Introduction:
Gibberellins are a group of plant hormones that play a crucial role in various physiological processes in plants, including seed germination, stem elongation, flowering, and fruit development. They were first isolated from a fungus called Gibberella fujikuroi.
Identification of Gibberellins:
Gibberellins were identified and isolated through scientific research and experimentation. The process involved several researchers, and the correct answer is option C, Yabuta-Kurosawa.
Explanation:
The following points explain in detail how gibberellins were first isolated:
- Gibberella fujikuroi: The fungus Gibberella fujikuroi (previously known as Gibberella zeae) was initially discovered to cause a disease called "bakanae" in rice plants.
- Plant Growth Abnormalities: Researchers observed that infected rice plants exhibited abnormal growth, including elongated stems, reduced fertility, and delayed maturation.
- Yabuta-Kurosawa: In the early 20th century, Japanese scientists Teijiro Yabuta and Tsunetaro Kurosawa conducted extensive research on the fungus.
- Isolation of Gibberellins: Yabuta and Kurosawa successfully isolated an active substance from the fungus responsible for the abnormal plant growth.
- Plant Growth-Promoting Substance: Further experiments and analysis revealed that this active substance was a plant growth-promoting substance, which was later named "gibberellin."
- Identification: Yabuta and Kurosawa identified and isolated gibberellins from Gibberella fujikuroi, establishing its role as a plant hormone.
Therefore, the correct answer is option C, Yabuta-Kurosawa, as they were the scientists who first isolated gibberellins from the fungus Gibberella fujikuroi.