[Changes in the contents of abscisic acid, indoleacetic acid, and chloroplast pigments in pea seedlings treated with gibberellic acid].

Twelve-day old pea seedlings were treated with gibberellic acid (GA3). The hormone was applied to the apical bud in quantities of 0.05, 0.5, and 5 μg in 5 μl droplets.After 2 and 4 days the contents of indoleacetic acid (IAA) and abscisic acid (ABA) of the apical parts (apical bud including the 5th internode) and of the basal parts (3rd and 4th internode and leaves) were estimated by means of paper chromatography of ether extracts and bioassay with avena coleoptile segments. In addition, the contents of ABA were checked by spectropolarimetric measurement.Apical parts of the gibberellin treated plants contain more IAA, basal ones less IAA than the untreated controls. On the other hand, the contents of ABA are higher in basal parts and lower in apical parts. Only the seedlings treated with 5 μg GA3 and analysed after 2 days do not follow this rule. Their apical parts contain not only more IAA but also more ABA than the untreated plants, and their basal parts contain more IAA than the controls.It is concluded, therefore, that GA3 causes changes not only in the contents of these hormones but also in the distribution of hormones within the plant.Moreover, GA3 decreases the contents of chlorophyll a and b and of the carotenoids. The changes in carotenoid contents do not seem to be related to the changes in abscisic acid contents.