Gibberellin A(3) Is Biosynthesized from Gibberellin A(20) via Gibberellin A(5) in Shoots of Zea mays L

17-¹³C,³H]-Labeled gibberellin A₂₀ (GA₂₀), GA₅, and GA₁ were fed to homozygous normal (+/+), heterozygous dominant dwarf (D8/+), and homozygous dominant dwarf (D8/D8) seedlings of Zea mays L. (maize). ¹³C-Labeled GA₂₉, GA₈, GA₅, GA₁, and 3-epi-GA₁, as well as unmetabolized ¹³C]GA₂₀, were identified by gas chromatography-selected ion monitoring (GC-SIM) from feeds of 17-¹³C, ³H]GA₂₀ to all three genotypes. ¹³C-Labeled GA₈ and 3-epi-G₁, as well as unmetabolized ¹³C]GA₁, were identified by GC-SIM from feeds of 17-¹³C, ³H]GA₁ to all three genotypes. From feeds of 17-¹³C, ³H]GA₅, ¹³C-labeled GA₃ and the GA₃-isolactone, as well as unmetabolized ¹³C]GA₅, were identified by GC-SIM from +/+ and D8/D8, and by full scan GC-MS from D8/+. No evidence was found for the metabolism of 17-¹³C, ³H]GA₅ to ¹³C]GA₁, either by full scan GC-mass spectrometry or by GC-SIM. The results demonstrate the presence in maize seedlings of three separate branches from GA₂₀, as follows: (a) GA₂₀ → GA₁ → GA₈; (b) GA₂₀ → GA₅ → GA₃; and (c) GA₂₀ → GA₂₉. The in vivo biogenesis of GA₃ from GA₅, as well as the origin of GA₅ from GA₂₀, are conclusively established for the first time in a higher plant (maize shoots).