Exogenous gibberellic acid application induces the overexpression of key genes for pedicel lignification and an increase in berry drop in table grape.

Most table grape (Vitis vinifera L.) varieties require gibberellic acid (GA3) applications to obtain an adequate berry size in order to satisfy market requirements. However, GA3 treatments also produce severe berry drop in some cultivars, which occurs mainly after a cold storage period during post-harvest. Berry drop in bunches treated with GA3 has been related to the hardening and thickening of the pedicel produced by the over-accumulation of cellulose and its lignification. The main goal of this study was to compare the morphology and gene expression in pedicel samples of genotypes contrasting for berry drop susceptibility. These genotypes are Thompson Seedless, which exhibits a low incidence of berry drop, and a genetic line (Line #23) of INIA's breeding program that is very susceptible to berry drop at harvest and after storage in bunches sprayed with GA3. The parameters measured to study this phenomenon during fruit growth and post-harvest storage included fruit detachment force (FDF), hardness and thickness of the pedicel and berry drop frequency. Histological analyses of pedicel structures at harvest showed an increase in cell size and deposition of lignin in the cortex zone in both contrasting genotypes treated with GA3. The expression profile in both genotypes of the key lignin biosynthesis genes Vv4CL4, VvCCR1L and VvCAD1 analyzed by quantitative real time PCR (qPCR) revealed evident changes in response to GA3 treatments. In particular, gene VvCAD1 is overexpressed (100X) in pedicels of line #23 treated with GA3 after 30 and 45 days in cold storage compared to control. Moreover, the frequency of berry drop was higher for Line #23 treated with GA3 than for the control (23% vs. 1%). Our results suggest that gibberellic acid regulates the expression of the biosynthesis of lignin genes, generating changes in cell wall composition and pedicel structure that result in an increase in berry drop.

Synthesis and characterization of gibberellin-chitosan conjugate for controlled-release applications.

Controlled release formulations (CRFs) are promising in improving the efficiency of pesticide and minimizing the spreading of hazardous residues in environment. By coupling with the pesticide covalently, chitosan can be used as a carrier material for the vulnerable ingredient. For the first time, gibberellic acid (GA3), one of plant growth regulators, was attached to chitosan (CS) to form a GA3-CS conjugate via the formation of an amide bound using 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)carbodiimide and N-hydroxysuccinimide. The novel conjugate was structurally characterized by fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, ultraviolet spectrophotometer, and thermal gravimetric analysis. Effects of pH, temperature, and UV irradiation on the release of this conjugate were investigated. The results showed that the new conjugate had a remarkable modification degree for CS (more than 60%, w/w) and the optimal coupling conditions were defined as: the molar ratio of GA3:EDC/NHS:CS was 1:1.2:1.2, at pH 6.0 for 24 h. The release data showed the novel conjugate protected GA3 against photo- and thermal-degradation effectively and the concentration of GA3 in GA3-CS kept unchangeable about 60 d in different pH conditions. Compared with GA3 technical, the conjugate had better water solubility and stability and have potential applications. The present study also provides a novel preparation method of CRFs comprising a pesticide with long duration, sustained-release performance and good environmental compatibility. This method may be extended to other pesticides that possess a carboxyl group.

Oxidative stress induced by gibberellic acid on kidney tissue of female rats and their progeny: biochemical and histopathological studies

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Gibberellic acid (GA3) is an endogenous plant growth regulator used worldwide in agriculture. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of GA3 on the kidney function of adult rats and their pups. Female Wistar rats were given daily 200 ppm GA3 in drinking water from the 14th day of pregnancy until day 14 after delivery. GA3 induced nephrotoxicity, as evidenced by a reduction in the 24-h urine volume and an increase in plasma creatinine, urea and uric acid levels. Nephrotoxicity was objectified by a significant increase of malondialdehyde level and a decrease of antioxidant enzyme activities like catalase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione content in kidneys of suckling pups and their mothers. Kidney histological studies confirmed biochemical parameters. We concluded that the exposure of rats to GA3 induced oxidative stress and histopathological changes in kidneys of suckling rats and their mothers during late pregnancy and early postnatal periods (AU)

Hormonal and gravitropic specificity in the regulation of growth and cell wall synthesis in pulvini and internodes from shoots of Avena sativa L. (oat).

Segments can be cut from the peduncular-1 internode of oat (Avena sativa L.) shoots so as to contain the graviresponsive leaf-sheath pulvinus and gibberellin-sensitive internodal tissue. Incorporation of [14C]glucose was used to monitor cell wall synthesis in these two tissues as affected by gravistimulus, indoleacetic acid (IAA), gibberellic acid (GA3), and fusicoccin (FC). Pulvinar cell wall synthesis was promoted by IAA and FC (both within about 1 h), as well as by gravistimulus (starting between 3 and 6 h), whereas GA3 had no effect on nongravistimulated pulvini. In contrast, GA3 and FC promoted internodal cell wall synthesis (initiated between 1 and 2 h), whereas IAA and gravistimulus caused a decrease in internodal uptake. FC preferentially promoted incorporation into the matrix component of the wall in both tissues. Gravistimulus failed to increase responsiveness of pulvinar tissue to IAA, whereas GA3 partially overcame gravistimulus-promoted incorporation into pulvinar cell wall, probably because of preferential movement of label into the rapidly elongating internode. The results demonstrate that these eight stimulus/tissue combinations can be examined easily in an isolated 10-mm stem segment, providing new opportunities for the comparative study of tissue- and stimulus-specific events in gene regulation and signal transduction in agronomically important cereals.