Regulation of Potato Tuber Protein Accumulation by Gibberellic Acid

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Abstract
Many studies have shown that gibberellic acid (GA3) inhibits tuberization in potato (Solanum tuberosum L.). In this study, we have utilized the 40 kilodalton glycoprotein, patatin, as a marker for biochemical events associated with the process of tuberization. To determine the effects of exogenous applications of GA3 on the induction of the accumulation of this major tuber protein, we measured patatin levels in tubers from treated whole plants, petioles from a single-node cutting system with GA3 applied in a lanolin paste, and stolon tips cultured in vitro on an inductive medium supplemented with GA3. In all three systems, GA3 inhibited the accumulation of patatin and the major 15 and 22 kilodalton tuber proteins. This effect appeared to be selective since most of the other proteins were not affected and, in tubers, at least one protein was stimulated by GA3. These results suggest that GA3 can reverse biochemical events of tuberization in tubers as well as prevent the accumulation of the major tuber proteins in other inducible tissues.