Question

Gibberellin was first isolated from culture of ______.

Options

• an alga

• a fungus

• a bacteria

• an actinomycetes

Answer 1

Gibberellin was first isolated from culture of a fungus.

Explanation:

Gibberellin was first discovered and isolated from the laboratory culture filtrate of the ascomycete fungus Gibberella fujikuroi. Japanese scientists investigating the bakanae (foolish seedling) disease of rice crops realised that this specific fungal infection secreted a potent chemical that caused the rice stalks to grow abnormally tall and spindly. This breakthrough led to the successful purification of the active compound, which was named gibberellin after the parent fungus.