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Biological Sciences Laboratory BIO (102) (2016) Exercise 10.1 1 BIO 2 - GROUP 6

Effect of Gibberellic Acid on Plant Growth (Vigna radiata)

Mary Joyce Hipolito, Hanna Jang, Shannon Lim, Nicolle Lipana
College of Science, University of Santo Tomas, España Boulevard, Manila

Date submitted: May 12, 2016

Abstract:

Mung bean (Vigna radiata) also known as the moong bean, green gram, is a plant species in the legume family. It is native to South
America and is predominantly cultivated today in India, China, and Southeast Asia. It is used as an ingredient in both savory and sweet
dishes. This experiment aims to show the effect of phytohormone, gibberellic acid, distinguish the part of the plant greatly influenced by it
and determine the kind of growth elicited by using such hormone. The mung seeds was equally distributed for two pots, named (H 2O) and
(GA - Gibberellic Acid), but are planted and incubated with the same type of soil and environment condition. In a span of four (4) days
the mung seeds generated seedlings, each with stem lengths no less than 3 mm in measure. Five (5) most fit seedlings from each pot was
chosen (others were pinched off) and are marked with small flags numbered 1 to 5. Then, initial measurements were taken. For 8
consecutive days, the leaves and shoot tips of plants on Pot H 2O was carefully smeared with H 2O and Pot GA with humble amounts
gibberellic acid. Measurement of stem lengths was taken daily and recorded. The measurements are then compared, as H 2O versus
Gibberellic acid controlled plants illustrating the effectiveness of gibberellic acid as a plant growth hormone.
Keywords: Phytohormones, gibberelins, abscisic acid, auxins, cytokinins, ethylene, allelopathy

Introduction

Plant hormones or “phytohormones”, also called as plant growth substances are different natural

compounds other than nutrients produced by plants that regulates germination, growth, metabolism and other

physiological activities. They are produced in specific parts of plants, are effective in very low concentration, and

mostly carried to other parts where they stimulate certain biochemical, morphological or physiological response.

All phytohormones induces various response which could give stimulatory or inhibitory effects. The most common

known classes of plant hormones are: Abscisic acid, Auxins, Cytokinins, Ethylene and Gibberellins. Each of those

hormones provides specific function, however all are coordinated, because there’s always interaction between two

or more hormones. Their hormonal interactions may be cooperative, antagonistic or in balance. The concentration

of phytohormones required for plant response merely ranges from 10 -6 to 10-5 M (molar concentration) which is

very low compared with vitamins and minerals needed by plants. Its synthesis is more distributed and rarely
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Biological Sciences Laboratory BIO (102) (2016) Exercise 10.1 1 BIO 2 - GROUP 6

localized. Seed germination, roots and shoots growth, disease resistance, bud formation, flowering stage, formation

and ripening of fruit, leaf fall and anything related to plant growth are influenced by hormones.

This experiment aims to show the effect of Gibberellic acid on plant growth, identify the plant part most

influenced by the hormone applied and determine the kind of growth it elicited.

Methodology

First, several pieces of mung bean / mongo / or Vigna radiata seeds were soaked in water overnight. The

next day two pots with 50/50 percent mixture of damp soil and sand was prepared and are named POT A (H 2O)

and POT B (GA) respectively. At least eight (8) pieces of fit mongo seeds were planted in each pot and then was

covered with dark plastic. After incubating the pots in a warm and dark place for four (4) days, the cover was

removed and both pots produced mongo seedlings. The pots are transferred to a warm sunny place until the

seedlings are about 3cm tall. From each pot, five (5) healthiest seedling was chosen and

marked with flags numbered 1 to 5 (refer to figure 2), then the other seedlings were pinched

off (Seedlings are not pulled out to avoid hauling the soil together with the roots that may

have entangled already). Initial measurement of chosen seedlings were taken using a metric

ruler and is recorded in millimeters (mm). The stem length is the distance from the base of the

first pair of true leaves to the base of the plant (surface of soil) as illustrated in Figure 1.

