Gibberellin A(3) Is Biosynthesized from Gibberellin A(20) via Gibberellin A(5) in Shoots of Zea mays L.

[17-(13)C,(3)H]-Labeled gibberellin A(20) (GA(20)), GA(5), and GA(1) were fed to homozygous normal (+/+), heterozygous dominant dwarf (D8/+), and homozygous dominant dwarf (D8/D8) seedlings of Zea mays L. (maize). (13)C-Labeled GA(29), GA(8), GA(5), GA(1), and 3-epi-GA(1), as well as unmetabolized [(13)C]GA(20), were identified by gas chromatography-selected ion monitoring (GC-SIM) from feeds of [17-(13)C, (3)H]GA(20) to all three genotypes. (13)C-Labeled GA(8) and 3-epi-G(1), as well as unmetabolized [(13)C]GA(1), were identified by GC-SIM from feeds of [17-(13)C, (3)H]GA(1) to all three genotypes. From feeds of [17-(13)C, (3)H]GA(5), (13)C-labeled GA(3) and the GA(3)-isolactone, as well as unmetabolized [(13)C]GA(5), were identified by GC-SIM from +/+ and D8/D8, and by full scan GC-MS from D8/+. No evidence was found for the metabolism of [17-(13)C, (3)H]GA(5) to [(13)C]GA(1), either by full scan GC-mass spectrometry or by GC-SIM. The results demonstrate the presence in maize seedlings of three separate branches from GA(20), as follows: (a) GA(20) --> GA(1) --> GA(8); (b) GA(20) --> GA(5) --> GA(3); and (c) GA(20) --> GA(29). The in vivo biogenesis of GA(3) from GA(5), as well as the origin of GA(5) from GA(20), are conclusively established for the first time in a higher plant (maize shoots).