Gibberellin A(8) (GA(8)), GA(17), GA(29), GA(44), and GA(53) were iden
tified from the shoots of Phyllostachys edulis, together with previous
ly identified GA(1), GA(19), and GA(20), and the occurrence of a 2 bet
a-hydroxy-GA(53)-like compound was suggested. An experiment on shoots
of the bamboo species confirmed the metabolism from GA(12)-aldehyde to
GA(12) and GA(53) in P. bambusoides, and from GA(12)-aldehyde to GA(1
2) and GA(12) to GA(53) in Sasa kurilensis. These findings strongly su
ggest the participation of the early-13-hydroxylation pathway for gibb
erellin biosynthesis in the shoots of Bambusoideae.