Comparison of the role of gibberellins and ethylene in response to submergence of two lowland rice cultivars, Senia and Bomba

We examined the gibberellin (GA) and ethylene regulation of submergence-induced elongation in seedlings of the submergence-tolerant lowland rice (Oryza sativa L.) cvs Senia and Bomba. Elongation was enhanced after germination to facilitate water escape and reach air. We found that submergence-induced elongation depends on GA because it was counteracted by paclobutrazol (an inhibitor of GA biosynthesis), an effect that was negated by GA(3). Moreover, in the cv Senia, submergence increased the content of active GA(1) and its immediate precursors (GA(53), GA(19) and GA(20)) by enhancing expression of several GA biosynthesis genes (OsGA20ox1 and -2, and OsGA3ox2), but not by decreasing expression of several OsGA2ox (GA inactivating genes). Senia seedlings, in contrast to Bomba seedlings, did not elongate in response to ethylene or 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic-acid (ACC; an ethylene precursor) application, and submergence-induced elongation was not reduced in the presence of 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP; an ethylene perception inhibitor). Ethylene emanation was similar in Senia seedlings grown in air and in submerged-grown seedlings following de-submergence, while it increased in Bomba. The expression of ethylene biosynthesis genes (OsACS1, -2 and -3, and OsACO1) was not affected in Senia, but expression of OsACS5 was rapidly enhanced in Bomba upon submergence. Our results support the conclusion that submergence elongation enhancement of lowland rice is due to alteration of GA metabolism leading to an increase in active GA (GA(1)) content. Interestingly, in the cv Senia, in contrast to cv Bomba, this was triggered through an ethylene-independent mechanism.

The Solanum lycopersicum AUXIN RESPONSE FACTOR 7 (SlARF7) mediates cross-talk between auxin and gibberellin signalling during tomato fruit set and development

Transgenic tomato plants (Solanum lycopersicum L.) with reduced mRNA levels of AUXIN RESPONSE FACTOR 7 (SlARF7) form parthenocarpic fruits with morphological characteristics that seem to be the result of both increased auxin and gibberellin (GA) responses during fruit growth. This paper presents a more detailed analysis of these transgenic lines. Gene expression analysis of auxin-responsive genes show that SlARF7 may regulate only part of the auxin signalling pathway involved in tomato fruit set and development. Also, part of the GA signalling pathway was affected by the reduced levels of SlARF7 mRNA, as morphological and molecular analyses display similarities between GA-induced fruits and fruits formed by the RNAi SlARF7 lines. Nevertheless, the levels of GAs were strongly reduced compared with that in seeded fruits. These findings indicate that SlARF7 acts as a modifier of both auxin and gibberellin responses during tomato fruit set and development.

Examination of two lowland rice cultivars reveals that gibberellin-dependent early response to submergence is not necessarily mediated by ethylene

Using two lowland rice (Oryza sativa L.) cultivars we found that in both cases submerged-induced elongation early after germination depends on gibberellins (GAs). Submergence increases the content of the active GA 1 by enhancing the expression of GA biosynthesis genes, thus facilitating the seedlings to escape from the water and preventing asphyxiation. However, the two cultivars differ in their response to ethylene. The cultivar Senia (short), by contrast to cultivar Bomba (tall), does not elongate after ethylene application, and submerged-induced elongation is not negated by an inhibitor of ethylene perception. Also, while ethylene emanation in Senia is not altered by submergence, Bomba seedlings emanate more ethylene upon de-submergence, associated with enhanced expression of the ethylene biosynthesis gene OsACS5. The cultivar Senia thus allows the possibility of clarifying the role of ethylene and other factors as triggers of GA biosynthesis enhancement in rice seedlings under submergence.

Hormonal regulation of temperature-induced growth in Arabidopsis

Successful plant survival depends upon the proper integration of information from the environment with endogenous cues to regulate growth and development. We have investigated the interplay between ambient temperature and hormone action during the regulation of hypocotyl elongation, and we have found that gibberellins (GAs) and auxin are quickly and independently recruited by temperature to modulate growth rate, whereas activity of brassinosteroids (BRs) seems to be required later on. Impairment of GA biosynthesis blocked the increased elongation caused at higher temperatures, but hypocotyls of pentuple DELLA knockout mutants still reduced their response to higher temperatures when BR synthesis or auxin polar transport were blocked. The expression of several key genes involved in the biosynthesis of GAs and auxin was regulated by temperature, which indirectly resulted in coherent variations in the levels of accumulation of nuclear GFP-RGA (repressor of GA1) and in the activity of the DR5 reporter. DNA microarray and genetic analyses allowed the identification of the transcription factor PIF4 (phytochrome-interacting factor 4) as a major target in the promotion of growth at higher temperature. These results suggest that temperature regulates hypocotyl growth by individually impinging on several elements of a pre-existing network of signaling pathways involving auxin, BRs, GAs, and PIF4.

