Gibberellic acid affects the functioning of the flower abscission zone in Lupinus luteus via cooperation with the ethylene precursor independently of abscisic acid

The abscission of plant organs is a phytohormone-controlled process. Our study provides new insight into the involvement of gibberellic acid (GA3) in the functioning of the flower abscission zone (AZ) in yellow lupine (Lupinus luteus L.). Physiological studies demonstrated that GA3 stimulated flower abortion. Additionally, this phytohormone was abundantly presented in the AZ cells of naturally abscised flowers, especially in vascular bundles. Interesting interactions among GA3 and other modulators of flower separation were also investigated. GA3 accumulated after treatment with the ethylene (ET) precursor 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC). Abscisic acid (ABA) treatment did not cause such an effect. Furthermore, the expression of the newly identified LlGA20ox1 and LlGA2ox1 genes encoding 2-oxoglutarate-dependent dioxygenases fluctuated after ACC or ABA treatment which confirmed the existence of regulatory crosstalk. GA3 appears to cooperate with the ET precursor in the regulation of AZ function in L. luteus flowers; however, the presented mechanism is ABA-independent.