Table V.

Effect of removing mature leaves (defoliation) on the distribution of endogenous brassinosteroids in the apical and stem tissues of wild-type pea plants

Tissue	Treatment	Brassinosteroid Level
				BL	CS	6-DeoxoCS	Typha
		ng g−1 FW
Apical Bud	Intact	nd	0.55 ± 0.06	3.25 ± 0.02	0.039 ± 0.008
	Defoliated	nd	0.43 ± 0	3.01 ± 0.01	0.023 ± 0.003
Stem	Intact	nd	0.43 ± 0.01	2.50 ± 0.28	0.037
	Defoliated	nd	0.43 ± 0.03	2.49 ± 0.05	0.022 ± 0.001

Definitions of the various tissue types are outlined in Figure 1. All plants had eight fully expanded leaves at the time of harvest. Plants were defoliated by separating the petiole from the stem at nodes 6, 7, and 8. Stipules were left intact. Values represent the mean endogenous BR levels ± the se, 48 h after defoliation. Values were derived from two separate replicate experiments. nd, Not detected.