Table of Contents
An overview
Like humans and animals, plants also have chemical substances, which function by controlling growth and development activities in plant cells. Auxins and gibberellins are a group of naturally occurring and artificially synthesised plant hormones, also called plant growth regulators
What are plant growth regulators?
Plant growth regulators can be defined as chemical substances that control all the aspects of growth and development within plants. They are also referred to as plant growth hormones or phytohormones. Auxin, cytokinin, gibberellins, and abscisic acid are some examples of plant growth regulators.
Auxin
Auxins are a group of naturally occurring and artificially synthesised plant hormones. They play an important role in the regulation of plant growth. They are mainly produced in the apical meristem of shoots, young leaves and seeds.
Also Read: Parts of the plant
Gibberellins
Gibberellins are the group of naturally occurring plant growth hormones, which play an essential role in the regulation of growth and influence various developmental processes, which include elongation of the stem, seed germination, flowering, enzyme induction, etc. There are more than 70 gibberellins isolated.
Explore more: Gibberellins in Plants
Let’s learn about the differences between auxin and gibberellin
Auxin and Gibberellin – Differences
| It is a single or double unsaturated structure with a side chain. | It is a saturated tetracyclic gibbane structure without a side chain. |
| Found in higher plants. | Found both in higher plants and fungi. |
| Leads to apical dominance. | Does not cause apical dominance. |
| Auxin inhibits root growth at normal concentration. | There are no such effects |
| Promotes the growth of shoot segments. | Promotes the growth of the intact shoot. |
| Has little effect on leaf growth. | Enhances leaf growth. |
| Genetically dwarf shoots, which do not elongate. | Genetically dwarf shoots, which often elongate |
| It does not cause bolting | It causes bolting in rosette plants |
| It plays an essential role in callus growth. | It has no role in callus growth |
| Auxin does not help in breaking seed and bud dormancy. | Gibberellin plays a major role in seed germination, breaking seed and bud dormancy. |
| It promotes root formation. | It does not promote rooting. |
| Auxin has a feminising effect on some plants. | Gibberellin has a masculinizing effect on some plants. |
| Shows basipetal transport. | Both basipetal and acropetal transport. |
| Play a vital role in axial elongation, cell differentiation, cell division, cellular expansion, isodiametric expansion and lateral expansion in plants. | Play a vital role in seed germination, stem elongation, flowering, dormancy, sex expression, enzyme induction, and leaf and fruit senescence. |
Also Refer: Difference Between C3 And C4 Plants
This concludes some of the basic differences between Auxin and Gibberellin. Stay tuned with BYJU’S Biology for more differences and other Biology related topics.
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