Question

Who discovered Gibberellin?

Answer 1

Plant hormones are also known as Plant Growth Regulators (PGRs). They are chemical substances which are capable of regulating the growth process in plants. The effects of these are increasing the height of the plants, attaining maturity etc.

Complete answer:
Gibberellin or Gibberellic Acid (GA) is a Plant Growth Regulator. It is predominantly found in plants and fungi. The chemical was discovered by E. Kurosowa in Japan in 1926. It was produced as a metabolic by-product of the fungus Gibberella fujikuroi which is a plant parasite that causes Bakane or foolish seedling disease in rice plants which lead to abnormal adult height in the plants. There are over 100 naturally occurring Gibberellins present in various plants and fungi.
Gibberellins have a variety of physiological functions in plants. They improve the growth rates of stem and root. It also accelerates the process of seed germination and to break dormancy. It is also used in the malting industry by spraying over barley.

Note:
The other Plant Growth Regulators are Auxins, Cytokinins, Ethylene, and Abscisic Acid all of which have their own importance and functions. Auxins are growth promoting PGRs. It can also be used as herbicides. Cytokinins are also growth promoting hormones that induce cell division. Abscisic acids are inhibitory PGRs that induce dormancy and inhibit the growth of shoots. Ethylene is also an inhibitory hormone that causes ripening of fruits, it induces abscission of leaves as well as fruits and also causes inhibition of shoot elongation. It also causes inhibition of the development of lateral buds.