GIBBERELLIN  BIOASSAY  

Gibberellins   (GAs)   promote   stem   elongation   and   germination   and   in   some   plants   promote  
flowering   and   fruit   development.  Manipulations  of   GA   levels   through   genetic  variations   or  
chemical  application  of  GA  or  GA  synthesis  inhibitors  are  common  agricultural  practices  to  
optimize  plant  growth  and  yields.  The  development  of  semidwarf  grain  varieties  that  have  an  
attenuated   stem   elongation   response   was   the   single   most   significant   achievement   in   20th  
century  agricultural  practices  and  dramatically  increased  global  crop  yields.  The  GA  signalling  
pathway  is  a  critical  control  point  through  which  diverse  environmental  and  hormonal  factors  
are  integrated  into  growth  responses.  Gibberellins  are  endogenous  plant  growth  regulators.    
Genetic   dwarf   mutants   of   rice,   maize,   peas,   watermelon,   squash   and   cucumbers,   exhibit  
phenotipically  tall  characteristics  of  normal  varieties  when  treated  with  GA3  or  certain  other  
gibberellins.  Dwarf  peas  have  long  been  used  for  gibberellin  bioassays.    
 
Material  
  Gibberellic  acid  (GA3)  10  mg/l  (60  ml)  
Dwarf  pea  seedlings  (24)  
Pipettes  (10  ml)  
  Measuring  cylinder  (100  ml)  
  Beakers/  flasks  100  ml  (6)  
Plastic  containers  (6)  
Ruler  
Perlite  
 
Method  
 
1.-­‐  Prepare  100  ml  of  GA  with  the  following  concentrations:  0,  10-­‐2,  10-­‐1,  1,  10  mg/l  
2.-­‐  Prepare  5  containers  with  vermiculite  and  soak  them  with  the  GA  concentrations  (mark  the  
containers  with  the  GA  concentration,  your  name  and  the  lab  group)  
3.-­‐Take  20  pea  seedlings  (uniform  size)  from  the  tray  (pea  seeds  were  previously  germinated  
and  growth  in  vermiculite,  in  the  dark  for  5-­‐6  days).  
4.-­‐  Sow  four  pea  seedlings  in  each  container  (being  careful  not  to  damage  them!).    
5.-­‐  Leave  the  plants  growing  for  1-­‐2  weeks  (until  the  next  laboratory  lesson).  
6.-­‐  Measure  the  stem  length.  
 
RESULTS  AND  QUESTIONS  
 
a)   Plot  the  increase  in  length  (cm)  and  calculate  the  average  value  for  each  treatment.  
 
GA  (mg/l)   0   10-­‐2   10-­‐1   1   10  
Plant  1            
Plant  2            
Plant  3            
Plant  4            
x  ±    s            
 
b)   Discuss  the  results