Plant Growth Regulators in Horticulture Crops

Plant Growth Regulators (PGR) known as bio-stimulants or bio-inhibitors modify physiological processes in plant.

Introduction

These organic compounds act inside plant cells to stimulate or inhibit specific enzyme or enzyme systems to regulate plant metabolism.

These growth regulators are naturally produced in plants to control the growth and other physiological functions. They act even in very minute quantities.

Plant Growth Regulators in Horticulture Crops

Name of PGR (Hormones) Compound / Trade Name

Auxins IAA, IBA, NAA

Gibberellins GA1, GA2, GA3,..…GA60

Cytokinins Kinetin, Zeatin

Ethylene Ethylene

Abscissic Acid (ABA) Phaseic Acid, Dormins

Inhibitor Cycocel, MH-40

Common growth regulators

Plant Growth Regulators in Horticulture Crops

• Cell Enlargement: It stimulates cell enlargement and stem growth.

• Cell Division: It stimulates cell division in cambium. Used in tissue culture plant production in combination with Cytokinin.

• Vascular Tissue Differentiation: It stimulates differentiation of phloem and xylem.

• Root Initiation: It stimulates root initiation on stem cuttings. Used in plant propagation by tissue culture for development of roots.

• Apical Dominance: It suppresses the apical shoot growth and promotes the growth of lateral buds.

Role of Auxins

Plant Growth Regulators in Horticulture Crops

• Stem growth: Gibberelic Acid (GA) causes hyper elongation of stems by stimulating both cell division and cell elongation. This results in taller plants.

• Bolting in long day plants: GA cause stem elongation in response to long days.

• Induction of seed germination: GA activates germination of seeds which otherwise require cold (stratification) or light to induce germination.

• Enzyme production during germination: GA stimulates the production of enzymes like amylase in germinating cereal grains.

Role of Gibberellins

Plant Growth Regulators in Horticulture Crops

• Stomata Closure: Water shortage brings about increase in ABA level, leading to stomata closure as a response to water stress.

• Growth Inhibiters: ABA inhibits shoot growth but has less effect on root growth.

• GA Counteracts: ABA counteracts the effect of gibberellins on a-amylase synthesis in germinating cereal grains.

• Induced Dormancy: ABA affects induction or maintenance of dormancy in seeds.

Role of Abscissic Acid (ABA):

Plant Growth Regulators in Horticulture Crops

• Fruit Ripening: Ethylene in the form of gas helps ripens fruits under natural conditions.

• Induction Of Femaleness: Promotes production of female flowers in cucurbits (cucumber, squash, melon) to increase the yield.

• Flower Opening: Promotes flower initiation and controlled ripening in pineapples.

• Leaf and Fruit Abscission: Accelerates fruit abscission for mechanical harvesting in fruit crops such as grapes, cherries, and citrus.

Role of Ethylene