Plant Growth Regulators in Horticulture Crops

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

Common growth regulators
Name of PGR (Hormones) Compound / Trade Name

Auxins Gibberellins Cytokinins Ethylene Abscissic Acid (ABA) Inhibitor

IAA, IBA, NAA GA1, GA2, GA3,..GA60 Kinetin, Zeatin Ethylene Phaseic Acid, Dormins Cycocel, MH-40

Plant Growth Regulators in Horticulture Crops

Role of Auxins
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.

Plant Growth Regulators in Horticulture Crops

Role of Gibberellins
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.

Plant Growth Regulators in Horticulture Crops

Role of Abscissic Acid (ABA):
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 aamylase synthesis in germinating cereal grains.

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

Plant Growth Regulators in Horticulture Crops

Role of Ethylene

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.