Plants, like all living things, need ways to grow, develop, and respond to their environment. To do this, they rely on special chemicals called plant hormones or plant growth regulators.
These hormones act as signals, telling different parts of the plant when to grow, how to react to light, and even when to produce flowers or fruits. Different plant hormones have unique roles, helping the plant adapt and thrive in various conditions. Here are a couple of examples of how plant hormones help with specific functions.
What Are Plant Hormones ?
Plant hormones are natural chemicals in plants that help them grow and respond to their surroundings. These hormones control different processes, like growing towards light, making new cells, and developing flowers and fruits. They are also called plant growth regulators.
Specific Plant Hormones for Different Functions
Phototropism:
Phototropism is a plant’s ability to grow towards light, which you might notice when a plant leans toward a sunny window.
- The hormone that helps with phototropism is called auxin.
- Auxin moves to the shaded side of the plant stem, causing cells there to grow longer. This makes the plant bend towards the light.
Promotion of Cell Division:
- The plant hormone responsible for promoting cell division is cytokinin.
- Cytokinin is like a “growth booster” for the plant’s cells, helping new cells form and allowing the plant to grow taller and stronger, especially in its roots and shoots.
Summary
- Auxin: Helps plants bend towards light (phototropism).
- Cytokinin: Helps in creating new cells (promotes cell division).
These hormones are essential for plants to grow properly, respond to light, and stay healthy by making new cells.
