Effect of some (2-chloroethyl) trimethylammonium chloride analogs and other growth retardants on gibberellin biosynthesis in Fusarium moniliforme.

Abstract

Beginning about 1950, a number of compounds have been describedd which have the property of reduc- ing growth in higher plants. The most widely known and studied of these dwarfing agents or growth re- tardants are 2-isopropyl-4-(dimet'hylamino-5-methylphenyl-1 -p~iperidlinecarboxylate methyl chloride or AMO-1618, (2-chloroethyl) trimethylamnionium chlo- ride or CCC (Cycocel), tribultyl-2,4-dichloroobenzylphosphonium chloride or Phosfon D, and N-dimethyl- succinamic acid or B-995 (B-Nine) (3, 16). Al- though these compounds are quite different in their chemical structure, their effect on plants is in general quite similar. The most common response is reduc- tion of stem elongation which in extreme cases can result in almost rosette-like growth habit but which, apart from a deeper-green color and greater thickness of the leaves, is usually not associated with pro- nounced anomalies of development or structure, as is, for example, growsvth inhibition by high doses of .auxins or related compoun(ls. Another effect, observe(l in some plants, is suppression of the flower- inducing effect of favorable photoperiods This effect is also selective, vegetative growth, as expressed by the rate of leaf formation, not being affected at all, or affected to a much lesser extent.