Effects of Light, Abscisic Acid, and N-Benzyladenine on the Metabolism of [H]Gibberellin A(4) in Seeds and Seedlings of Lettuce, cv. Grand Rapids.

Gibberellin A(4) (GA(4)) can substitute for light in the germination of Grand Rapids lettuce seeds. Seeds imbibed in [(3)H]GA(4) do not convert this to other GAs prior to, or immediately following, visible germination: thus GA(4) alone can promote radicle expansion. Abscisic acid inhibited [(3)H]GA(4)-induced germination, but did not significantly affect [(3)H]GA(4) uptake or metabolism during germination. (6)N-benzyladenine overcame the inhibitory effect of abscisic acid and increased [(3)H]GA(4) uptake, although radicle emergence was delayed somewhat.During hypocotyl extension there was a large conversion of [(3)H]GA(4) to [(3)H]GA(1) in light or darkness, the major conversion site being the growing root. Hypocotyls of dark-grown seedlings contained more [(3)H]GA(1) than those of light-grown seedlings. The apparent inability of exogenous GA(1) to promote greater hypocotyl extension than GA(4) is related to its poorer uptake. Abacisic acid markedly inhibited hypocotyl expansion, root growth, and the conversion of [(3)H]GA(4) to [(3)H]GA(1).