Sarah Jamali Plant Science TA- Emily 04/27/2011 Wednesday Lab Effects of Gibberellic Acid on Brassica rapa Plants

Abstract Do plants become taller in height or more fruitful with the help of hormones? What hormone is responsible for the height of a plant or the presence/absence of a seed? If possible to identify, what is the mechanism behind it? An experiment was conducted in regard to Brassica rapa seeds growth and its hormonal value in response to the addition of gibberellic acid. The study was designed where Brassica rapa seeds were observed status post the application of gibberellic acid. One quad was used, containing 4 cells which included 2 wild type plants and 2 dwarf plants of the Brassica rapa . One dwarf and one wild plant was the control group, which included the addition of tap water only. The other dwarf and wild plant was the experimental group, which had the application of Giberellic acid. The test was carried out for 4 weeks and all observations and results were recorded. While each of the 4 groups were watered according to their assigned treatment, each cell of the quad was also being watered at the soil for complete moisture and plant development. Therefore, the gibberellic acid, also known as GA, was added to only the leaves of the experimental plants, not the soil itself. We discovered that the treatment of gibberellic acid in the experimental plants had increased the plant growth, in essence to stem height and also flower/leaf morphology. The most successful plants emerging out of the soil were from the

control group, standard water wild type Brassica rapa plants grew tallest, which had an average height of 15 cm. Introduction Brassica rapa seeds develop very quickly and consist of having a small life cycle and are referred to as rapid cycling Brassica rapa. Nitrogen, hydrogen, potassium and magnesium and carbohydrates are a few examples of elements that provide regulatory, mechanistic and enzymatic activity in a plant (Raven et al. 2005). Brassica rapa belongs to the genome Arabidopsis thaliana, a small mustard family. They are also known as Wisconsin Fast plants that evolve from this mustard family (Kelly, Martin G.) Dormant seeds can normally be induced to germinate by the addition of the hormonal acid known as gibberellic acid, also abbreviated as GA (Evans). Gibberellic acid is known to break seed dormancy and the giberellin hormone itself is known as a plant growth regulator (Evans). Gibberellic acid, among other hormonal applications was the key to this experiment. Many dwarf and bushy plants are GA deficient. Some usages of GA are that is has been used to create seedless fruits or delay fruit maturity (UT Arlington). The concentration of gibberelic acid treated onto a plant is something that can be manipulated several ways. However more chemically based, there are also compounds inside of a plant that can alter the level of a hormone in a plant, including the hormone gibberellins. Gibberellins are responsible for cell division and elongation, flowering, seed germination and ceasing seed dormancy (UT Arlington). Various concentrations of these compounds have been observed in plants and the levels of gibberellin acid levels have changed (Battal). Structures such as leaves, root, stem and flowering components change secondary to excessive amounts, or lacking amounts of the compounds. These compounds include macroelements like nitrogen, phosphorus,

potassium, calcium, magnesium, sulfur and iron are some compounds that can affect the hormones (Battal). As mentioned earlier, these elements are essential to plant production. We hypothesized that all the experimental Brassica rapa seeds, which obtained GA, will favor growth instead of the control groups which did not receive the GA. Materials & Methods The procedure for this experimentation took a total of 4 weeks to complete. Weekly, the plants were watered with tap water at the soil base and height measurements were recorded in centimeters. In week 1, students were asked to obtain 1 Styrofoam quad which contained 4 cells that would hold each plant that was going to be observed. Also, seeds Brassica rapa plants were obtained. Four wicks, for moisture absorbance and potting soil was also administered to each cell. The quad cells were filled with the soil with one wick placed into each cell, into base of the cell at about 1 cm. Each cell was filled about half way up the sides of the quad. Following that, three general fertilizer pellets were placed in the soil as well. Next, 3 wild-type Brassica rapa seeds were placed in two cells of the quad. Then, 3 dwarf type Brassica rapa seeds were placed in the other two cells. One of the dwarf plant cells and one of the wild type cells was treated with GA, while the other dwarf and wild type plant cells were given the treatment of only water. We kept in mind, that the plants were all watered with H2O at the soil base. The only difference was the treatment of tap water at the leaves or GA addition to the leaves, once a week. Specifically, in the second week, plants were thinned out to one plant per cell and measurements were recorded. One drop of GA was added to the experimental plants that were given that specific treatment. One drop of water was applied to the control groups, which did not receive GA. Following that, in the third week, the same procedure was initiated. Each leaf was applied its treatment and also all recordings were made. Week four, all plants were

observed and all markings were noted. The quantity of flowers and pods on each plant was noted now, along with final height measurements. Data was collected from multiple groups in the lab, which had repeated this experimentation in the class. The four cells height averages, standard deviation & standard errors were graphed. Results Data obtained, from all lab groups showed that the standard water group (wild type with no GA) averaged at a height of about 15 cm with a standard error of 0.2358, as shown in Figures 1 & 2 below. While the standard GA group, (wild type with GA) produced stem height at an average of 12 cm with a standard error of 3.518, shown in the figures below. The dwarf water group (dwarf plant containing no GA) grew at a height of 1 cm in height with a standard error of 2.081, as shown in the figures below. Finally, the experimental dwarf GA group (dwarf plant with GA) averaged at a height of 2 cm with a standard error of 3.029, also shown in the figures below. Besides plant height, there was also the quantity of flower/pod production noted for all four cells of the quads. The cell including standard wild type had average of 8.3 flowers and buds. Cell with wild type standard seeds produced about an average of 6.6 flowers and buds. The cell consisting of seeds of a dwarf plant with no GA produced about 6 flowers and buds. Finally, the cell including dwarf plants with the application of GA, averaged to about 8.6 flowers and buds.

