Gibberellin and the Growth of Peach and Apricot Fruits

Abstract

Levels of gibberellin in purified extracts from developing peach fruits were compared with rates of cell division and cell expansion in the fruit tissues. No gibberellin was found in the ovary before full bloom. Immediately after full bloom gibberellin activity was found in the seed, and later in the mesocarp and endocarp as well. Gibberellin concentration was closely correlated with the rate of cell expansion in each tissue, but not with cell division. Until the final growth phase, when activity was found only in the mesocarp, the highest gibberellin level was always found in the seed.