Plant growth regulators are the chemical molecules secreted by plants affecting the physiological attributes of a plant. There are five main plant growth regulators.
They are:
- Auxins
- Gibberellic acid
- Cytokinins
- Ethylene
- Abscisic acid
Discovery:
During mid-1960s, inhibitor – B, abscission II and dormant were discovered by three independent researches. These were later on found to be chemically similar and were thereafter called Abscisic acid (ABA).
Physiological Functions:
- It acts as an inhibitor to plant metabolism.
- It stimulates stomatal closure during water stress.
- It induces seed dormancy.
- It induces abscission of leaves, fruits and flowers.
Horticultural application:
It induces seed dormancy in stored seeds.
