Cytokinins and gibberellins in sap exudate of the oil palm

Exudates were collected from stumps of pre-anthesis inflorescences of oil palm and analysed for cytokinin and gibberellin content using combined HPLC-ELISA techniques. Three antisera, for zeatin-type, dihydrozeatin-type and isopentenyladenine-type cytokinins, were used in ELISAs to identify members of these three groups of cytokinins. Ribotides, 9-glucosides, free bases and ribosides were detected for each of the groups with zeatin riboside the most abundant cytokinin identified in the exudate. Isopentenyladenine-type and dihydrozeatin-type cytokinins were also identified but at lower levels. In addition, two monoclonal antibodies were used in the development of novel ELISAs for members of the 13-hydroxylated and non-13-hydroxylated families of gibberellins. The new ELISAs allow the determination of gibberellins in smaller amounts of tissue than are required for GC-MS. The most abundant gibberellins identified in exudates were GA19 and GA44, as well as other members of the early 13-hydroxylation pathway. Gibberellins were confirmed by GC-MS. The presence of these types of growth regulators in exudate supplying immature inflorescences suggest they have a role in growth and development of these structures.