Influence of Hydrogen Ion Concentration and Autoclaving on Gibberellin

IN at least two reports the method of sterilization for medium to be used for tissue culture experiments was autoclaving1,2. The question of the heat stability of gibberellin is raised. It is generally thought that gibberellin is stable on the basic side of neutrality and at room temperature at neutral or near neutral pH, and more labile at elevated temperatures at extreme pH values. It has been stated that even weakly acid media will destroy gibberellin and that it is much more stable in neutral and basic solutions (Stowe, B. B., private communication, November 7, 1958).