(Photograph = Gibberellic Acid)

Introduction

Gibberellic acid (GA) is a plant hormone involved in growth, flowering, fruit development, dormancy, and seed germination.

The Details

GA was tested in five species in the Opuntioideae: Cylindropuntia imbricata, C. leptocaulis, Opuntia rastrera, O. microdasys, and O. macrocentra.

GA was not especially effective, and high levels of GA actually restricted germination.

The common belief that gibberellic acid is a promoter of germination may not hold for the Opuntioideae. Instead, treatments that trigger germination may be more related to environmental cues than to biological attributes.

Additional Reading: Gibberellic Acid and Cactus Seed Germination