AQA · GCSE · Biology

    Course version: 8461 · Version from Sept 2018

    (HT only) Gibberellins are important in initiating seed germination.

    Full specification wording

    Control and coordination: (HT only) Gibberellins are important in initiating seed germination.

    Gibberellins are plant hormones that are important in initiating seed germination, switching a dormant seed into active growth.

    Checked against the AQA 8461 specification (opens in a new tab) on .

    • Point 3 of 7

    Study notes

    From the checked teaching notes for this specification point.

    The idea

    Gibberellins are plant hormones that are important in initiating seed germination, switching a dormant seed into active growth. When conditions are right, gibberellins stimulate the breakdown of food stores, such as starch, within the seed. This process produces soluble sugars that are respired to release energy, which is then used to build new cells and allow the embryo to grow. The radicle then emerges and the shoot grows towards light. Germination therefore depends on hormonal triggering as well as water, oxygen and a suitable temperature.

    What earns the marks

    • State that gibberellins are plant hormones that initiate seed germination.
    • Explain that gibberellins trigger the breakdown of food stores, such as starch, within the seed.
    • Describe how the breakdown of stores produces soluble sugars that can be used by the embryo.
    • Link the use of these soluble sugars to respiration, which releases energy for growth.
    • Recognise that gibberellins act alongside environmental factors like water, oxygen and a suitable temperature to start germination.

    Common mistakes and how to put them right

    • Saying gibberellins provide energy directly.

      Put it right: They trigger the breakdown of food stores into sugars, which are then respired to release energy.

    • Confusing gibberellins with auxins.

      Put it right: Auxins mainly control cell elongation and tropisms, whereas gibberellins initiate germination.

    • Stating that seeds only need water and warmth to germinate.

      Put it right: They also require the hormone gibberellin to initiate the process.

    Exam tips

    • Use the sequence: hormone initiates germination → breakdown of food stores → respiration → growth to structure your answers.
    • Clearly state that gibberellins initiate seed germination rather than just saying they help plants grow.

    Try the lesson

    The start of the Control and coordination: (HT only) Gibberellins are important in initiating seed germination. lesson, made from checked teaching notes for this specification point.

    Have a go first

    A student soaks some seeds in a solution containing gibberellins. Which process does this hormone initiate in the seeds?

    Listen

    Gibberellins are plant hormones that are important in initiating seed germination, switching a dormant seed into active growth. When conditions are right, gibberellins stimulate the breakdown of food stores, such as starch, within the seed. This process produces soluble sugars that are respired to release energy, which is then used to build new cells and allow the embryo to grow. The radicle then emerges and the shoot grows towards light. Germination therefore depends on hormonal triggering as well as water, oxygen and a suitable temperature. A strong answer earns marks for these points. State that gibberellins are plant hormones that initiate seed germination. Explain that gibberellins trigger the breakdown of food stores, such as starch, within the seed. Describe how the breakdown of stores produces soluble sugars that can be used by the embryo. Link the use of these soluble sugars to respiration, which releases energy for growth. A common slip: Saying gibberellins provide energy directly. Instead, they trigger the breakdown of food stores into sugars, which are then respired to release energy. Exam tip: Use the sequence: hormone initiates germination → breakdown of food stores → respiration → growth to structure your answers.

    See it

    A flowchart running from top to bottom. The first box says gibberellins are plant hormones, and an arrow leads to a box saying they initiate seed germination. From there an arrow leads to a box saying they trigger breakdown of food stores such as starch, then to a box saying produce soluble sugars, then to a box saying sugars used in respiration, then to a box saying energy released, and finally to a box saying embryo grows. A separate box on the side says water, oxygen and suitable temperature, with an arrow pointing into the seed germination box.
    It shows how gibberellins initiate seed germination by triggering the breakdown of food stores into soluble sugars, which are respired to release energy for embryo growth, alongside water, oxygen and a suitable temperature.

    Label the diagram

    Some boxes have lost their names. Pick the right name for each number.

    The diagram again, with 3 boxes numbered instead of named. A flowchart running from top to bottom. The first box says gibberellins are plant hormones, and an arrow leads to a box saying they initiate seed germination. From there an arrow leads to a box saying they trigger breakdown of food stores such as starch, then to a box saying produce soluble sugars, then to a box saying sugars used in respiration, then to a box saying energy released, and finally to a box saying embryo grows. A separate box on the side says water, oxygen and suitable temperature, with an arrow pointing into the seed germination box.

    • 1Box 1

    • 2Box 2

    • 3Box 3

    0 of 3 labelled

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