Gibberillic Acid Effects on Plant Height

18 16 14

Height (cm)

12 10 8 6 4 2 0 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5 4

Standard Water Standard GA Dwarf Water

Number of Weeks
Figure (1) - This graph shows the average height every week per group (standard water, standard GA, dwarf water and dwarf GA) of the Brassica rapa seeds within a 4 week period. Figure (2) - Standard Error and Standard Deviation of flower/bud growth and height of Brassica rapa.
standard Water Standard GA Dwarf Water Dwarf GA 8.833333333 6.666666667 6 8.6666667 5.776388722 8.617811014 5.099019514 7.4206918 2.358200821 3.518206614 2.081665999 3.0294847

AVERAGES Flowers/Buds Standard Dev Standard Error

Discussion Hypothetically, we suggested that these seeds will germinate more efficiently if they were given the treatment of Gibberellic acid, possibly because of the hormonal effects it had on the plants. Structures such as flower production and plant height were monitored. We also

thought that all plants that received GA, will increase in productivity, compared to plants that only received water, no GA. Overall, the hypothesis initially created, was accepted. Results imply that GA had given rise to plant height in the experimental dwarf and in the experimental wild plant cells. Plants receiving only water source, had minimal production in height and flower production. The role of GA in plant production was a vital cause of these differentiations observed. A study was conducted at the University of New Mexico, and it has been concluded that seeds which had been applied with the GA had produced into taller seedlings, yet with fewer but longer leaves, compared to seeds that did not receive gibberellic acid at all. Also, according to Evans, side effects of applying the GA to a plant includes: increased length in shoot elongation and changes in leaf morphology. Some affects of GA, are mandatory in plants. Some plants are required to contain signaling and awareness of their surroundings as their defense mechanism. For example, Aphids are dangers to agriculture because they harm crops by taking away photo assimilation and insert many plant viruses (Smith). It has been reported that signaling is mediated by many compounds in plants. Some of these include: jasmonic acid, salicylic acid, ethylene, abscisic acid, gibberellic acid, nitric oxide and auxin (Smith). More specifically about leaf production, rather than plant signaling due to GA, light presence is particularly important in leaf growth. In leaves, GA has a part in affecting stomata movement. More specifically, GA is regulated with the presence of an AB induced inhibition which allows stomata opening in response to light (Goh). A plants surrounding environment has effects on the overall production of the plant and its structure formation. Gibberellic acid is known to promote hypocotyl and stomata growth. The GA acts antagonistically on the ABA-

induced inhibition of stomata opening (Goh). On the other hand, besides Brassica rapa seeds, GA has also been applied on woody plants in the past. Studies have been done to observe vascular systems under the treatment of gibberellic acid. The American Association for the Advancement of Science had experimented by supplying gibberellic acid through micropippets to explants of white pine branches. They conducted this in order to stimulate the changes of the cambial zone in the plant. Results showed a differentiation in sieve cells in response to the gibberellic acid (DeMaggio). All in all, the gibberellic acid stimulated differentiation in the secondary phloem in woody species. Possible errors in this experimentation would have been, accidental increase/decrease in GA concentration applied to the leaves of a plant. Also, tap water used to water the soil may have been contaminated. Plants may have been measured incorrectly throughout the four week period. Our study did not suggest the exact mechanism behind what gives rise to the hormone GA. It implied that plants which grow after the application of GA are favored. Ways this study can be improved is to repeat this exercise multiple times for accuracy. Also, other ways of application of GA to the plant may improve the study as well.

References Battal, Peyami. 2004. Economic Botany, Vol. 58, No. 2. Effects of Some Mineral Nutrients on Gibberellic Acid Levels in Maize Plants. New Botanical Garden Press. pp. 195-203.

DeMeggio, A. E. 2011. New Series, Vol. 152, No. 3720: Phloem Differentiation: Induced by Gibberellic Acid. American Association for the Advancement of Science. Pp. 370-372. Evans, Ann S. & Mitchell, Randall J. & Cabin, Roberts J. 1996. American Journal of Botany, Vol. 83. No 5. Morphological Side Effects of Using Gibberellic Acid to Induce Germination: Consequences for the Study of Seed Dormancy. Botanical Society of America. Pp. 543-549. Goh, Chang-Hyo & Lee, Dong Ju. 2009. Gibberellic acid of Arabidopsis regulates the abscisic acid-induced inhibition of the Stomatal Opening in the Response to Light. Plant

Kelly, Martin G. 2004. Characterizing Genotype specific differences in survival, growth, and reproduction for field grown, rapid cycling Brassica rapa. Environmental and Experimental Botany 55 (2006) 61-69.Science 176. Pp. 136-142.

Raven H. P. Evert F. R, Eichhorn E. S. 2005. Biology of Plants. New York: W. H. Freeman. 2004: 117-120 Smith, Micheal C. September 2006 Mini Review: The Molecular Bases of Plant Resistance and Defense to Aphid feeding: current status. Department of Entomology, Kansas State University, Manhatta KS 66506-4004, USA. UT Arlington. 2011. Lab 12 Plant Responses and Hormones. In: Biology D, editor. Biology 3427 Plant Science Laboratory. Arlington: UT Arlington. Pp.12-1.