Roles of gibberellins and cytokinins in regulation of morphological and physiological traits in Polygonum cuspidatum responding to light and nitrogen availabilities

Abstract

We evaluated the roles of gibberellins (GAs) and cytokinins (CKs) in regulation of morphological traits such as biomass allocation and leaf mass per area (LMA). Seedlings of Polygonum cuspidatum Siebold & Zucc. were grown under various light and N availabilities. We exogenously sprayed solutions of gibberellin (GA3), benzyl adenine (BA), uniconazole (an inhibitor of GA biosynthesis) or their mixtures on the aboveground parts, and changes in morphological and physiological traits and relative growth rate (RGR) were analysed. Endogenous levels of GAs and CKs in the control plants were also quantified. The morphological traits were changed markedly by the spraying. Biomass allocation to leaves was increased by GA3 and BA, whereas it decreased by uniconazole. GA3 decreased LMA, whereas uniconazole increased it. We found close relationships among morphological and physiological traits such as photosynthetic rate and net assimilation rate, and RGR under all growth conditions. Seedlings with high levels of endogenous GAs or CKs and low levels of endogenous GAs or CKs showed morphologies similar to those sprayed with GA3 or BA, and those sprayed with uniconazole, respectively. Thus we concluded these phytohormones are involved in the regulation of biomass allocation responding to either light or N availability.