Gibberellin homeostasis in tobacco is regulated by gibberellin metabolism genes with different gibberellin sensitivity

Gibberellins are phytohormones that regulate growth and development of plants. Gibberellin homeostasis is maintained by feedback regulation of gibberellin metabolism genes. To understand this regulation, we manipulated the gibberellin pathway in tobacco and studied its effects on the morphological phenotype, gibberellin levels and the expression of endogenous gibberellin metabolism genes. The overexpression of a gibberellin 3-oxidase (biosynthesis gene) in tobacco (3ox-OE) induced slight variations in phenotype and active GA(1) levels, but we also found an increase in GA(8) levels (GA(1) inactivation product) and a conspicuous induction of gibberellin 2-oxidases (catabolism genes; NtGA2ox3 and -5), suggesting an important role for these particular genes in the control of gibberellin homeostasis. The effect of simultaneous overexpression of two biosynthesis genes, a gibberellin 3-oxidase and a gibberellin 20-oxidase (20ox/3ox-OE), on phenotype and gibberellin content suggests that gibberellin 3-oxidases are non-limiting enzymes in tobacco, even in a 20ox-OE background. Moreover, the expression analysis of gibberellin metabolism genes in transgenic plants (3ox-OE, 20ox-OE and hybrid 3ox/20ox-OE), and in response to application of different GA(1) concentrations, showed genes with different gibberellin sensitivity. Gibberellin biosynthesis genes (NtGA20ox1 and NtGA3ox1) are negatively feedback regulated mainly by high gibberellin levels. In contrast, gibberellin catabolism genes which are subject to positive feedback regulation are sensitive to high (NtGA2ox1) or to low (NtGA2ox3 and -5) gibberellin concentrations. These two last GA2ox genes seem to play a predominant role in gibberellin homeostasis under mild gibberellin variations, but not under large gibberellin changes, where the biosynthesis genes GA20ox and GA3ox may be more important.

Flowering in tobacco needs gibberellins but is not promoted by the levels of active GA1 and GA4 in the apical shoot

Flowering of Nicotiana tabacum cv Xhanti depends on gibberellins because gibberellin-deficient plants, due to overexpression of a gibberellin 2-oxidase gene (35S:NoGA2ox3) or to treatment with the gibberellin biosynthesis inhibitor paclobutrazol, flowered later than wild type. These plants also showed inhibition of the expression of molecular markers related to floral transition (NtMADS-4 and NtMADS-11). To investigate further the role of gibberellin in flowering, we quantified its content in tobacco plants during development. We found a progressive reduction in the levels of GA1 and GA4 in the apical shoot during vegetative growth, reaching very low levels at floral transition and beyond. This excludes these two gibberellins as flowering-promoting factors in the apex. The evolution of active gibberellin content in apical shoots agrees with the expression patterns of gibberellin metabolism genes: two encoding gibberellin 20-oxidases (NtGA20ox1 = Ntc12, NtGA20ox2 = Ntc16), one encoding a gibberellin 3-oxidase (NtGA3ox1 = Nty) and one encoding a gibberellin 2-oxidase (NtGA2ox1), suggesting that active gibberellins are locally synthesized. In young apical leaves, GA1 and GA4 content and the expression of gibberellin metabolism genes were rather constant. Our results support that floral transition in tobacco, in contrast to that in Arabidopsis, is not regulated by the levels of GA1 and GA4 in apical shoots, although reaching a threshold in gibberellin levels may be necessary to allow meristem competence for flowering.

Engineering of gibberellin levels in citrus by sense and antisense overexpression of a GA 20-oxidase gene modifies plant architecture

Carrizo citrange (Citrus sinensisxPoncirus trifoliata) is a citrus hybrid widely used as a rootstock, whose genetic manipulation to improve different growth characteristics is of high agronomic interest. In this work, transgenic Carrizo citrange plants have been produced overexpressing sense and antisense CcGA20ox1 (a key enzyme of GA biosynthesis) under control of the 35S promoter to modify plant architecture. As expected, taller (sense) and shorter (antisense) phenotypes correlated with higher and lower levels, respectively, of active GA1 in growing shoots. In contrast, other phenotypic characteristics seemed to be specific to citrus, or different from those described for similar transgenics in other species. For instance, thorns, typical organs of citrus at juvenile stages, were much longer in sense and shorter in antisense plants, and xylem tissue was reduced in leaf and internode of sense plants. Antisense plants presented a bushy phenotype, suggesting a possible effect of GAs on auxin biosynthesis and/or transport. The main foliole of sense plants was longer, although total leaf area was reduced. Leaf thickness was smaller in sense and larger in antisense plants due to changes in the spongy parenchyma. Internode cell length was not altered in transgenic plants, indicating that, in citrus, GAs regulate cell division rather than cell elongation. Interestingly, the phenotypes described were not apparent when transgenic plants were grafted on non-transgenic rootstock. This suggests that roots contribute to the GA economy of aerial parts in citrus and opens the possibility of using the antisense plants as dwarfing rootstocks.

