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Effects of prohexadione on cambial and longitudinal growth and the levels of endogenous gibberellins A1, A3, A4, and A9 and indole-3-acetic acid in Pinus sylvestris shoots

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Abstract

Prohexadione, a gibberellin (GA) biosynthesis inhibitor, was applied in ethanol around the circumference at the midpoint of the previous year terminal shoot of dormant Pinus sylvestris seedlings. After cultivating the seedlings under environmental conditions favorable for growth for 10 weeks, longitudinal and cambial growth were measured, and the endogenous levels of GA1, GA3, GA4, GA9, and indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) were determined by combined gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, using deuterated GAs and [13C6]IAA as internal standards. Prohexadione application inhibited elongation and xylem and phloem production in the current year terminal shoot and xylem production in the previous year terminal shoots. Concomitantly, in both ages of shoots the cambial region contents of GA1; GA3, and GA4 were decreased, whereas the level of GA9 was increased. However, the IAA content was not altered in the terminal bud on the current year terminal shoot or in the cambial region of the current year or previous year terminal shoots. The results provide additional evidence that: (1) GAs are involved in the regulation of cambial growth, as well as longitudinal growth, in Pinus sylvestris shoots; (2) they act directly, rather than indirectly, by altering the IAA level; and (3) the GA9 → GA4 → GA1 pathway is a major route of GA biosynthesis in conifer species.

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Abbreviations

GA:

gibberellin

IAA:

indole-3-acetic acid

HPLC:

high performance liquid chromatography

GC:

gas chromatography

SIM:

selected ion monitoring

MS:

mass spectrometry

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Silviculture, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, S-901 83, Umeå, Sweden

    Q. Wang & P. C. Odén

  2. Canadian Forest Service-Maritimes, P.O. Box 4000, E3B 5P7, Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada

    C. H. A. Little

  3. Department of Forest Genetics and Plant Physiology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, S-901 83, Umeå, Sweden

    T. Moritz

Authors
  1. Q. Wang
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  2. C. H. A. Little
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  3. T. Moritz
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  4. P. C. Odén
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Wang, Q., Little, C.H.A., Moritz, T. et al. Effects of prohexadione on cambial and longitudinal growth and the levels of endogenous gibberellins A1, A3, A4, and A9 and indole-3-acetic acid in Pinus sylvestris shoots. J Plant Growth Regul 14, 175–181 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00204909

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00204909

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