Gibberellin-Insensitive and Overgrowth Mutations in Temperate Cereals

Abstract

In theory, single point mutations should be invaluable tools in the elucidation of GA action. In practice, they have yet to fulfill their potential. It is easy to draw parallels with the elegant work on GA biosynthesis, but this ignores the essential difference between the problems. Namely, that a biosynthetic sequence is known to be enzymatic and to proceed by discrete steps. It must, therefore, bear a direct relationship to primary gene products. On the other hand, we are still awaiting information on the general nature of response mechanisms (let alone their fine detail) and consequently cannot make firm statements about the unitization of the process.