Gibberellic acid seed treatment in rice

Gibberellic acid (GA 3 ) was the first naturaJly occurring plant growth regulator (PGR) labeled for use on rice in the U.S .(as RELEASE, Abbott Laboratories, North Chicago, IL).This new area of PGR u e in rice is due in large part to the research that is summarized in this bulletin.Dr. Dunand realized that semidwarf rice was responsive to gibberellic acid and conducted many of the fund amental studies necessary to demonstrate the feasibility of its use as a seed treatment for rice.These studies included experiments on the effect of GA 3 on stand establishment using different varieties, seeding depths, and seeding rates.GA 3 is now profoundly influencing rice production in the southern United States.This bulletin describes the cultural and varietal problems related to emergence that needed to be addressed and provides the step by step approach leading to the use of GA 3 as a seed treatment.Dr. Dunand 's pioneering work to demonstrate the use of GA 3 as a tool in U.S. rice production serves as an excellent example of how universi ties and industry can work cooperatively to provide safe and useful products to the ag ricultural community.