Auxin

• First plant hormone discovered by Charles & Francis Darwin (1881) while studying phototropism (bending of stems to light)

• Produced in apical part of shoot (and root) (F. Went, 1926)

• Promotes

  • growth and elongation by increased cell division
  • initiation of root growth
  • vascular activity, fruit development
  • growth of pollen tube

• Inhibits leave abscission

• Pollination can induce auxin production ? fruit development

• Synthetic auxins: prevent fruit drop; promote flowering & fruiting (pineapple);root formation in cuttings;weed-killers in lawn formulas

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