Gibberellin Literature Review
Introduction
A knowledge of plant hormones is important not only for understanding biological processes, but also for improving agricultural and horticultural practices. In the present study, the role of gibberellic acid in promoting germination is investigated.
This experiment will assess whether bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) seeds germinate faster when treated with gibberellic acid than when treated with water alone.
Literature Review
The growth and behaviour of plants is controlled largely by hormones. Plant hormones influence such phenomena as the orientation of stems toward light, internode length, and the timing of flowering (Smith & Ravinn, 1984). Another important function is the regulation of germination. Gibberellic acid (C19H22O6) – also referred to as GA or GA3 – has been found to be responsible for this latter role in many plants (Thompson, 2005). Its specific function, however, varies with plant variety.
Barley (Hordeum vulgare) is a widely studied monocotyledon and an important agricultural crop. GA increases germination rates in barley seeds by increasing the conversion of complex carbohydrates to simple, useable sugars. The way in which GA promotes germination in barley can be considered a model for the action of GA in all monocotyledons (Blackton, 2008).
As with most seeds, the barley seed consists of three main parts. The first part is the embryo, a small region of living tissue which will grow into the new plant. The second part is the endosperm, which is a relatively large volume of stored carbohydrates and proteins. When these stored substances are broken down they feed the embryo until it can photosynthesize on its own. The third main part is the seed coat or tes...
