Endogenous gibberellins in immature seeds of Prunus persica L.: identification of GA(118), GA(119), GA(120), GA(121), GA(122) and GA(126)

The endogenous gibberellins in immature seeds of Prunus persica were analyz ed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Eleven known gibberellins, GA(3 ), GA(9), GA(17), GA(19), GA(30), GA(44), GA(61), GA(63), GA(87), GA(95) an d GA(97) were identified. Additionally, several hitherto unknown gibberelli ns were detected and their putative structures were verified by synthesis o f the authentic gibberellins. These gibberellins were then assigned trivial numbers, e.g. 1 alpha -hydroxy GA(20) (GA(118)), 1 alpha -hydroxy GA(9) (G A(119)), 1,2- didehydro GA(9) (GA(120)), 1,2-didehydro GA(70) (GA(121)), 1, 2-didehydro GA(69) (GA(122)) and 1,2-didehpdro GA(77) (GA(126)) GA(118) and GA(119) were the first 1 alpha -hydroxy gibberellins identified from highe r plants. The above profile of 1,2-didehydro gibberellins suggests that 1,2 -dehydrogenation might occur prior to 3 beta -hydroxylation in biosynthesis of GA(3), GA(30) and GA(87) in immature seeds of P. persica. (C) 2001 Else vier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.