Question

Give important functions of auxins.

Answer 1

Auxins:

1. It is a plant hormone that has been considered as a growth promoter.
2. It helps in the elongations of the shoot and root tip.
3. Naturally produced auxin is – Indole -3- Acetic Acid (1AA).
4. Synthetic auxins are- Indole -3- butyric acid. (1BA), Dichlorophenoxy Acetic acid (2,4- D) and Naphthalene acetic acid (NAA).

Important functions of Auxins are:

1. It helps in cell elongation of shoots.
2. It helps in cell division, cell differentiation, and regeneration of vascular tissue
3. It helps in inducing parthenocarpy in which the ovary enlarges and develops into seedless fruit.
4. It suppresses the growth of lateral bud (apical dominance).
5. It prevents the abscission of leaves and fruits.
6. It facilitates phototropism and geotropism.
7. It helps in stem cell maintenance.
8. It helps in root initiation.
9. It is produced by seeds and helps in the stimulation of fruit development (along with gibberellins) and delays senescence.
10. Naphthalene acetic acid is used for the formation of roots in stem cuttings.
11. It is also used as an herbicide to kill weeds. For example, Dichlorophenoxy Acetic acid kills weeds on land as well as in water.