Studies on the Regulation of Algal Growth by Gibberellin

Abstract

CCC and Amo.1618, at relatively high concentrations only, inhibited the growth of excised branch apices of the red alga Hypnea musciformis. Neither GA3 nor GA7 stimulated growth of the alga in the presence or absence of these compounds, and gibberellin-like material extracted from H. musciformis also failed to stimulate growth. However, both gibberellins stimulated the growth of slow-growing, but not fast-growing, branch apices of the related red alga Gracilaria verucosa. It is concluded that endogenous gibberellins may not regulate the growth of H. musciformis, but this is likely to be a peculiarity of this species and not a general phenomenon in red algae.