Regulation of lettuce hypocotyl elongation by gibberellic acid. Interaction of gibberellic acid and gibberellin synergists - dihydroconiferyl alcohol, pestalotin and a triazinone compound

The effect of three gibberellin synergists on lettuce hypocotylelongation was studied. Dihydroconiferyl alcohol isolated fromlettuce plants and (–)-(6S, 1'S)-pestalotin isolated fromPestalotia cryptomeriaecola enhanced the promoting effect ofgibberellic acid on hypocotyl elongation of lettuce seedlingswith and without the cotyledons. On the other hand, TA, a triazinonecompound, did not enhance the gibberellin effect. The actionof (–)-(6S, 1'S)-pestalotin was strongly inhibited bycompetitive inhibitors of dihydroconiferyl alcohol such as caffeic,ferulic and trans-cinnamic acids. Of the two stereoisomers ofpestalotin, (+)-(6R, 1'R)-pestalotin enhanced the gibberellineffect but (+)-(6R, 1'S)-epipestalotin did not. (+)-(6R, 1'S)-Epipestalotinstrongly inhibited the action of (–)-(6S, 1'S)-pestalotinand dihydroconiferyl alcohol. TA did not affect the action ofdihydroconiferyl alcohol. Stress-relaxation analysis of the mechanical properties of thelettuce hypocotyl cell wall demonstrated that gibberellic acidcaused cell wall loosening and dihydroconiferyl alcohol andpestalotin did not influence this gibberellin effect. The action mechanism of gibberellin synergists is discussedbased on these results. (Received December 22, 1978; )