compared to pod tissues, and a good correlation between
total GA| and GAj levels in the ovary and pod
growth has been found (Garcia-Martinez et al. 1987,
1991).
Previous studies (see review by Pate and Flinn 1977)
have shown that early growth of the pea ovule is associated
with the development of a large cavity containing
the endosperm, simultaneous with the growth of the
suspensor, and in advance of embryo development. The
endosperm of pea seeds contains compounds with gibberellin-
like activity (Eeuwens and Schwabe 1975), and
it has been suggested that GA, and GA,, which are
absent at later stages of seed development, may be
synthesized in tissue such as the endosperm or the suspensor
(Garcia-Martinez et al. 1991), which are only
present at early stages of pea seed development (Pate
and Flion 1977).
Received 17