Plant Hormones: Bioassay for Gibberellin

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.

Subject:

Science and Technology

Grade Level:

Post-secondary

SubTopics:

Plants and Forests

Collection:

Association for Biology Laboratory Education (ABLE)