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The Auxins IAA and 4-Cl-IAA Differentially Modify Gibberellin Action via Ethylene Response in Developing Pea Fruit

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Abstract

This study explores the unique growth-regulatory roles of two naturally occurring auxins, indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and 4-chloroindole-3-acetic acid (4-Cl-IAA), and their interactions with gibberellin (GA) during early pea (Pisum sativum L.) fruit development. We have previously shown that 4-Cl-IAA can replace the seed requirement in pea pericarp growth (length and fresh weight), whereas IAA had no effect or was inhibitory. When applied simultaneously, gibberellin (GA3 or GA1) and 4-Cl-IAA had a synergistic effect on pericarp growth. In the present study, we found that simultaneous application of IAA and GA3 to deseeded pericarps inhibited GA3-stimulated growth. The inhibitory effect of IAA on GA-stimulated growth was mimicked by treatment with ethephon (ethylene releasing agent), and the inhibitory effects of IAA and ethylene on GA-mediated growth were reversed by silver thiosulfate (STS), an ethylene action inhibitor. Although pretreatment with STS could retard senescence of IAA-treated pericarps, STS pretreatment did not lead to IAA-induced pericarp growth. Although 4-Cl-IAA stimulated growth whereas IAA was ineffective, both auxins induced similar levels of ethylene evolution. However, only 4-Cl-IAA-stimulated growth was insensitive to the effects of ethylene. Gibberellin treatment did not influence the amount of ethylene released from pericarps in the presence or absence of either auxin. We propose a growth regulatory role for 4-Cl-IAA through induction of GA biosynthesis and inhibition of ethylene action. Additionally, ethylene (IAA-induced or IAA-independent) may inhibit GA responses under physiological conditions that limit fruit growth.

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Acknowledgments

This work was funded by a Natural Science and Engineering Research Council of Canada Discovery Grant (OGPO138166) to J. Ozga; and the SM Blair scholarship to M. Johnstone.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Plant Physiology and Molecular Biology Research Group, Department of Agricultural, Food, and Nutritional Science, 4-10 Agriculture/Forestry Centre, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, T6G 2P5, Canada

    Marilyn M. G. Johnstone, Dennis M. Reinecke & Jocelyn A. Ozga

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  1. Marilyn M. G. Johnstone
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  2. Dennis M. Reinecke
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  3. Jocelyn A. Ozga
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Correspondence to Dennis M. Reinecke.

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Johnstone, M.M.G., Reinecke, D.M. & Ozga, J.A. The Auxins IAA and 4-Cl-IAA Differentially Modify Gibberellin Action via Ethylene Response in Developing Pea Fruit. J Plant Growth Regul 24, 214–225 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00344-005-0035-9

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