Changes in gibberellin‐like substances of peach seed during stratification

TY - JOUR

T1 - Changes in gibberellin‐like substances of peach seed during stratification

AU - Gianfagna, Thomas J.

AU - Rachmiel, Susan

PY - 1986/1

Y1 - 1986/1

N2 - The germination percentage of peach [Prunus persica (L.) Batsch cv. Halford] seeds at 20°C was low (< 20%) after incubation at 5°C for as long as 35 days, but then increased considerably (> 40%) when the seeds were maintained at 5°C for longer than 42 days. Four zones of gibberellin‐like activity were found in partially purified seed extracts. Gibberellin‐like activity remained low in seeds incubated at 5°C for as long as 28 days, but increased significantly in three of these zones after 35 days, and in the fourth zone after 49 days. The increase in gibberellin‐like activity was evident prior to the transfer of the seeds to 20°C. Moreover, seeds maintained at 5°C germinated at this temperature after 63 days. For seeds incubated and germinated at 20°C, both the germination percentage and the gibberellin‐like activity remained low throughout the experimental period. Application of the growth retardant paclobutrazol to seeds after 28 days of a 49 day total incubation period at 5°C did not substantially reduce seed germination, although the increase in gibberellin‐like activity was prevented. Seeds did, however, require a longer time to germinate after transfer to 20°C and were dwarfed in appearance. Application of GA3 to seeds prior to stratification increased the percentage germination of seeds only when they had been incubated at 5°C for at least 35 days. The major changes in gibberellin‐like activity are, therefore, associated not so much with the processes which allow germination to take place in peach, but more with those processes which allow normal growth and development of the seedling.

AB - The germination percentage of peach [Prunus persica (L.) Batsch cv. Halford] seeds at 20°C was low (< 20%) after incubation at 5°C for as long as 35 days, but then increased considerably (> 40%) when the seeds were maintained at 5°C for longer than 42 days. Four zones of gibberellin‐like activity were found in partially purified seed extracts. Gibberellin‐like activity remained low in seeds incubated at 5°C for as long as 28 days, but increased significantly in three of these zones after 35 days, and in the fourth zone after 49 days. The increase in gibberellin‐like activity was evident prior to the transfer of the seeds to 20°C. Moreover, seeds maintained at 5°C germinated at this temperature after 63 days. For seeds incubated and germinated at 20°C, both the germination percentage and the gibberellin‐like activity remained low throughout the experimental period. Application of the growth retardant paclobutrazol to seeds after 28 days of a 49 day total incubation period at 5°C did not substantially reduce seed germination, although the increase in gibberellin‐like activity was prevented. Seeds did, however, require a longer time to germinate after transfer to 20°C and were dwarfed in appearance. Application of GA3 to seeds prior to stratification increased the percentage germination of seeds only when they had been incubated at 5°C for at least 35 days. The major changes in gibberellin‐like activity are, therefore, associated not so much with the processes which allow germination to take place in peach, but more with those processes which allow normal growth and development of the seedling.

KW - Prunus persica

KW - growth retardant

KW - paclobutrazol

KW - seed germination

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85008826061&partnerID=8YFLogxK

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85008826061&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1399-3054.1986.tb01249.x

DO - https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1399-3054.1986.tb01249.x

M3 - Article

SN - 0031-9317

VL - 66

SP - 154

EP - 158

JO - Physiologia Plantarum

JF - Physiologia Plantarum

IS - 1

ER -