Interaction of growth retardants, daylength, and gibberellins A19, A20, and A1 on shoot elongation in birch and alder

Abstract

Gibberellins A19, A20, and A1 were applied to seedlings of birch (Betula pubescens Ehrh.) and alder (Alnus glutinosa (L.) Gaertn.) in order to test their ability to counteract growth inhibition induced by growth retardants (ancymidol and BX-112) or short day (SD, 12 h) photoperiod. Ancymidol inhibits early and BX-112 inhibits late steps in gibberellin biosynthesis. BX-112 inhibited stem elongation in both species while ancymidol, applied as a soil drench, was effective in alder only. Growth retardants affected stem elongation mainly by inhibiting elongation of internodes. All three gibberellins were equally active when applied to seedlings treated with ancymidol; however, only GA1 was able to counteract the growth inhibition induced by BX-112. SD-induced cessation of elongation growth in birch was counteracted by GA1, and to some degree, by GA20, while GA19 was inactive. SD treatment did not induce cessation of apical growth in alder. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that of gibberellins belonging to the early C-13 hydroxylation pathway, GA1 is the only active gibberellin for stem elongation.