Genetic and physiological characterization of tomato cv. Micro-Tom

Based on its compact habit, Micro-Tom, a dwarf cultivar of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.), has been proposed as a preferred variety to carry out molecular research in tomato. This cultivar, however, is poorly characterized. It is shown here that Micro-Tom has mutations in the SELF-PRUNING (SP) and DWARF (D) genes. In addition to this, it is also shown that Micro-Tom harbours at least two independently segregating resistance loci to the plant pathogen Cladosporium fulvum. The presence of the self-pruning mutation in Micro-Tom, that generates a determinate phenotype, was confirmed by crossing and sequence analysis. It was also found that Micro-Tom has a mutation in the DWARF gene (d) that leads to mis-splicing and production of at least two shorter mRNAs. The d mutation is predicted to generate truncated DWARF protein. The d sequence defect co-segregates with dark-green and rugose leaves, characteristics of brassinosteroid biosynthesis mutants. Micro-Tom also carries at least another mutation producing internode length reduction that affects plant height but not active gibberellin (GA) levels, which were similar in dwarf and tall Micro-TomxSeverianin segregants. GAs and brassinosteroids act synergistically in Micro-Tom, and the response to GA depends on brassinosteroids because the elongation of internodes was at least six times higher when GA(3) was applied simultaneously with brassinolide. A novel variety, Micro-0 that is fully susceptible to C. fulvum and almost as dwarf as Micro-Tom, has been generated from the cross of Cf0xMicro-Tom. This line represents a valuable resource for future analysis of Cf resistance genes through breeding or transformation.

Overexpression of ADC2 in Arabidopsis induces dwarfism and late-flowering through GA deficiency

We have obtained Arabidopsis thaliana transgenic plants constitutively overexpressing ADC2, one of the two genes encoding arginine decarboxylase (ADC) in Arabidopsis. These plants contained very high levels of putrescine (Put) but no changes were observed in spermidine and spermine contents. The results obtained from quantification of free and conjugated polyamines suggest that conjugation may be a limiting step for control of Put homeostasis within a non-toxic range for plant survival. Transgenic plants with increased levels of ADC2 transcript and elevated Put content showed dwarfism and late-flowering, and the phenotype was rescued by gibberellin A3 (GA3) application. The contents of bioactive GA4 and GA1, and of GA9 (a precursor of GA4), as well as the levels of AtGA20ox1, AtGA3ox1 and AtGA3ox3 transcripts (quantified by real-time PCR) were lower in the ADC2 overexpressor plants than in the wild type. No change in the expression of genes encoding earlier enzymes in the GA biosynthesis pathway was detected by microarray analysis. These results suggest that Put accumulation affects GA metabolism through the repression of biosynthetic steps catalyzed by GA 20-oxidase and GA 3-oxidase.

Gibberellins repress photomorphogenesis in darkness

Plants undergo two different developmental programs depending on whether they are growing in darkness (skotomorphogenesis) or in the presence of light (photomorphogenesis). It has been proposed that the latter is the default pathway followed by many plants after germination and before the seedling emerges from soil. The transition between the two pathways is tightly regulated. The conserved COP1-based complex is central in the light-dependent repression of photomorphogenesis in darkness. Besides this control, hormones such as brassinosteroids (BRs), cytokinins, auxins, or ethylene also have been shown to regulate, to different extents, this developmental switch. In the present work, we show that the hormone gibberellin (GA) widely participates in this regulation. Studies from Arabidopsis show that both chemical and genetic reductions of endogenous GA levels partially derepress photomorphogenesis in darkness. This is based both on morphological phenotypes, such as hypocotyl elongation and hook and cotyledon opening, and on molecular phenotypes, such as misregulation of the light-controlled genes CAB2 and RbcS. Genetic studies indicate that the GA signaling elements GAI and RGA participate in these responses. Our results also suggest that GA regulation of this response partially depends on BRs. This regulation seems to be conserved across species because lowering endogenous GA levels in pea (Pisum sativum) induces full de-etiolation in darkness, which is not reverted by BR application. Our results, therefore, attribute an important role for GAs in the establishment of etiolated growth and in repression of photomorphogenesis.

Regulation of gibberellin 20-oxidase gene expression and gibberellin content in citrus by temperature and citrus exocortis viroid

A cDNA clone coding for a gibberellin (GA) 20-oxidase ( CcGA20ox1), an enzyme of GA biosynthesis, which when expressed in vitro catalyzed the conversion of GA(12) to GA(9) and of GA(53) to GA(20), was isolated from the citrus hybrid Carrizo citrange (C itrus sinensis x Poncirus trifoliata). Transcripts of CcGA20ox1 were abundant in the apex and leaves and much less abundant in internodes, nodes and roots. Seedlings of Carrizo citrange cultured under a 32 degrees C/27 degrees C (day/night) regime elongated more than seedlings growing under 17 degrees C/12 degrees C conditions. The effect of higher temperature was associated with more CcGA20ox1 transcripts and with higher content of GA(1), the main active GA in citrus, in the shoot. The infection of Etrog citron ( Citrus medica) plants with citrus exocortis viroid (CEVd), which produces a stunted phenotype, reduced the levels of transcripts in the apical shoot hybridizing to the gene CcGA20ox1 of Carrizo citrange and the content of GA(1). Thus GA(1) content correlated with CcGA20ox1 transcript levels. In contrast, results for gibberellic acid (GA(3)) and paclobutrazol applications to Carrizo citrange showed that CcGA20ox1 expression was subject to feed-back regulation. These observations indicate that the feed-back regulation of GA20ox operates mostly when the levels of active GAs have been dramatically altered. The results also show that the growth reduction induced by environmental (temperature) and biotic (CEVd) factors may be partially due to the modulation of the expression of GA20ox genes.

