The Gibberellin Fermentation

Abstract

Gibberellins are a classic example of the production of plant growth regulators by microorganisms.They are important biotechnological products and are increasingly used in agriculture and horticulture.This article intends to assemble information on the hisotry of the identification of gibberellins (GA) and producing microorganisms, especially Gibberella fujikuroi (Saw.) Wr. Furthermore, the biosynthesis of gibberelins through the isoprenoid biosynthetic pathway will be described. The main product of GA biosynthesis in Gibberella fujikuroi is gibberellic acid (GA,), which is formed from GA, via GA,. Both the amount and the type of gibberellins produced by the fungus are dependent on the genetic constitution of the strain and the fermentation conditions. Mutation and selection for increased product formation are probably the most important factors in improving the yield of gibberellins. Some publications concerning methods of parasexual recombination will also be summarized. Beside strain improvement of wild strains, medium development and appropriate cultivation techniques (batch, fed-batch-, continuous-, and solid state-fermentation) are very important prerequisites for successful economy of gibberellin production. Furthermore, the most important ways of gibberellin recovery and purification are described. Continuing reductions in the costs make gibberellins more attractive for existing applications and open possibilities for further applications of GA, and some other active gibberellins like GA,, Ga,, and GA,. The plant growth promoting properties of gibberellic acid, a metabolic product of the fungus Gibberella fujikuroi, J . Sci. Food Agric., 5 , 602, 1954. Lang, A., Bolting and flowering in biennial Hyoscyamus niger, induced by gibberellic acid, Plant Physiol., 31(Suppl.), 35, 1956. 1 87 Critical Reviews in Biotechnology Downloaded from informahealthcare.com by Mcgill University on 02/03/15 For personal use only.

Inhibition of Gibberellin Production in the Fungi Gibberella fujikuroi and Sphaceloma manihoticola by Plant Growth Retardants

“…This observation agrees with previous results (2,3,12). In the absence of plant growth retardants, the main GAs found in the culture filtrate of S. manihoticola were GA4 (15 mg L-1), GA13 (4 mg L-1), and GA14 (1 mg L-1).…”

The Gibberella fujikuroi niaD Gene Encoding Nitrate Reductase: Isolation, Sequence, Homologous Transformation and Electrophoretic Karyotype Location

“…The gibberellins are complex structures : diterpenoids with a characteristic ring system. Gibberellins of commercial value, GA,, GA, and GA,, are used in combinations as it is uneconomic to separate these molecules on an industrial scale (Vass & Jeffries, 1979;Bruckner & Blechschmidt, 1991a, b). Although the Abbreviation: GA, gibberellic acid.…”

Utilization of the Plant Hormone Indole-3-Acetic Acid for Growth by Pseudomonas putida Strain 1290

“…A good example is given by bacteria of the genus Wolbachia, which convert male woodlice into females, supposedly by suppressing a gland that produces a masculinizing hormone (37). Another striking example is the microbial production of plant hormones such as auxin, cytokinin, and gibberellin, which allows certain bacteria and fungi to direct a plant's physiology toward their own advantage (5,7,14,20).…”

“…A good example is given by bacteria of the genus Wolbachia, which convert male woodlice into females, supposedly by suppressing a gland that produces a masculinizing hormone (37). Another striking example is the microbial production of plant hormones such as auxin, cytokinin, and gibberellin, which allows certain bacteria and fungi to direct a plant's physiology toward their own advantage (5,7,14,20).Indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) is the main auxin in plants, controlling many important physiological processes including cell enlargement and division, tissue differentiation, and responses to light and gravity (45). Bacterial IAA producers (BIPs) have the potential to interfere with any of these processes by input of IAA into the plant's auxin pool.…”