gibberellin

[jib-uh-rel-in]

noun

Biochemistry.

1. any of a class of growth hormones occurring in fungi and plants.

gibberellin

/ ˌdʒɪbəˈrɛlɪn /

noun

1. any of several plant hormones, including gibberellic acid, whose main action is to cause elongation of the stem: used in promoting the growth of plants, in the malting of barley, etc

gibberellin

1. Any of numerous plant hormones, especially gibberellic acid, that promote stem elongation. The seeds, young shoots, and roots of plants contain gibberellins, and they are also found in fungi.

Word History and Origins

Origin of gibberellin¹

1935–40; < New Latin Gibberell ( a ) ( gibberellic acid ) + -in ²

Example Sentences

Decades ago researchers knocked out the genes that control early steps in gibberellin synthesis, but the result was plants that had deformed flowers and abnormal ears.

From Science Magazine

The lower stem nodes of these varieties make insufficient amounts of gibberellin to activate internode elongation.

From Nature

Maturing female ferns express some genes that begin the production of gibberellin, but add a methyl ester chemical group to the precursor molecule before secreting it into the wet forest floor.

From Nature

First, gibberellin levels increase and stimulate production of key flowering factors, one of which degrades gibberellin.

From Science Magazine

This way, the levels of gibberellin can be lowered in the stalks, but not the flowers, stunting the plants’ growth without undermining their productivity.

From Science Magazine