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Differential effects of camptothecin and interactions with plant hormones on seed germination and seedling growth

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Abstract

Effects of camptothecin, a naturally occurring alkaloid, on seed germination varied from promotive to inhibitory, depending on the species used. It markedly inhibited seedling root growth but its inhibition of hypocotyl growth varied among species. Camptothecin inhibited GA3-induced dark germination of lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) seeds and hypocotyl elongation of seedlings. In contrast to ABA, the camptothecin inhibition of GA3-induced germination could not be overcome by cytokinin. When seeds were germinated at 29C with a 0.5 h light treatment, little or no germination occurred in the camptothecin treatment, but addition of cytokinin overcame this inhibition.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Plant Hormone Laboratory, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Beltsville Agriculture, Beltsville Agriculture Research Center, 20705, Beltsville, MD

    K. L. J. Tao & J. G. Buta

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  1. K. L. J. Tao
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  2. J. G. Buta
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Tao, K.L.J., Buta, J.G. Differential effects of camptothecin and interactions with plant hormones on seed germination and seedling growth. Plant Growth Regul 4, 219–226 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00028165

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00028165

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