Effects of the auxin-inhibiting substances raphanusanin and benzoxazolinone on apical dominance of pea seedlings

The effects of the auxin-inhibiting substances raphanusanin ((3R*,6S*)-3-[methoxy (methylthio) methyl]-2-pyrrolidinethione, raphanusanin B)and benzoxazolinone (6-methoxy-2-bezoxazolinone, MBOA) on apical dominance of pea(Pisum sativum L. cv. Alaska) seedlings were studied.Application of raphanusanin B or MBOA to the apical bud, internode, or lateralbud of pea seedlings released apical dominance in either intact orindole-3-acetic acid (IAA )-treated, decapitated plants. These results suggestthat the auxin-inhibiting substances raphanusanin B and MBOA have activity inreleasing apical dominance. Conversely, the auxin transport inhibitors2,3,4-triiodobenzoic acid (TIBA) and 1-naphthylphthalamic acid (NPA) did notstimulate lateral bud growth when they were applied directly to the lateralbud,although application to the apical bud or internode released apical dominance.Therefore, the mode of action of raphanusanin B and MBOA in apical dominance isclearly different from that of auxin transport inhibitors. Raphanusanin B andMBOA may suppress the synthesis of growth-inhibiting factor(s) of the lateralbud induced by endogenous auxin transported from the apical bud or exogenouslyapplied auxin, and/or the action of the factor(s).