3 Biology -- Plant Hormones

Describe the structure and physiological effects of gibberellins.

Describe the structure and physiological effects of gibberellins.

              A. Gibbane ring 


              B. Gibberellin 

Structure of gibberellin:- chemically, gibberellins belong to a large family of diterpene acid which have a comment skeleton called Gibbane ring. More than 100 gibberellins have been identified but gibbane is common in all gibberellins. They only differ in minute structure such as number and position of -OH, CH and -COOH groups at different C atoms of gibbane ring.

Gibberellins are acidic in nature and induce growth of the plants. Some major physiological effects of gibberellins are as follows:

1. Stem and leaf growth:- Gibberellins elongate stems by the enlargement of cells. They also help in leaf elongation. 

2. Elongation of dwarf shoot:- Genetic dwarf of different plants such as pea, maize, etc. can be induced to grow to normal height by the application of gibberellins.

3. Flowering:- Gibberellins promote flowering in long day plant during non- inductive periods.

4. Bolting:- Bolting is the elongation of reduced stem. In some plants such as cabbage internodal length is very short giving a rosette appearance. Application of gibberellins increases internodal length.

5. Reduce dormancy:- Gibberellins secrete enzyme called ɑ-amylase durinɡ germination of certain seeds which inhibits the activity of abscissic acid and reduce dormancy period.

6. Sex expression:- Gibberellins promote the formation of male flower on genetically female plants of Cannabis.










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