Effects of Applied Growth Regulators on Pod Growth and Seed Protein Composition inPisum sativumL.

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Abstract
Plants of Pisum sativum L. raised from seed of an isogenic line selected from cv. Greenfeast were grown under glasshouse conditions. The plant growth regulators naphthalene-acetic acid, benzyl-adenine, abscisic acid and gibberellic acid (GA3) were administered to developing fruits by daily injections into the pedicels of pods between 2 d and 32 d after full bloom, thereby spanning the time of maximum protein synthesis. Changes were observed in growth rates and dry weights of pods at maturity. Total protein content per cotyledon increased in naphthalene-acetic acid, benzyladenine and abscisic acid treatments. Legumin increased in response to naphthalene-acetic acid and benzyladenine while vicilin increased in response to abscisic acid. The albumin content was not affected. Gibberellic acid (GA3) caused no changes in total protein content or in levels of individual protein fractions. The level of legumin was further increased by application of a one to one mixture of naphthalene-acetic acid and benzyladenine; this treatment also resulted in a marked increase in the albumin fraction but a considerable decrease in vicilin content. The results imply that hormones play a role in regulating protein synthesis and accumulation in Pisum.