Question

Why is abscisic acid called the stress hormone?

Answer 1

Abscisic acid:

1. It is a plant hormone that regulates plant growth, development, and plant responses to stress.
2. It plays a crucial role in generating plant responses to environmental stress such as drought, salinity, cold, and heat.
3. It is synthesized in all plant tissues and it is activated in response to stress.
4. Abscisic acid is referred to as the stress hormone because it stimulates the stomatal openings to close, in order to increase the plant's tolerance to several stress environments.
5. This hormone promotes seed dormancy and ensures that the seed germinates only under favorable conditions.