Gibberellins were first discovered in Japan when rice plants were suffering from bakane (the foolish seedling disease) caused by a fungus $Gibberella$ $fujikuroi$.
$(a)$ Give two functions of this phytohormone.
$(b)$ Which property of Gibberellin caused foolish seedling disease in rice?

(N/A) The hormone,gibberellin:
$(i)$ Produces the phenomenon of bolting,i.e.,the growth of the internodal region of the stem in rosette plants.
$(ii)$ Induces seed germination and breaks bud and seed dormancy.
$(b)$ The rice seedling/plant shows excessive growth in its internodal region when infected with the fungus $Gibberella$ $fujikuroi$.
$(i)$ This fungus produces an excessive amount of the plant hormone $GA$ (Gibberellic Acid),which causes the plants to grow taller than normal,leading to the 'foolish seedling' appearance and often resulting in the death of the plant.