Gibberellic acid: effect on genetic tumor induction

Abstract

Young seedlings of the amphiploid Nicotiana suaveolens × N. langsdorffii, grown aseptically on nutrient medium, were treated with several concentrations of gibberellic acid (GA3). The incidence of tumor formation was scored for 18 days subsequent to exposure. At a concentration of 5 × 10−3 M, GA3 caused a striking reduction in the rate of tumor formation and a marked enhancement of stem growth in this tumor-prone amphiploid. These results are discussed in relation to the problem of the trigger mechanism for tumor induction in Nicotiana hybrids.