Briefly discuss the commercial applications of gibberellins
(ornamentals, lodging, parthenocarpy, etc). (6
Gibberellins have several commercial applications in various industries.
In ornamentals, gibberellins are used to promote plant growth and elongation. They are often applied to dwarf or compact plant varieties to induce stem elongation and increase plant height. This helps in creating more aesthetically appealing plants for ornamental purposes.
Gibberellins are also used to prevent lodging in cereal crops such as wheat and rice. Lodging refers to the bending or breaking of stems under the weight of the crop. By applying gibberellins, the stem strength of these crops can be increased, thereby preventing lodging and ensuring a higher yield.
Another commercial application of gibberellins is in inducing parthenocarpy, which is the development of fruit without fertilization. Gibberellins can be used to stimulate fruit development without the need for pollination or fertilization. This can be beneficial in seedless fruit production, as it avoids the formation of seeds and increases the yield of desirable fruit.
Gibberellins are also used in the agricultural industry to overcome seed dormancy. Some seeds have a natural dormancy period before they can germinate, which can be a limitation for agricultural practices. Gibberellins can be applied to these seeds to break their dormancy and promote germination.
Overall, gibberellins have several commercial applications, including promoting plant growth in ornamentals, preventing lodging in cereal crops, inducing parthenocarpy in fruit production, and breaking seed dormancy.