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Nature 437, 627-628 (29 September 2005) | doi:10.1038/437627a; Published online 28 September 2005

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Plant biology: A receptor for gibberellin

Dario Bonetta1 & Peter McCourt2

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The identification of a receptor for gibberellin, a plant signalling molecule, opens up new prospects for understanding plant growth and development. Not least, crop-selection programmes should benefit.

Plants have an astounding ability to respond to external conditions — consider the practice of bonsai, in which a potentially mighty tree can be duped into becoming a potted plant. This developmental plasticity has been manipulated throughout agricultural history, most notably during the 'green revolution' of the past century1 in which plant breeders often doubled grain production by selecting for semi-dwarf varieties of wheat and rice.

  1. Dario Bonetta is in the Faculty of Science, University of Ontario Institute of Technology, Oshawa, Ontario L1H 7K4, Canada.
    Email: dario.bonetta@uoit.ca
  2. Peter McCourt is in the Department of Botany, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3B2, Canada.
    Email: mccourt@botany.utoronto.ca

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