The yellow-green 6 (ygf) mutation in tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) is controlled by a single recessive gene with pleiotropic effects. The syndrome of characters associated with the mutation are enhanced stem elongation, reduced chlorophyll content and absence of deteetable anthocyanins. We now have shown that the mutant also has fewer lateral roots than the wild type and higher L-phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (E.C. 4.3.1.5) activity than the normal tomato. These traits of the mutant closely resemble those induced in many plants by the application of gibberellic acid which suggests that the phenotypic expressions of the mutation might in some manner be related to the endogenous level or activity of the gibberellins. In support of this premise, data are presented which show that the characters of the mutant can be induced in the wild type tomato by application of gibberellic acid. Conversely, several traits of the wild type can be induced in the mutant by an inhibitor of gibberellin biosynthesis, Phosfon. In addition, an embryoless barley half-seed bioassay for the gibberellins and gas-liquid chromatography indicated that the mutant contained at least three times as much total gibberellin as the wild type plant.A particular phenotype may be determined by a single gene through the control of a single chemical reaction as was demonstrated in lower organisms (15) and in higher plants (26).For example, in the latter, five mutant genes in Zea mays were suggested as being responsible for the dwarf habit of growth through the control of the amount of native gibberellins (26). These nonallelic mutant genes apparently control different steps in the biosynthesis of the gibberellins and thereby lead to a reduced amount of these substances, resulting in one observable phenotypic effect-dwarfed plants.Since hormones typically affect many facets of plant growth, it seems probable that an alteration of the level or efficacy of any natural hormone, such as the gibberellins, could affect not only one phenotypic trait, but could give rise to a whole syndrome of pleiotropic characteristics (5).
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