Hypochlorite disinfection influences the GA3-induced synthesis of alpha-amylase isozymes by isolated barley aleurone layers

Aleurone layers isolated from half-seeds of Himalaya barley (Hordeum vulgare cv Himalaya) disinfected in hypochlorite solutions containing 1.0% available chlorine synthesized significantly less α-amylase in response to gibberellic acid than layers derived from half-seeds disinfected in 0.1% hypochlorite. This effect of hypochlorite involved neither a differential decrease in the synthesis of group A or B α-amylase isozymes nor a general decrease in α-amylase synthesis attributable to fewer viable aleurone cells in layers from half-seeds disinfected with 1% hypochlorite. Our results emphasize the need to evaluate the potential effects of routine disinfection procedures used in physiological and biochemical studies.