Which of the following substances can be used to break the dormancy of buds?

Correct option is C

The correct answer is (C) Gibberellic acid

Explanation:
• Bud dormancy is a physiological state where growth is temporarily suspended even under favorable conditions.
• Gibberellic Acid (GA) is a plant growth hormone that promotes cell elongation and is widely used to overcome seed and bud dormancy.
• GA stimulates the synthesis of enzymes (like amylase) that mobilize stored food, providing the energy required for the bud to sprout.

Information Booster:
• Other methods to break dormancy include chilling treatment (vernalization), mechanical scarification, or treatment with chemicals like thiourea and potassium nitrate.
• Light-sensitive seeds (photoblastic seeds) often require Gibberellin treatment to germinate in the dark.

Additional Knowledge:
• Phenolic acid (Option A) and Para-ascorbic acid (Option B): These are often associated with growth inhibition or antioxidant roles but are not primary agents for breaking dormancy.
• Abscisic acid (Option D): Known as the 'stress hormone,' ABA actually induces and maintains dormancy in seeds and buds; it is the antagonist to Gibberellic acid.