Gibberellins: a phytohormonal basis for heterosis in maize

Four commercially important maize parental inbred and their 12 F1 hybrids were studied to investigate the role of the phytohormone gibberellin (GA) in the regulation of heterosis (hybrid vigor). All hybrids grew faster than any inbred. In contrast, all inbreds showed a greater promotion of shoot gro...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Science (American Association for the Advancement of Science) 1988-09, Vol.241 (4870), p.1216-1218
Main Authors: Rood, S.B, Buzzell, R.I, Mander, L.N, Pearce, D, Pharis, R.P
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
ACIDO GIBERELICO
Agriculture
Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions
ALTURA
Biological and medical sciences
Biosynthesis
Classical genetics, quantitative genetics, hybrids
Corn
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Genetics and breeding of economic plants
Genetics of eukaryotes. Biological and molecular evolution
GIBBERELLINE
Gibberellins
Growth (Plants)
HAUTEUR
Heterosis
Heterosis. Floral biology applications: apomixy, male sterility, incompatibility, varia
Hormones
Hybridity
Inbreeding
Inbreeding depression
Ions
LIGNEE CONSANGUINE
LINEAS CONSANGUINEAS
Physiological aspects
Plant breeding: fundamental aspects and methodology
Plant growth
Plant hormones
Plants
Pteridophyta, spermatophyta
TALLO
TIGE
Vegetals
VIGOR HIBRIDO
VIGUEUR HYBRIDE
ZEA MAYS
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Summary:Four commercially important maize parental inbred and their 12 F1 hybrids were studied to investigate the role of the phytohormone gibberellin (GA) in the regulation of heterosis (hybrid vigor). All hybrids grew faster than any inbred. In contrast, all inbreds showed a greater promotion of shoot growth after the exogenous application of GA3. Concentrations of endogenous GA1, the biological effector for shoot growth in maize, and GA19, a precursor of GA1, were measured in apical meristematic shoot cylinders for three of the inbreds and their hybrids by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry with selected ion monitoring; deuterated GAs were used as quantitative internal standards. In 34 of 36 comparisons, hybrids contained higher concentrations of endogenous GAs than their parental inbreds. Preferential growth acceleration of the inbred by exogenous GA3 indicates that a deficiency of endogenous GA limits the growth of the inbred and is thus a cause of inbreeding depression. Conversely, the increased endogenous concentration of GA in the hybrids could provide a phytohormonal basis for heterosis for shoot growth
ISSN:0036-8075
1095-9203
DOI:10.1126/science.241.4870.1216