Describe Gibberellic Acid
Gibberellic acid, a type of gibberellin, is a plant hormone that regulates growth. Gibberellins have been recognized as important and used in the plant industry since the mid 1900s. Gibberellic acid promotes growth in plants and elongation of cells. When used on seeds it can stimulate germination. It should be used with care as it can have an opposite effect if too much is used.
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History
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Gibberellins were discovered in Japan at the end of the 19th century by Shotaro Hori while he was conducting research on a disease which caused rice seedlings to grow elongated and die. Gibberellic acid was isolated from the fungus 'Gibberella fujikuroi' in 1935 as a non-crystalline solid and in 1938 as a crystalline compound. Research on gibberellins in the United States and England began in the late 1940s and increased rapidly as the potential benefits to the plant industry were realized.
Identification
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Gibberellic acid, also known as GA-3, appears as a white or pale yellow powder. It can be dissolved in ethanol but is only slightly soluble in water. It has a melting point of 230 degrees C at which it breaks down and is readily degraded by acids. It is the most widely used of 79 different gibberellins that have been isolated since its discovery in 1898.
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Function
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Gibberellic acid is used to treat seeds to force them from dormancy and germinate rapidly. It is also applied to force a plant to flower early and stop roots from forming. It can force pollination between self-incompatible clones and closely related species to help with hybridization. Applied to trees it stimulates the rate of growth, and as a spray can protect blossoms from frost. It is used on seedless grapes to make them grow bigger with more grapes per cluster, and on many other fruits such as cherries, oranges and blueberries to manipulate the time fruit set occurs and to slow down aging.
Considerations
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Carefully research the effects of gibberellic acid on the plants you are working with. The quantity applied for best results is very important to know as well--too much can actually have a negative effect from what you are trying to achieve. You also need to know the growth stage the plant should be at when the gibberellic acid is applied and the exact amount and procedure for application.
Warning
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While gibberellic acid is not a toxic substance it should be handled with care and kept out of reach of children. Do not ingest it and avoid contact with skin and eyes. If ingested do not induce vomiting. Protective clothing such as gloves or coveralls and possibly a respirator should be worn during application depending on the method. Wash the implements used to apply gibberellic acid well then use vinegar to rinse them off before a final water rinse. It can stay active in the soil for months and continue effecting plants so dispose of it properly.
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