Polyamine metabolism is altered in unpollinated parthenocarpic pat-2 tomato ovaries

Facultative parthenocarpy induced by the recessive mutation pat-2 in tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) depends on gibberellins (GAs) and is associated with changes in GA content in unpollinated ovaries. Polyamines (PAs) have also been proposed to play a role in early tomato fruit development. We therefore investigated whether PAs are able to induce parthenocarpy and whether the pat-2 mutation alters the content and metabolism of PAs in unpollinated ovaries. Application of putrescine, spermidine, and spermine to wild-type unpollinated tomato ovaries (cv Madrigal [MA/wt]) induced partial parthenocarpy. Parthenocarpic growth of MA/pat-2 (a parthenocarpic near-isogenic line to MA/wt) ovaries was negated by paclobutrazol (GA biosynthesis inhibitor), and this inhibition was counteracted by spermidine. Application of alpha-difluoromethyl-ornithine (-Orn) and/or alpha-difluoromethyl-arginine (-Arg), irreversible inhibitors of the putrescine biosynthesis enzymes Orn decarboxylase (ODC) and Arg decarboxylase, respectively, prevented growth of unpollinated MA/pat-2 ovaries. Alpha-difluoromethyl-Arg inhibition was counteracted by putrescine and GA(3), whereas that of alpha-difluoromethyl-Orn was counteracted by GA(3) but not by putrescine or spermidine. In unpollinated MA/pat-2 ovaries, the content of free spermine was significantly higher than in MA/wt ovaries. ODC activity was higher in pat-2 ovaries than in MA/wt. Transcript levels of genes encoding ODC and spermidine synthase were also higher in MA/pat-2. All together, these results strongly suggest that the parthenocarpic ability of pat-2 mutants depends on elevated PAs levels in unpollinated mutant ovaries, which correlate with an activation of the ODC pathway, probably as a consequence of elevated GA content in unpollinated pat-2 tomato ovaries.

The Interaction of Gibberellins and Photoperiod in the Control of Potato Tuberization

Solanum tuberosum ssp. andigena plants require a short-day (SD) photoperiod for tuber formation, a process that is also affected by gibberellins (GAs). Grafting experiments have confirmed that the photoperiod is perceived in the leaves. Tuber formation, however, usually takes place in the underground stolons. In this review, photoperiod-dependent tuberization has been divided into five chronological events: SD photoperiod perception, short-term adaptive responses to SD conditions, generation and transport of tuber-inducing signal(s), tuber formation, and long-term adaptive responses to tuber growth. Within this frame of study, the interaction of GAs and photoperiod is revised. Similar to the flowering process in Arabidopsis, we suggest the existence of two independent pathways that control tuber formation: a photoperiod-dependent pathway and a GA-dependent pathway. Nevertheless, photoperiod-dependent tuber formation requires the action of GAs at specific stages to orchestrate this complex process of development.

Gibberellins signal nuclear import of PHOR1, a photoperiod-responsive protein with homology to Drosophila armadillo

S. tuberosum ssp. andigena potato plants require short days (SD) for tuberization. We have isolated PHOR1 (photoperiod-responsive 1), which shows upregulated expression in induced leaves (SD). PHOR1 encodes an arm repeat protein with homology to the Drosophila segment polarity protein armadillo. Antisense inhibition of PHOR1 produces a semidwarf phenotype similar to that of GA-deficient plants, and the antisense lines show reduced GA responsiveness combined with a higher endogenous GA content than wild-type plants. Feedback regulation of GA biosynthetic genes is also altered in these lines. Conversely, transgenic lines overexpressing PHOR1 show an enhanced response to GA. GA application induces rapid migration of PHOR1-GFP protein to the nucleus. Thus, PHOR1 appears to be a general component of GA signaling pathways that relocalizes to the nucleus in the presence of GA.

