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Hormones
Chemical signals that help both plants and animals regulate and coordinate metabolism, growth, and differentiation. Phytohormones- plant hormones
Phytohormones
Produced in tissues or glands Very active in small quantities
Pineapple Ananas comosus for example are only 6 micrograms of indoleacetic acid (IAA) a common plant hormone per kg of plant material. (analogous to a needle in 20 metric tons) Can stimulate or inhibit depends on chemical structure and how it is read by the target tissue
Auxins
Charles Darwin and Francis Darwin- The Power of Movement in Plants 1881
In response to light an influence that causes bending is transmitted from the tip to area below the tip
In plants variety of pathways to produce - tryptophan usually precursor - All tissue produces IAA but typically found in shoot apical meristems, young leaves and developing fruit and seeds. Mutants lacking either auxin or cytokinin Have yet to be found- mutations eliminating Them are lethal
Auxin synthesis- the site of auxin synthesis along the margin of a young leaf Site corresponds to the location of cells that will differentiate into a hydothode (gland like structure) GIS reporter gene detects auxin synthesis
Auxin transport- experimental demo of polar auxin transport in stems represented here by a segment of hypocotyl from a seedling
In the root, nonpolar transport of IAA takes place in the phloem of the vascular cylinder whereas the polar transport occurs in the epidermis and cortical parenchyma cells
Acropetal polar movement of auxin from Above the arrow and then around the wound
- When the apical bud is cut off a plant, the development of axillary buds in lateral branches is observed. - If the apical bud is replaced by cotton impregnated with auxin, no axillary bud development is observed. - So the auxin replaces the apical bud. - It can be deduced that this hormone is produced in the apical part of the plant.
The inferior part of the plant including roots ( or root cap) is cut off and the plant is put in a medium containing auxin or free of it. Without auxin, adventitious roots can developed. This is the principle of cuttings. However, with auxin, root development is much better.
Cytokinins
In 1941 Johannes van Overbeek found that coconut milk (liquid endosperm) contained potent growth factors Factors greatly accelerated the development of plant embryos and promoted the growth of isolated tissue and cells in vitro (test tube)
Kinetin
Resembles purine- adenine (a nitrogenous base) Probably does not occur naturally in plants Has relatively simple structure Chemist able to synthesize a number of related compounds
Zeatin- most active naturally occurring cytokinin (maize)
Cytokinins
Found in active dividing structures, seeds, fruits, leaves and root tips Found also in SVP horsetail, fern Central to tissue culture methods and extremely important in biotech. Tx of lateral buds causes growth even in the presence of auxin thus modifying apical growth.
The cytokinin/auxin ratio regulates the production of roots and shoots in tissue cultures Undifferentiated plant cell has two courses open to it
It can enlarge, divide, enlarge and divide again (undifferentiate) without undergoing cell division, it can differentiate for example it can elongate then divide to form different type of cells
IAA + Kinetin results in rapid cell division, so that large numbers of relatively small, undifferentiated cells are formed.
High IAA, callus tissue- a growth of undiff. Cells in tissue culture frequently gives rise to roots.
- At the top, the apical dominance have been annulled by cutting the apical bud. - At the centre, the terminal bud and the root cap have been cut. No futher development of axillary buds on the explant can be observed. So the roots are necessary for the development of buds. - on the other hand (at the bottom), if one identical explant is introduiced in a medium containing cytokinins, the development of axillary buds occurs. So the cytokinins replace the roots and it can be deduced that these hormones are produced in the roots. It is observed also that there is less root development in the presence of cytokinins.
Summary
Auxins: - They are produced in the apical part of the plant. - They prevent the development of the axillary buds. - They favour the rhizogenesis ...(development of roots). Cytokinins: - They are produced in the roots. - They prevent the development of roots. - They favour the development of the axillary buds.
Ethylene
Plays a role in fruit ripening Promotes abscission (shedding of leaves, flowers and fruit)
Triggers enzymes that promote fruit loosening from trees Auxin prevents abscission (prevents preharvest) High concentration does the opposite
Abscisic Acis
Levels increase during early seed development Stimulates the production of seed storage protein Prevents premature seed germination Decline in ABA leads to germination
Gibberellin
Found in immature seeds- highest concentration Stimulates cell division and cell elongation Application to dwarf mutants cause them to grow tall Plays a role in breaking seed dormancy and germination