Final answer:
Pyrogallic acid is used during seed germination studies to absorb oxygen and create a low-oxygen environment. This aids in examining the hormonal interactions, specifically between gibberellins and abscisic acid, which regulate seed dormancy and germination.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the process of seed germination, pyrogallic acid is used to absorb oxygen in the environment around the seed. Absorbing oxygen is crucial because the presence of oxygen can influence the levels of certain plant hormones. For instance, gibberellins (GAs) break dormancy in seeds by promoting growth, and their activity is opposed by abscisic acid (ABA), which maintains and enforces dormancy. To study germination effectively, it may be necessary to limit oxygen and monitor the interplay between GAs and ABA to understand the conditions that lead to successful germination. Because pyrogallic acid is an excellent oxygen scavenger, its inclusion in the germination process helps create a low-oxygen environment, allowing for the precise study of hormone interactions and gene expressions that control seed germination.