The ectopic overexpression of a citrus gibberellin 20-oxidase enhances the non-13-hydroxylation pathway of gibberellin biosynthesis and induces an extremely elongated phenotype in tobacco

Transgenic plants of Nicotiana tabacum overexpressing a gibberellin (GA) 20-oxidase cDNA (CcGA20ox1) from citrus, under the control of the 35S promoter, were taller (up to twice) and had larger inflorescences and longer flower peduncles than those of control plants. Hypocotyls of transgenic seedlings were also longer (up to 4 times), and neither the seedlings nor the growing plants elongated further after application of GA3. Hypocotyl and stem lengths were reduced by application of paclobutrazol, and this inhibition was reversed by exogenous GA3. The ectopic overexpression of CcGA20ox1 enhanced the non-13-hydroxylation pathway of GA biosynthesis leading to GA4, apparently at the expense of the early-13-hydroxylation pathway. The level of GA4 (the active GA from the non-13-hydroxylation pathway) in the shoot of transgenic plants was 3-4 times higher than in control plants, whereas that of GA1, formed via the early-13-hydroxylation pathway (the main GA biosynthesis pathway in tobacco), decreased or was not affected. GA4 applied to the culture medium or to the expanding leaves was found to be at least equally active as GA1 on stimulating hypocotyl and stem elongation of tobacco plants. The results suggest that the tall phenotype of tobacco transgenic plants was due to their higher content of GA4, and that the GA response was saturated by the presence of the transgene.

Role of gibberellins in parthenocarpic fruit development induced by the genetic system pat-3/pat-4 in tomato

The role of gibberellins (GAs) in the induction of parthenocarpic fruit-set and growth by the pat-3/pat-4 genetic system in tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) was investigated using wild type (WT; Cuarenteno) and a near-isogenic line derived from the German line RP75/59 (the source of pat-3/pat-4 parthenocarpy). Unpollinated WT ovaries degenerated but GA3 application induced parthenocarpic fruit growth. On the contrary, parthenocarpic growth of pat-3/pat-4 fruits, which occurs in the absence of pollination and hormone treatment, was not affected by applied GA3. Unpollinated pat-3/pat-4 fruit growth was negated by paclobutrazol, an inhibitor of ent-kaurene oxidase, and this inhibitory effect was negated by GA3. The quantification of the main GAs of the early 13-hydroxylation pathway (GA1, GA8, GA19, GA20, GA29 and GA44) in unpollinated ovaries at 3 developmental stages (flower bud, FB; pre-anthesis, PR; and anthesis, AN), by gas chromatography-selected ion monitoring, showed that the concentration of most of them was higher in pat-3/pat-4 than in WT ovaries at PR and AN stages. The concentration of GA1, suggested previously to be the active GA in tomate, was 2-4 times higher. Unpollinated pat-3/pat-4 ovaries at FB, PR and AN stages also contained relatively high amounts (5-12 ng g-1) of GA3, a GA found at less than 0.5 ng g-1 in WT ovaries. It is concluded that the mutations pat-3/pat-4 may induce natural facultative parthenocarpy capacity in tomato by increasing the concentration of GA1 and GA3 in the ovaries before pollination.

Changes in GA 20-oxidase gene expression strongly affect stem length, tuber induction and tuber yield of potato plants

Gene StGA20ox1 encoding potato GA 20-oxidase is expressed to relatively high levels in leaves and regulated by daylength. To investigate whether this gene is involved in photoperiodic regulation of tuber formation, we have obtained transgenic potato plants expressing sense and antisense copies of the StGA20ox1 cDNA. Over-expression of this cDNA resulted in taller plants that required a longer duration of a short day photoperiod (SD) to tuberize. Tubers from these plants had a decreased time of dormancy and developed sprouts with elongated internodes. Plants expressing antisense copies of the StGA20ox1 cDNA had shorter stems, a decreased length of the internodes and tuberized earlier than control plants, showing increased tuber yields. Antisense inhibition of this gene had no visible effect on the time of dormancy of the tubers, although at the end of dormancy these formed sprouts with shortened internodes. Decreased levels of endogenous GA20 and GA1 were detected in the apex and first leaves of the antisense lines. These results demonstrate the involvement of the GA 20-oxidase activity encoded by StGA20ox1 in the control of stem elongation and in tuber induction but not in tuber dormancy, indicating that the latter may be regulated by another member of the gene family.

The gene pat-2, which induces natural parthenocarpy, alters the gibberellin content in unpollinated tomato ovaries

We investigated the role of gibberellins (GAs) in the effect of pat-2, a recessive mutation that induces facultative parthenocarpic fruit development in tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) using near-isogenic lines with two different genetic backgrounds. Unpollinated wild-type Madrigal (MA/wt) and Cuarenteno (CU/wt) ovaries degenerated, but GA(3) application induced parthenocarpic fruit growth. On the contrary, parthenocarpic growth of MA/pat-2 and CU/pat-2 fruits, which occurs in the absence of pollination and hormone application, was not affected by GA(3). Pollinated MA/wt and parthenocarpic MA/pat-2 ovary development was negated by paclobutrazol, and this inhibitory effect was counteracted by GA(3). The main GAs of the early-13-hydroxylation pathway (GA(1), GA(3), GA(8), GA(19), GA(20), GA(29), GA(44), GA(53), and, tentatively, GA(81)) and two GAs of the non-13-hydroxylation pathway (GA(9) and GA(34)) were identified in MA/wt ovaries by gas chromatography-selected ion monitoring. GAs were quantified in unpollinated ovaries at flower bud, pre-anthesis, and anthesis. In unpollinated MA/pat-2 and CU/pat-2 ovaries, the GA(20) content was much higher (up to 160 times higher) and the GA(19) content was lower than in the corresponding non-parthenocarpic ovaries. The application of an inhibitor of 2-oxoglutarate-dependent dioxygenases suggested that GA(20) is not active per se. The pat-2 mutation may increase GA 20-oxidase activity in unpollinated ovaries, leading to a higher synthesis of GA(20), the precursor of an active GA.

