Tag: abscisic acid

Abscisic acid (ABA) was discovered for its role in regulating abscission and dormancy. But like other PGRs, it also has other wide ranging effects on plant growth and development. It acts as a general plant growth inhibitor and an inhibitor of plant metabolism. ABA inhibits seed germination. ABA stimulates the closure of stomata in the epidermis and increases the tolerance of plants to various kinds of stresses. Therefore, it is also called as the stress hormone. ABA plays an important role in seed development, maturation and dormancy. By inducing dormancy, ABA helps seeds to withstand desiccation and other factors unfavourable for growth. In most situations, ABA acts as an antagonist to gibberellins.

Auxin is the plant growth hormone that promotes lengthening and coordinates with other growth hormones to regulate growth; it also causes apical dominance. Cytokinin is the plant growth hormone that promotes cell division in shoot apical meristem and differentiation in root apical meristem. It works antagonistically to auxin to balance the growth with development in the shoot and root apex. Gibberellins are responsible for stem elongation, breaking seed dormancy, mobilization of endosperm reserves as well as regulate sex determination, flower initiation and fruit set. Abscisic acid is a plant growth hormone involved in seed dormancy by suppressing seed germination and growth as well as in responses of plants to stress. This makes option D correct. 

Diffusion of CO$ _2$ into the leaf is decreased due to the closure of stomata and reduces the transpiration, which is done by antitranspirants.

Abscisic acid (ABA) induces dormancy. Robinson and Warming (1964), isolated a substance responsible for dormancy in Acer pseudoplatanus, and named it as dormin. This hormone was similar to abscission It is a naturally occurring hormone that is present in all vascular plants and some mosses but is not present in bacteria, algae fungi and liverworts. This hormone is responsible for dormancy.

By the end of summer, the leaves may be damaged by insects, disease or general wear and tear and ready for renewal. They are equipped to self-destruct. At the point where the leaf stem meets twig or branch is an array of cells called the abscission layer. As autumn days shorten, this layer begins to choke off the veins that move water into the leaf and food into the tree. Once the leaf is completely choked off, the layer becomes dry and flakey and, through decomposition, detaches the leaf from the tree.

IAA, NAA - are several forms of auxin hormone which promotes plant growth. At the same time, GA is gibberellic acid which initiates shoot elongation. ABA is abscissic acid which is an inhibiting hormone which causes dormancy and also inhibits the longitudinal growth of plant.

ABA is an inhibiting hormone which helps in the closure of stomata. It thus helps in control of transpiration. Whereas cytokinin promotes the opening of stomatal pore. It also initiates mitotic cell divisions.

Auxin plant hormone induces apical dominance. Apical dominance is the growth of the shoot apex of plant. It increases the height of the plant.
Cytokinins were first discovered in 1955 as promoters of cell division in the DNA of Herring sperm. Since, that discovery many different compound with cytokinin activity have been discovered, both natural and synthetic (diphenylurea).
Gibberellin induces the synthesis of $\alpha$-amylase in the aleurone layers. GAs are plant hormones that regulate growth and influence various developmental processes, including stem elongation, germination, dormancy, flowering, sex expression, enzyme induction and leaf and fruit senescence.
Epinasty is the downward bending of a leaf or other plant part, resulting from greater growth of the upper side than of the lower side. Ethylene is the phytohormone which promotes epinastic movement in plants. It also promotes early ripening of fruits.