Plant Hormones: Bioassay for Gibberellin

 

Sandra Biroc

Tested Studies in Laboratory Teaching, 1989, Volume 10

Abstract

This simple assay makes use of the ability of the plant hormone GA3 to induce starch breakdown in the endosperm of a barley seed from which the embryo has been removed. The effect of the hormone is clear and repeatable. This exercise can be used in introductory biology courses to demonstrate a basic plant process, or can be modified and used to investigate more sophisticated questions in a developmental biology course.

Keywords:  plant hormones, development, gibberellic acid, bioassay, barley seed, endosperm, starch breakdown

University of British Columbia (1988)