Interactions between abscisic acid, ethylene and gibberellin in internodal elongation in floating rice: the promotive effect of abscisic acid at low humidity

The enhancement of internodal elongation in floating or deepwater rice (Oryza sativa L. cv. Habiganj Aman II) by treatment with ethylene or gibberellic acid (GA3) at high relative humidity (RH) is inhibited by abscisic acid (ABA). Here, we examined the interactive effects of ethylene, gibberellin (GA) and ABA at low RH on internodal elongation of deepwater rice stem segments. Although ethylene alone hardly promoted internodal elongation of stem sections at 30% RH, it enhanced the internodal elongation induced by GA3. Application of ABA alone to stem segments had no effect on internodal elongation. However, in the presence of ethylene and GA3 at 30% RH, ABA further promoted internodal elongation. This promotive effect of ABA was not found in the internodes of stem segments treated either with ethylene or with GA3 at 30% RH or in the internodes of stem segments treated with ethylene and/or GA3 at 100% RH.