For storage periods of tubers in Chinese yam, the levels of ~textrmGA44 and ~textrmGA20 was constant, meanwhile both ~textrmGA53 and ~textrmGA19 level were always higher than that of ~textrmGA44 and ~textrmGA20 ㆍ ~textrmGA9 content as precursor of ~textrmGA4 was not changed during storage. ~textrmGA24 content was low to below 0.2 ng for 90 days after storage, ~textrmGA36 content as precursor of ~textrmGA4 like ~textrmGA9 was about 6-8 fold higher than that of ~textrmGA9 during storage. GA contents of the two gibberellin biosynthetic pathways were gradually increased when storage periods were progressed. Bioactive GA1 content as the GA members of an early C-13 hydroxylation was always constant, and its content was very low as below 0.1ng per dry weight, meanwhile, bioactive ~textrmGA4 content as the GA members of non C-13 hydroxylation was drastically increased, also, its content was highest at 90 days after storage, and then decreased at 120 days after storage. Consequently, we suggest that ~textrmGA4 may be involved in controlling tuber sprouting in Chinese yam.

• Sang-Kuk Kim
• Sang-Chul Lee
• Bong-Ho Lee
• Hyung-Jin Jeong
• In-Jung Lee