Effect of gibberellic acid on sterol production in Corylus avellana seeds

Gibberellic acid-induced germination of hazel seeds was accompanied by little change in the sterol content of the cotyledons. Dormant and germinating cotyledons rapidly incorporated 2-¹⁴C]MVA into squalene which was slowly converted to sterols. Gibberellin treatment induced an increase in the incorporation of 2-¹⁴C]MVA into cotyledon esterified sterols. An increase in free sterols occurred in the germinating embryonic axes, with increased relative amounts of stigmasterol and campesterol in the free 4-desmethylsterols. Germination was accompanied by increased incorporation of 2-¹⁴C]MVA into free and esterified sterols in the embryonic axes.