Temperature dependence of the gibberellin response in lettuce hypocotyls

Abstract

The relationship between temperature and sensitivity to gibberellin A3 (GA3) was studied in lettuce seedlings (Lactuca sativa L. cv. Arctic). Dose/response curves for hypocotyl elongation (10(-4) mol l(-1) to 10(-8) mol l(-1)) were constructed for a range of temperatures and the slope of the linear portion of the plots used as an indication of the sensitivity to GA3. Hypocotyls were unresponsive to GA3 below 13°C but above this temperature sensitivity increased linearly. Plots of growth rate against temperature had inflexions between 12°C and 13°C, with slopes above this point which increased with increasing GA3 concentration. The Q10 value for response increased in a similar manner. Reaction rates of NAD-dependent malate dehydrogenase and peroxidase extracted from hypocotyls varied linearly with temperature whilst nonspecific tetrazolium reduction, a membrane based activity, showed an abrupt rate change above 14°C. Pre-exposure to GA3 had no effect on the temperature responses of soluble or particulate enzymes.