Cytokinin
is a plant growth regulator that stimulates cell division. Ethylene is produced by ripening fruit, and also acts
to hasten ripening in other fruit nearby. (So... one bad apple can spoil
the whole bunch ...)Abscisic acid is another growth regulator, so
named because it was once thought to be involved in the process of leaf abscission. It is
now known to play a role in inducing dormancy in seeds and buds.
Though we've addressed plant growth regulators
individually, keep in mind that more than one substance may be involved in a certain
growth response. For example, auxin and gibberellin may work in concert to control stem
elongation. And abscisic acid plays a role alongside ethylene in the fruit-ripening
process.
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Chill Out!
If you plan on storing flowering bulbs like daffodils and tulips in your
refrigerator to chill them in preparation for forcing, remove any fruit from your
refrigerator first. Ripening fruit like apples and pears give off ethylene gas, which can
damage the bulbs’ buds. |
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