FIGURE 1. For eight (8) consecutive days (by using cotton swabs) the shoot tips and leaves of plants

from Pot A (H2O) are carefully smeared with H2O, while pot B (GA) with humble amounts

of Gibberellic acid. On daily basis both pots are watered (same amount) as needed and subjected to similar

environmental condition. Also, every day the stem length was noted and eventually wooden stakes are used to

support the growing seedlings.

Data & Results

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Biological Sciences Laboratory BIO (102) (2016) Exercise 10.1 1 BIO 2 - GROUP 6

STEM LENGTH (mm)

PO PLANT
TREATMENT DAY 1 DAY 2 DAY 3 DAY4 DAY 5 DAY6 DAY 7 DAY 8 AVE
T No.

THU SUN MON THU

FRI 15 SAT 16 TUE 19 WED 20
14 17 18 21

1 30 32 40 52 60 70 70 71 53.1

2 23 25 35 41 42 50 50 52 39.7

(1) Water 3 31 35 40 50 50 51 52 52 45.1

4 40 50 51 55 57 58 59 63 54.1

5 28 39 48 48 49 49 50 51 45.2

AVE 30.4 36.2 42.8 49.2 51.6 55.6 56.2 57.8 47.4

STEM LENGTH (mm)

PLAN
PO
TREATMENT T DAY 1 DAY 2 DAY 3 DAY4 DAY 5 DAY6 DAY 7 DAY 8 AVE
T
No.

THU SUN MON THU

FRI 15 SAT 16 TUE 19 WED 20
14 17 18 21

1 62 71 83 95 100 102 102 102 89.6

2 50 70 80 98 105 105 105 105 89.7

(2) GA 3 30 37 46 55 60 60 65 65 52.3

4 38 50 60 79 80 82 85 85 69.9

5 65 78 90 118 120 122 125 125 105.4

AVE 49 61.2 71.8 89 93 94.2 96.4 96.4 81.3

The table above presents the obtained stem length measurements for consecutive of 8 days, and a graph is provided
to make easy comprehensive comparison between the two treatments made:
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Biological Sciences Laboratory BIO (102) (2016) Exercise 10.1 1 BIO 2 - GROUP 6

120

100

80

60 Water
GA
40

20

0
Day 1 Day 2 Day 3 Day 4 Day 5 Day 6 Day 7 Day 8

Discussion

The graph shows that gibberellic acid controlled plants generated a higher average of stem length than
water controlled plants. The stems elongate in subapical regions in response to phytohormones, like gibberellins.
As such, due to the abundant application of GA, the cells of the plants are more stimulated to divide, causing the
increased elongation of the stems. The kinds of growth that are elicited by the GA to the plants observed in the
experiment are stem elongation (due to the increase in length of the stems), leaf growth (due to the increase in size
of leaves), and root growth (due to a substantial increase in number of roots).

It is possible for plant species to inhibit growth of other plants through the release of chemical or hormones
because of Allelopathy. It is a phenomenon wherein a plant inhibits the growth of another.

Through the release of allelochemicals (toxic), several plants can significantly affect the growth of other plants
(good or bad) by leaching, decomposition, etc.

This phenomenon acts as a means of survival in nature in reducing competition from plants nearby or to defend
itself against herbivores.

Conclusion

Based on the outcome of this experiment, Gibberellic acid is an effective plant hormone. The part of the

plant that was most influenced by it is the stem due to the activation of enzymes which loosen cell walls and allows
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Biological Sciences Laboratory BIO (102) (2016) Exercise 10.1 1 BIO 2 - GROUP 6

more protein to enter the cells. As such, it majorly promotes plant growth, seed germination, and leaf expansion.

However, too much exposure to this hormone may reduce or inhibit the growth of the plant as well.