Gibberellins

• Gibberellins are another type of plant growth hormone. They stimulate seed germination (when a seed starts to grow into a plant), stem growth and flowering. Uses include:

  1. Controlling dormancy

  • Lots of seeds wont germinate until they've been through certain conditions, like a period of cold or dryness, - this is called dormancy
  • Seeds can be treated with gibberellins to alter dormancy and make them germinate at times of year that they wouldn't normally
  • It also helps to make sure all the seeds in a batch germinate at the same time
• 2. Inducing flowers

  • Some plants require certain conditions to flower, such as longer days or low temperatures
  • If these plants are treated with gibberellins, they will flower without any change in their environment
  • Gibberellins can also be used to grow bigger flowers
• 3. Growing larger fruit

  • Seedless varieties of fruits (seedless grapes) often do not grow as large as seeded fruit
  • However, if gibberellins are added to these fruit, they will grow larger to match the normal types