A Comparison of the Endogenous Hormone Levels in Stolons and Sprouts of the Potato Solanum tuberosum

Whereas the gibberellin and inhibitor levels of potato (Solanum tuberosum L. cv. BP-1) sprouts and stolons differ, their auxin and cytokinin levels apparently remain more or less unchanged. The levels of gibberellin in the sprouts is higher than that of the stolons; however, with regard to inhibitor levels the reverse is true. It would appear as if an internal balance of different hormones controls whether or not tuberization will occur. High gibberellin and low inhibitor levels (sprouts) may favour cell elongation and at the same time limit cell division. Decreased gibberellin and increased inhibitor levels (stolons) seems to favour cell division. As cell division is not retarded despite high inhibitor levels, it would appear as if the effect of the inhibitor is mainly directed at countering the gibberellins.