Regulation of gibberellin biosynthesis by light

Phytochromes regulate transcript levels of gibberellin biosynthesis enzymes, GA 20-oxidases and/or GA 3beta-hydroxylases, in germinating lettuce and Arabidopsis seeds and in de-etiolating pea seedlings. Feedback regulation of GA biosynthesis by active GA is well established, but other mechanisms for regulation of these biosynthetic genes also exist, as this feedback does not operate on a GA 3beta-hydroxylase gene of Arabidopsis during seed germination.

The characterization of gio, a new pea mutant, shows the role of indoleacetic acid in the control of fruit development by the apical shoot

Fruit-set and fruit growth in pea (Pisum sativum L.) depend on gibberellins (GAs). The authors have isolated a new pea mutant, gio, which appeared spontaneously within the population of the cultivar Alaska, characterized by unpollinated ovaries much less sensitive to applied GAs. The mutant also has elongated peduncles, and is taller than the wild-type (WT) because the upper plant internodes are longer. Contrary to WT, the gio ovaries respond very little to benzylaminopurine (BAP) and 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid, but become fully sensitive to GA(3) when this hormone is applied together with BAP. The gio phenotype is determined by a mutation at a single mendelian locus. The mutation is recesive, shows incomplete penetrance, and its expression depends on environmental culture conditions. The sensitivity of the ovaries to GA(3) can be recovered by removing the apical shoot (plant decapitation) and by blocking the transport of indoleacetic acid (IAA) from the apical shoot with 2,3,5-triiodobenzoic acid. The content of IAA in methanolic extracts and phloematic exudates of the apical shoot of gio is about double that in the WT. The rate of transport of [(3)H]IAA applied to the apex of the mutant is also twice that in the WT. This indicates that the insensitivity of the gio ovaries to GAs is due to the inhibitory effect of the higher basipetal IAA transport from the shoot. The interaction between the fruit and the apical shoot mediated by IAA probably also involves cytokinins transported from the basal part of the plant.

Hormonal Control of Parthenocarpic Ovary Growth by the Apical Shoot in Pea

The role of the apical shoot as a source of inhibitors preventing fruit growth in the absence of a stimulus (e.g. pollination or application of gibberellic acid) has been investigated in pea (Pisum sativum L.). Plant decapitation stimulated parthenocarpic growth, even in derooted plants, and this effect was counteracted by the application of indole acetic acid (IAA) or abscisic acid (ABA) in agar blocks to the severed stump. The treatment of unpollinated ovaries with gibberellic acid blocked the effect of IAA or ABA applied to the stump. [3H]IAA and [3H]ABA applied to the stump were transported basipetally, and [3H]ABA but not [3H]IAA was also detected in unpollinated ovaries. The concentration of ABA in unpollinated ovaries increased significantly in the absence of a promotive stimulus. The application of IAA to the stump enhanced by 2- to 5-fold the concentration of ABA in the inhibited ovary, whereas the inhibition of IAA transport from the apical shoot by triiodobenzoic acid decreased the ovary content of ABA (to approximately one-half). Triiodobenzoic acid alone, however, was unable to stimulate ovary growth. Thus, in addition to removing IAA transport from the apical shoot, the accumulation of a promotive factor is also necessary to induce parthenocarpic growth in decapitated plants.

Isolation and transcript analysis of gibberellin 20-oxidase genes in pea and bean in relation to fruit development

PCR was used with degenerate primers based on conserved amino acid sequences in gibberellin (GA) 20-oxidases to isolate cDNA clones for these enzymes from young seeds of pea (Pisum sativum) and developing embryos of French bean (Phaseolus vulgaris). One GA 20-oxidase cDNA (Ps27-12) was obtained from pea and three (Pv 15-11, Pv73-1 and Pv85-26) from bean. Their identities were confirmed by demonstrating that fusion proteins expressed in Escherichia coli exhibited GA 20-oxidase activity, converting [14C]GA12 to [14C]GA9. The intermediates in this three-step reaction, GA15 and GA24, were also identified as products. The expression proteins from three of the clones (Ps27-12, Pv15-11 and Pv73-1) were also shown to convert GA53 to GA20, as effectively as they did GA12. On the basis of transcript levels measured by northern blot analysis, the pea GA 20-oxidase gene is most highly expressed in young leaves, fully expanded internodes, very young seeds (until 4 days after anthesis) and expanding pods (from 3 days after anthesis at least until day 6). Expression in pods from 3-day-old unpollinated ovaries is higher than in those from pollinated ovaries. Treatment of unpollinated ovaries with GA3 to induce parthenocarpic fruit-set severely reduced the amount of GA 20-oxidase mRNA, whereas treatment with 2,4-D, although inducing fruit-set, did not reduce the levels of these transcripts. Plant decapitation above an unpollinated ovary resulted in very high levels of GA 20-oxidase mRNA in the pod. The three GA 20-oxidase genes from French bean showed very different patterns of expression: Pv 15-1 was expressed in the roots, young leaves, and developing seeds, but most highly in immature cotyledons, while Pv73-1 has a similar expression pattern to Ps27-12, with transcripts found only in young seeds and young leaves, where it was particularly abundant. Transcripts corresponding to Pv85-26 were detected in developing seeds, and just traces in the young leaves. Southern blot analysis indicated that the bean GA 20-oxidases are each encoded by single-copy genes, whereas one more gene, homologous to Ps27-12, could also exist in pea.

