PLANT PHYSIOLOGY , Vol 101, Issue 2 399-405, Copyright © 1993 by American Society of Plant Biologists
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DEVELOPMENT AND GROWTH REGULATION |
Calcium Antagonists Inhibit Sustained Gibberellic Acid-Induced Growth of Avena (Oat) Stem Segments
M. J. Montague
Monsanto Company, 800 North Lindbergh Boulevard, St. Louis, Missouri 63167
The elongation response of Avena sativa (oat) stem segments to gibberellic
acid (GA3) is of large magnitude, with high hormonal sensitivity and
specificity, but without cell division activity. This system is therefore
an excellent model for mechanistic studies on higher plant cell elongation
and the action of gibberellin. At millimolar concentrations, the calcium
antagonists verapamil, D-600, nicardipine, diltiazem, bepridil,
8-(N,N,-diethylamino)-octyl-3,4,5-trimethoxybenzoate HCl, and lanthanum
substantially inhibited the growth of GA3-treated segments but had no
effect on the elongation of nonhormone-treated segments. Although verapamil
reduced the maximum growth rate and caused premature cessation of growth,
even preincubation of the segments with the drug prior to treatment with
GA3 failed to inhibit the earliest measured stimulation of growth by the
hormone. Inhibition by verapamil was not reversed by increased
concentrations of GA3 or calcium. Neither the calcium ionophore A23187 nor
agonist BAY K 8644 had any effect on growth. Light microscopic examination
of epidermal peels from antagonist-treated internodal tissue revealed no
obvious differences from the control except that the cells were not as
elongated. Although these results may support a role for calcium ion
movement in maintaining the GA3-induced growth of Avena stem segments, they
do not support the involvement of calcium ion movement in the
hormone-mediated initiation of growth.