Genetic control of gibberellin metabolism and signalling in crop improvement

Many developmental processes regulated by gibberellin (GA) impact on crop yield and quality, and genetic variants affected in GA biosynthesis or signalling have been widely exploited in agriculture. Notably, these include alleles of Rht‐1 and Sd‐1 that confer a semi‐dwarf habit to wheat and rice, respectively, underpinning the Green Revolution that increased yields in the latter half of the twentieth century. The chapter discusses the utility of various alleles at these and other GA loci in controlling stature, mainly in cereal crops. The scope for the development of additional variants in the GA pathway through mutagenesis or transgenic approaches is also reviewed.