Effect of the growth retardant LAB 198 999, an acylcyclohexanedione compound, on epicotyl elongation and metabolism of gibberellins A1 and A 20 in cowpea

The effect of LAB 198 999 [3,5-dioxo-4-butyryl-cyclohexane carboxylic acid ethyl ester; a new plant growth retardant which competitively inhibits 2-oxoglutarate-dependent gibberellin (GA) dioxygenases] on elongation and in-vivo [(3)H]GA1 and [(3)H]GA20 metabolism in cowpea (Vigna sinensis L. cv Blackeye pea No. 5) epicotyls has been investigated. Gibberellins and LAB 198 999 were injected into the epicotyl at 25-30 mm from the apex. In intact seedlings, epicotyl elongation was inhibited by LAB 198 999 (25 μg · epicotyl(-1)), and the inhibition was counteracted by GA1 but not by GA20. In contrast to intact seedlings, the inhibitor enhanced epicotyl elongation in de-bladed seedlings and expiants, in the latter case proportionally to the amount of inhibitor applied (up to 50 μg · epicotyl(-1)), but not in explants made from paclobutrazol-treated seedlings. The inhibitor also enhanced dramatically the elongation induced in paclobutrazol-treated expiants by GA1, but not by GA20. The promotive effect of LAB 198 999 was associated with increased contents of GA1 and GA8 in the growing region of the epicotyl, indicating a dependence on endogenous GAs. The effect of LAB 198999 decreased progressively with the age of the seedlings, probably as a consequence of a decreased level of GAs in the epicotyl. Gibberellin substrates and metabolites in the growing region of the epicotyl (upper 20 mm) were fractionated and identified tentatively by high-performance liquid chromatography and radiocounting using a homogeneous on-line radioactivity detector. The metabolism of [(3)H]GA1(t) (tentative) to [(3)H]GA8(t), and that of [(3)H]GA20(t) to [(3)H]GA1(t) and [(3)H]GA29(t) in the epicotyl were blocked by LAB 198 999, that of the former more efficiently than the latter. The results presented support the hypothesis that GA1 is the active GA controlling elongation of cowpea epicotyls. They also show that both the promotion of epicotyl elongation in explants and the enhancement of the effect of exogenous GA1 by LAB 198 999 are the result of the inhibitor blocking the in-vivo 2β-hydroxylation of GA1.

The source of gibberellins in the parthenocarpic development of ovaries on topped pea plants

The role and source of gibberellins (GAs) involved in the development of parthenocarpic fruits of Pisum sativum L. has been investigated. Gibberellins applied to the leaf adjacent to an emasculated ovary induced parthenocarpic fruit development on intact plants. The application of gibberellic acid (GA3) had to be done within 1 d of anthesis to be fully effective and the response was concentration-dependent. Gibberellin A1 and GA3 worked equally well and GA20 was less efficient. [(3)H]Gibberellin A1 applied to the leaf accumulated in the ovary and the accumulation was related to the growth response. These experiments show that GA applied to the leaf in high enough concentration is translocated to the ovary. Emasculated ovaries on decapitated pea plants develop without application of growth hormones. When [(3)H] GA1 was applied to the leaf adjacent to the ovary a substantial amount of radioactivity accumulated in the growing shoot of intact plants. In decapitated plants, however, this radioactivity was mainly found in the ovary. There it caused growth proportional to the accumulation of CA1. Application of LAB 150978, an inhibitor of GA biosynthesis, to decapitated plants inhibited parthenocarpic fruit development and this inhibition was counteracted by the application of GA3 (either to the fruit, or the leaf adjacent to the ovary, or through the lower cut end of the stem). All evidence taken together supports the view that parthenocarpic pea fruit development on topped plants depends on the import of gibberellins or their precursors, probably from the vegetative aerial parts of the plant.

