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.

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.

Common misconception