New
New
Year 11
OCR
Higher

The effects of gibberellins and ethene on plant growth and development

I can describe effects of gibberellins and ethene on plant growth and development.

New
New
Year 11
OCR
Higher

The effects of gibberellins and ethene on plant growth and development

I can describe effects of gibberellins and ethene on plant growth and development.

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Gibberellins are plant hormones that cause plants to produce flowers and cause seeds to germinate.
  2. Plant breeders use gibberellins to force plants to produce flowers so they can be pollinated and increase size of fruit.
  3. Ethene is a plant hormone that causes ripening of fruit.
  4. Commercial fruit growers use ethene to speed up fruit ripening so that fruit is ready for sale.

Common misconception

Fruit can only ripen whilst it is on the plant.

Discussion of fruits that are picked unripe, e.g. nectarines, tomatoes, avocados, bananas, and that they are ripened in transit.

Keywords

  • Gibberellins - A plant hormone involved in many processes in growth and development, including germination.

  • Ethene - A gas naturally produced by a plant to activate fruit ripening.

  • Ripening - The process of a fruit changing to be ready to be eaten.

  • Germination - The process of seeds developing into new plants.

Pupils could research the location of where different fruits are grown and how they are transported across the world.
Teacher tip

Equipment

None required.

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

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6 Questions

Q1.
True or false? Plants have hormones.
Correct answer: true
false
Q2.
Plant hormones that control a plants' response to a stimulus are called...
Correct Answer: Auxins, Auxin
Q3.
What is the term given to the growth response of a plant to a stimulus?
Correct answer: tropism
auxin
germination
fertilisation
pollination
Q4.
True or false? Fruits are a seed.
An image in a quiz
true
Correct answer: false
Q5.
What does a seed contain?
An image in a quiz
formed roots
Correct answer: food store (endosperm)
Correct answer: seed coat
Correct answer: embryo
egg
Q6.
What triggers germination?
An image in a quiz
carbon dioxide
Correct answer: water
Correct answer: optimal temperature
nutrients
Correct answer: oxygen

6 Questions

Q1.
is a gas naturally produced by fruit that activates fruit ripening.
An image in a quiz
Correct Answer: ethene, Ethylene
Q2.
What is the role of gibberellins?
selective weed killers
Correct answer: increase fruit size
Correct answer: promote flowering
control growth towards a stimulus e.g. light
Correct answer: stimulate germination
Q3.
What are the advantages of using ethene in transit?
Correct answer: it increases profits for the farmer
Correct answer: it reduces the amount of fruit that is spoiled or over ripened
it prevents ripening
ethene makes fruits firmer and less likely to be damaged
Q4.
Why would a plant breeder apply artificial gibberellins to their plants?
to speed up fruit ripening in transit
to encourage root growth as a rooting powder
Correct answer: to force plants to produce flowers
Correct answer: to increase the size of the fruit they produce
Q5.
A banana is over-ripe and has caused the other fruit in the fruit bowl to ripen. Which plant hormone was the banana producing to cause this?
An image in a quiz
Correct Answer: ethene, Ethylene
Q6.
A farmer would like to produce seedless fruit. Which plant hormone would the farmer apply to their crop?
Correct Answer: gibberellin, gibberellins