Phytochrome Regulation of the Response to Exogenous Gibberellins by Epicotyls of Vigna sinensis

The elongation rate of cowpea epicotyls from whole cowpea (Vigna sinensis) seedlings and derooted and debladed plants (explants) increased after the main light period (8-hour duration) was extended with either continuous low intensity tungsten light or brief (5 minutes) far-red (FR) irradiation. This end-of-day FR effect was reversed by red (R) irradiation suggesting the involvement of phytochrome. These results confirm and extend those obtained previously with other species. Localization studies indicate the epicotyl to be the site of the photoreceptor. Treatment of cowpea seedlings with paclobutrazol, a gibberellin (GA) biosynthetic inhibitor, abolished the FR promoted epicotyl elongation, indicating a role for GAs in this process. There was no significant difference in epicotyl elongation rates of R plus FR irradiated explants treated with GA(1) or GA(20) and R irradiated explants treated with GA(1). However, R irradiation inhibited subsequent epicotyl elongation of GA(20) treated explants. Moreover, the observation, using GC-MS, that GA(1) and GA(20) are native GAs in cowpea lends support to the concept that phytochrome may control the conversion of endogenous GA(20) to GA(1) in cowpea.

Ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase and fruit set or degeneration of unpollinated ovaries of Pisum sativum L

The polypeptide patterns obtained by sodium dodecylsulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of undigested and autodigested extracts from pea (Pisum sativum L.) ovaries at the early stages of development or degeneration have been studied. Development of unpollinated ovaries was stimulated by application of different plant growth regulators (gibberellic acid, 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid, and N(6)-benzyladenine) or by plant topping. Polypeptide bands of similar mobility to ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase (RuBPCase) subunits (16 and 55 kDa) could be detected in all types of autodigested extracts from stimulated ovaries. However these bands were absent in electrophoretic patterns of autodigested extracts from unstimulated ovaries after 3 d post anthesis and in patterns of autodigested mixtures of these extracts with either those from stimulated ovaries or those from unstimulated ovaries before day 3. These observations indicate that a proteolytic activity which promotes the hydrolysis of RuBPCase appears in unstimulated ovaries about 3 d after anthesis. This event coincides with the loss of the capacity of unpollinated ovaries to develop in response to gibberellic acid and with the degeneration of the ovary wall.

Uptake and subcellular compartmentation of gibberellin a(1) applied to leaves of barley and cowpea

The uptake and subcellular accumulation of gibberellin A(1) (GA(1)) by leaves and protoplasts of barley (cv. Numar) and cowpea (cv. Blackeye pea No. 5) were investigated.Uptake of GA(1) by cowpea leaves is optimal at pH 5.8 and occurs by a saturable, probably carrier-mediated process having a half-maximal velocity at 10 to 20 micromolar. Uptake by both barley and cowpea leaves is inhibited by low temperature (+4 C) and the metabolic inhibitors 2,4-dinitrophenol and azide and is stimulated by ATP. Mesophyll protoplasts isolated from leaves fed radioactive GA(1) retain 20 to 80% of the radioactivity incorporated by excised leaves.The subcellular localization of the [(3)H]GA was determined by lysing protoplasts and separating subcellular organelles by density gradient centrifugation. Less than 5% of the incorporated [(3)H]GA was found associated with chloroplasts, mitochondria, nuclei, or other organelles or membranes with densities in sucrose gradients greater than 1.15 grams per cubic centimeter. Fifty to 100% of the [(3)H]GA was found in vacuoles. Isolated vacuoles were judged to be free of contamination by cytoplasm using phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase as a marker enzyme. Osmotic breakage of vacuoles or protoplasts released > 95% of the [(3)H]GA, suggesting that GA is associated with the vacuolar sap rather than with the tonoplast membrane.

Fruit-set of unpollinated ovaries of Pisum sativum L. : Influence of plant-growth regulators

The development of parthenocarpic fruits of Pisum sativum L. cv. Alaska was induced by the application of different plant-growth regulators in aqueous solution to the emasculated ovaries in untopped plants. At least one compound in each of the groups of auxins (2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid), cytokinins (benzyladenine), and gibberellins (gibberellic acid) was found active. Gibberellic acid (GA3), however, was the only substance which produced pods similar to those of fruits with seeds. The length of the pods obtained by GA3 was a linear function of the logarithm of the concentration of GA3 in the solution. The effect of GA3 (at a concentration which produced 50% of the maximum pod length) was enhanced by a simultaneous application of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid. Abscisic acid (ABA) counteracted the effect of GA3 and of topping. The results suggest that gibberellins and ABA may exert a major regulatory control in natural fruit-set. Peas can be used for the assay of fructigenic activity and is an advantageous material for the study of the mode of action of gibberellins on fruit-set.

Fruit-set of unpollinated ovaries of Pisum sativum L. : Influence of vegetative parts

The influence of removing the apical shoot and different leaves above and below the flower on the fruit-set of unpollinated pea ovaries (Pisum sativum L. cv. Alaska) has been studied. Unpollinated ovaries were induced to set and develop either by topping or by removing certain developing leaves of the shoot. Topping had a maximum effect when carried out before or on the day of anthesis, and up to four consecutive ovaries were induced to set in the same plant. The inhibition of fruit-set was due to the developing leaves and not to the apex. The third leaf above the first flower, which had a simultaneous development to the ovary, had the stronger inhibitory effect on parthenocarpic fruit-set. The application of different plant-growth regulators (indoleacetic acid, naphthylacetic acid, 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid, gibberellic acid, benzyladenine and abscisic acid) did not mimic the negative effect of the shoot.