5.

2 PLANT HORMONES
 PLANT GROWTH
• Plant growth involves the division,
enlargement and differentiation of cells.
• Plants control growth by transmitting
chemical signals from one part of the body
of the plant to another.
• These chemicals are PLANT GROWTH
REGULATORS [PGRs] or PLANT
GROWTH SUBSTANCES.
 PLANT GROWTH
REGULATORS
• Produced in very small amounts
• Difficult to isolate & identify
• Released by many cells & tissues [not
specific glands]
• Affect cells close to their site of synthesis
• Interact in complex ways
• Each is involved in several aspects of
growth.
 PLANT GROWTH
REGULATORS
• There are 5 classes. [1,2,3 are mainly
promotors, 4,5 mainly inhibitors]
1. AUXINS
2. GIBBERELLINS
3. CYTOKININS
4. ABSCISSINS
5. ETHENE
 AUXINS
• Auxins cause receptive cells to actively pump H+
ions out of the cell into the primary cell wall that
surrounds them.
• This acidification weakens bonds between
cellulose microfibrils which slip against each
other. (poss increased activity of enzymes that
break the crosslinks between the microfibrils)
• Water enters, turgidity increases, causing
stretching and elongation.
• In apicies, expansion is in a longitudinal direction.
• (Auxins also thought to increase rate of
TRANSCRIPTION – leading to increase in
protein synthesis and growth)
Effects of Auxin on cell wall
 AUXINS
• Auxins also cause a change in the rate of
Transcription of mRNA. This increases
growth by increasing protein synthesis.
• Auxins are made in regions of active cell
division [apical meristems] eg tip of shoot,
tip of root, leaf bud, flower bud.
 AUXINS
• Transport of auxins away from the APEX is
POLAR [one direction], passing from cell
to cell in an active process. However,
transport from the leaves is non-polar,
passing through the phloem in a mainly
passive process.
• Eventually the Auxins are inactivated by
enzymes.
 EFFECTS OF AUXINS
• Stimulates shoot growth, but inhibits root
growth [Phototropism & Geotropism]
• Inhibits development of side branches
[Apical Dominance]
• Stimulates growth of adventitious roots
[Rooting Powders]
• Stimulates formation of fruit
[Parthenocarpy]
Auxin & Phototropism
Apical dominance
Apical dominance
Rooting Powders
Rooting Powders
Rooting Powders
 GIBBERELLINS
• These were discovered in Japan in 1926
during an investigation on a fungus disease
of rice. The plants grew very tall & spindly.
The fungus was called Gibberella, so the
PGR extract was called Gibberellin. There
are 80 different chemicals which show
similar activity.
 GIBBERELLINS
• Many plants produce several different types
which may have different activities.
• Gibberellins are made in young leaves,
buds, seeds and root tips. They pass up or
down a plant in phloem & xylem.
EFFECTS OF GIBBERELLINS
• They increase internode length on stems of
genetic dwarf plants.
• They cause premature flowering in
biennials [eg cabbage]
• They are used to promote fruit development
and growth.
• They help break seed dormancy. [see OHP]
 CYTOKININS
• These are linked to cell division
[Cytokinesis]. They are found mainly in
young meristems. They are transported
through xylem in the transpiration stream.
Their activity is linked to the cell cycle.
They are similar in structure to ADENINE
in DNA & RNA. They are thought to be
involved in tRNA synthesis.
 EFFECTS OF CYTOKININS
• Promote cell division & differentiation, but
only in the presence of Auxins
[SYNERGISM]
• Delay SENESCENCE [ageing] in leaves.
Leaf senescence
 ABSCISSINS
• ABSCISSINS [eg Abscisic acid] inhibits or
alters growth of plants, often in conditions
of environmental stress eg drought. They
inhibit growth promoted by auxins, possibly
by blocking H+ secretion so interfering
with the loosening of the cell wall.
 EFFECTS OF ABSCISSINS
• Causes closure of stomata in leaves
suffering from severe drought by expelling
K+ from guard cells.
• Causes seed dormancy possibly by
inhibiting the synthesis of hydrolytic
enzymes.
• NB Abscissins are not responsible for
Abscission!!
 ETHENE [ETHYLENE]
• Ethene is a gas and is distributed by
diffusion not direct transport. Its
concentration increases during the ripening
process and is linked to a rise in respiration
rate.
 EFFECTS OF ETHENE
• Used to ripen fruits picked & transported
unripe [eg bananas]. They are stored in
controlled atmosphere [no O2] until needed.
• Promotes abscission for leaf or fruit drop.
• Breaks dormancy in seeds & buds.
Banana Ripening
Banana Ripening