Today, the hormone that you will be learning is...... ETHYLENE!! Ethylene, ethylene, ethylene, ethylene, ethylene, ethylene, ethylene, ethylene, ethylene, ethylene, ethylene~ This hormone stimulates the ripening of fruit, the opening of flowers, and the abscission (or shedding) of leaves in plants.
Cool fact: "Ethylene has been used in practice since the ancient Egyptians, who would gas figs in order to stimulate ripening. The ancient Chinese would burn incense in closed rooms to enhance the ripening of pears. In 1864, it was discovered that gas leaks from street lights led to stunting of growth, twisting of plants, and abnormal thickening of stems."
Effects
• Stimulates leaf and flower senescence (organic process of aging)
• Induces leaf abscission mainly in older leaves.
• Induces seed germination
• Induces root hair growth – this increases the efficiency of water and mineral absorption
• Stimulates epinasty – leaf petiole grows out, leaf hangs down and curls into itself
• Stimulates fruit ripening
• Induces the growth of adventitious roots during flooding
• Disease/wounding resistance
• Inhibits stem swelling or Stimulates cell broadening and lateral root growth
• Interference with auxin transport (with high auxin concentrations)
Of course the list may go on and on, BUT stay tune for the next chapter of guru journey!!
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