Structural Characterization and Effects of Gibberellic Acid-Containing Organotin Polymers on Sawgrass and Cattail Germination and Seedling Growth for Everglades Restoration

The Florida Everglades is undergoing rapid change with much of the change associated with displacement of sawgrass by cattail. A major part of the Everglades restoration involves the growth of sawgrass plants from seeds. Polymers containing gibberellic acid, GA3, were synthesized from reaction with diorganotin dichlorides. Structural analysis emphasizing mass spectroscopy and infrared spectroscopy are consistent with the products containing tin-oxygen bonds. Through the use of GA3 and polymers containing the GA3 moiety, the percentage germination was increased from about 2-4% to 4-19% and the time required for germination decreased from about 4 weeks to 10-21 days.