Start Date
23-4-2026 12:00 AM
Description
Millets are grasses with small seeds grown as a cereal crop, a major food crop, especially in equatorial regions and in developing countries. Millet plants can develop a dwarfism mutation that leads to less growth and lower yields than normal millet plants. This mutation can be related to a deficiency or insensitivity to a plant growth hormone called gibberellin. We used two experimental groups of millet plants, a control group and a group that received gibberellin treatments. By treating the plants with gibberellin, we observed increased growth in mutant and wild-type millet plants. We measured the length of each plant from the soil to the tip of the longest leaf, as well as the emergence of the first panicle, the seed producing part of the plant, and the total number of panicles and tillers on each plant. Statistical analysis showed a difference in growth between gibberellin-treated millets and millets in the control group. Particularly, the gibberellin group had faster emergence of panicles. Gibberellin treatments could be used to increase millet yields, potentially benefiting countries where millet is a major agricultural product.
Research Highlights
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The Problem: Researchers investigated whether the application of the plant hormone Gibberellic Acid (GA3) could mitigate dwarfism in mutant millet (Setaria viridis) to achieve normal growth and higher seed yields.
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The Method: The experimental design utilized one wild-type and eight mutant strains of millet divided into a control group and a GA3 treatment group; the GA3 group received three applications of Gibberellic Acid over a four-week monitoring period at Lindenwood University, St. Charles, Missouri.
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Quantitative Finding: A clear statistical difference was observed between groups, with GA3-treated plants growing so tall that a meter stick was required for measurement.
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Qualitative Finding: GA3-treated plants exhibited increased height, earlier panicle development, and elongated bristles on the panicles; treated plants appeared structurally weaker with thin, flimsy stems and a noticeable reduction in tillering compared to the control group.
Recommended Citation
Swiderski, Claire; Grant, Eric; Karlsson, Kimberly; Telfer, Neil; and Becker, Jonathan, "Effects of Gibberellic Acid on Mutant Millet" (2026). 2026 Student Academic Showcase. 7.
https://digitalcommons.lindenwood.edu/src_2026/Posters/1/7
Included in
Effects of Gibberellic Acid on Mutant Millet
Millets are grasses with small seeds grown as a cereal crop, a major food crop, especially in equatorial regions and in developing countries. Millet plants can develop a dwarfism mutation that leads to less growth and lower yields than normal millet plants. This mutation can be related to a deficiency or insensitivity to a plant growth hormone called gibberellin. We used two experimental groups of millet plants, a control group and a group that received gibberellin treatments. By treating the plants with gibberellin, we observed increased growth in mutant and wild-type millet plants. We measured the length of each plant from the soil to the tip of the longest leaf, as well as the emergence of the first panicle, the seed producing part of the plant, and the total number of panicles and tillers on each plant. Statistical analysis showed a difference in growth between gibberellin-treated millets and millets in the control group. Particularly, the gibberellin group had faster emergence of panicles. Gibberellin treatments could be used to increase millet yields, potentially benefiting countries where millet is a major agricultural product.