Year 11 - Science
The effects of gibberellins and ethene on plant growth and development
Plant growth and development
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This pupil-friendly study guide includes a unit summary, clear notes, common mistakes, and quick questions with answers.
Unit Summary
This unit covers the role of plant hormones like auxins, gibberellins, and ethene in growth and development, including phototropism and gravitropism. It explores their commercial uses and focuses on experiments, data analysis, and presenting scientific explanations.
Lesson Summary
You will learn to describe effects of gibberellins and ethene on plant growth and development.
Key Notes
- Gibberellins are plant hormones that cause plants to produce flowers and cause seeds to germinate.
- Plant breeders use gibberellins to force plants to produce flowers so they can be pollinated and increase size of fruit.
- Ethene is a plant hormone that causes ripening of fruit.
- Commercial fruit growers use ethene to speed up fruit ripening so that fruit is ready for sale.
Vocabulary To Learn
- 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 Mistakes To Avoid
- Fruit can only ripen whilst it is on the plant.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Explain the scientific idea in this lesson using two key points.
Gibberellins are plant hormones that cause plants to produce flowers and cause seeds to germinate. Plant breeders use gibberellins to force plants to produce flowers so they can be pollinated and increase size of fruit.
2. Define this scientific word and use it in context. 'gibberellins'
A plant hormone involved in many processes in growth and development, including germination. Include the word in a full scientific explanation, not as a single label.
3. Correct this common scientific misunderstanding.
Mistake: Fruit can only ripen whilst it is on the plant. Correction: Discussion of fruits that are picked unripe, e.g. nectarines, tomatoes, avocados, bananas, and that they are ripened in transit.
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