Light growth inhibition and growth inhibitors in Sakurajima radish seedlings

Growth of Sakurajima radish seedlings (Raphanus sativus var.hortensis f. gigantissimus Makino) was studied in relation tothe effects of light, the effectiveness of plant hormones, andthe variation in endogenous growth inhibitor content Externally applied GAs and IAA had no effect on the elongationof the hypocotyl in the light as well as in the dark. BA wasslightly promotive in the light, but was not so effective asto nullify the light-induced inhibition of elongation. ABA wasstrongly suppressive in the light as well as in the dark. Growth inhibitors in seedlings were extracted, analyzed by thin-layerchromatography and the Sakurajima radish hypocotyl elongationtest, and 3 acidic and 3 neutral inhibitors were detected. Amongthem all of the acidic and one of the neutral inhibitors increasedwith the time period of illumination, whereas the other 2 neutralsubstances remained almost unchanged in the light but decreasedin the dark. Thus the levels of all 6 inhibitors was higherin light-grown seedlings than in dark-grown ones. This suggeststhat light inhibition in Sakurajima radish hypocotyls may becontrolled by the variation in the inhibitor levels in the seedlings. (Received December 1, 1977; )