Definition

Noun: A gibberellin is any of a group of plant hormones that regulate various developmental processes, including stem elongation, germination, dormancy, flowering, and fruit development. They were originally isolated from a fungus (Gibberella fujikuroi).

Usage

Gibberellins are used in scientific research and agriculture to understand and influence plant growth. - The application of gibberellin can break seed dormancy. - Scientists studied the effect of gibberellin on stem elongation in dwarf pea plants.

Advanced Usage

• Gibberellin biosynthesis: Refers to the biochemical pathway through which plants produce gibberellins.
  • The gene mutation disrupted gibberellin biosynthesis.
• Gibberellin signaling: Describes the cellular process by which a plant cell detects and responds to the gibberellin hormone.
  • The study focused on the gibberellin signaling pathway.

Variants and Related Words

• Gibberellic acid (GA): The most common and biologically active form of gibberellin, often used in commercial applications.
  • Gibberellic acid is frequently applied to grapes to increase their size.

Synonyms

• Plant growth regulator (This is a broader category that includes gibberellins and other hormones like auxins and cytokinins).
• Phytohormone (A general term for plant hormones).

Noun

1. a plant hormone isolated from a fungus; used in promoting plant growth