Identification of endogenous gibberellins from oilseed rape.

Oilseed rape (Brassica napus, canola variety ;Westar') plants were grown in greenhouse conditions and shoots were harvested during the final stages of shoot elongation. Leaves and immature pods were removed and the remaining stem tissue was extracted and purified. The extract was chromatographed on sequential, step-eluted silica gel partition and reverse-phase C(18) HPLC columns, and gibberellin (GA)-like substances were detected using the ;Tan-ginbozu' dwarf rice microdrop assay. Purified fractions showing GA-like activity were analyzed by capillary gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and GC-selected ion monitoring (GC-SIM). Gibberellins A(1), A(3), and iso-A(3) were identified by full spectrum GC-MS with GA(1) being the most abundant GA in the stem tissue. Gibberellins A(19) and A(20) were identified by GC-SIM and are logical precursors of the GA(1).