PLANT GROWTH REGULATORS IN THE FORCING SOLUTION INFLUENCE PROTEIN EXPRESSION OF FORCED SOFTWOOD GROWTH

Abstract

Plant growth regulators (PGR) in the forcing solution have been demonstrated to influence the bud break and shoot elongation for a wide range of woody plant species (Yang and Read, 1989). However, it was not clear how PGR in the forcing solution modified the breaking of bud dormancy at the molecular level, in terms of protein expression. Dormant stems of spirea and privet were forced in forcing solution containing 200 mg 8-hydroxyquinoline citrate per liter and 2% sucrose, plus different concentrations of BA, IBA or GA3. New softwood growth was harvested for protein analysis. The preliminary results suggest that total protein expression was stimulated by adding BA or GA3 to the forcing solution for spirea and privet. The protein expression was not well correlated with the concentration of IBA in the forcing solution. However, a slight increase of total protein expression was noticed when a higher concentration of IBA was added to the forcing solution for privet. Results of this research will be discussed in relation to development of a better understanding of the physiology of bud dormancy.