Question

Write a note on agricultural/horticultural applications of auxins.

Answer 1

There are various different uses of the auxins in the field of agriculture and horticulture.

• Auxins promote elongation of stem and coleoptile. It promotes the growth by the elongation of cells in the apical meristem.
  
• Growth in the lateral bud is inhibited when the apical bud of a tall plant remains intact. However, the lateral bud grows rapidly on the removal of apical bud.
  
• Suppression of growth in the lateral bud by apical bud due to auxin produced by apical bud is termed as apical dominance.
  

• Auxin is responsible for initiation and promotion of cell division in the cambium, which is responsible for the secondary growth. This property of induction of cell divisions has been exploited for tissue culture techniques.
  
• Auxin promotes the growth of root only at extremely low concentrations.