Question

why ethylene is considered as both promoter and inhibitor of growth in plants?

Answer 1

Dear Student,

Ethylene is considered as both plant growth inhibitor as well as plant growth promoter. The hormone is synthesised by the ripening fruits and ageing tissues of the plant in varying concentrations.The functions involves abscission and senescence of leaves and flowers. It also breaks the dormancy of seeds and buds, thereby acting as growth promotes. The most widely used plant growth regulator in agriculture is ethylene. It is added to fruits in order to hasten their ripening process. It also acts as a plant growth inhibitors as it retards or cessates the mitotic division in root meristem, shoot meristem and in case of axillary buds.

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