Transport and metabolism of h-gibberellin a(1) in dioecious cucumber seedlings.

The transport of (3)H-GA(1) through hypocotyl segments of cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) was found to be nonpolar. The transport of (3)H-GA(1) was increased by pretreatment with relatively high concentrations of either IAA or Ethephon (2-chloroethylphosphonic acid). Hypocotyl segments from plants of a gynoecious genotype transported more (3)H-GA(1) than those of an androecious. The metabolism of (3)H-GA(1) in hypocotyl segments was neither related to the sex genotype of the cucumber plant nor influenced by pretreatment with Ethephon. The primary metabolite of GA(1) was suggested to be GA(8). Two other suspected metabolites were not identified. Differences in the endogenous GA of gynoecious and androecious plants could not be accounted for by transport differences.