Long Ashton Research Station, BS18 9AF, Bristol, UK

    J. R. Lenton, N. E. J. Appleford & K. E. Temple-Smith

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  1. J. R. Lenton
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  2. N. E. J. Appleford
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  3. K. E. Temple-Smith
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Lenton, J.R., Appleford, N.E.J. & Temple-Smith, K.E. Growth retardant activity of paclobutrazol enantiomers in wheat seedlings. Plant Growth Regul 15, 281–291 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00029901

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00029901

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