Unlocking the Power of Plant Hormones in Horticulture

Unlocking the Power of Plant Hormones in Horticulture

Learning Objective

At the end of the lesson, you will be able to understand the importance of auxin and gibberellin in vegetative propagation and their use in horticulture.

What do you already know about plant hormones and their role in horticulture?

What are Auxin and Gibberellin?

Auxin and gibberellin are plant hormones that play crucial roles in plant growth and development.

Auxin and Vegetative Propagation

Auxin promotes root development and enables the successful vegetative propagation of plants through techniques like stem cuttings and grafting. It is also the hormone that promotes cell division, elongation and differentiation. 
When a sun is searching for light, it is auxin that encourages the plant to grow towards the light

Gibberellin and Vegetative Propagation

Gibberellin stimulates shoot elongation and enhances the growth of buds and stems, making it essential for vegetative propagation. 
It also encourages flowering and fruit development on a plant, without Gibberellin, plants would not grow

Comparison of Auxin and Gibberellin

While auxin primarily affects root growth, gibberellin mainly influences shoot growth and bud development.

Why are Plant Hormones Used in Horticulture?

Plant hormones are used in horticulture to stimulate root and shoot growth, improve plant quality, enhance flowering, and increase crop production

Efficacy and Cost of Plant Hormones

Plant hormones are highly effective in promoting desired growth responses but can be costly due to production and application processes.

Liquid hormone is more effective than powdered hormone if you are working in nursery conditions but at home or school, powdered hormone is as effective, just slower. 

A Brief History of Plant Hormones in Horticulture

The discovery and understanding of plant hormones revolutionized horticulture, enabling new techniques and advancements in plant propagation and cultivation.

Charles Darwin was one of the first scientist who theorised the existence of plant hormones and their function and conducted his first experiment on plant behaviour with light

Quiz Time!

Take this 10-question quiz to test your knowledge on plant hormones and their use in horticulture.

Which famous scientist experimented with plant behavior and hormones?

1. Isaac Newton
2. Marie Curie
3. Charles Darwin
4. Albert Einstein

Why was the use of plant hormones revolutionary in horticulture?

1. Allowed for rapid and consistent propagation
2. Increased crop yield
3. Reduced the need for sunlight
4. Eliminated the need for water

Why are auxin and gibberellin used in horticulture?

1. To improve soil fertility
2. To reduce water requirements
3. To control pest infestations
4. To enhance rooting and increase plant size

How do auxin and gibberellin differ?

1. Auxin promotes shoot growth, gibberellin promotes root growth
2. Auxin and gibberellin have the same function
3. Auxin and gibberellin inhibit plant growth
4. Auxin promotes root growth, gibberellin promotes shoot growth

Why are auxin and gibberellin important in vegetative propagation?

1. Enhance flower color
2. Prevent leaf wilting
3. Stimulate root and shoot growth
4. Increase fruit ripening

Why was the use of plant hormones revolutionary to horticulture?

1. It allowed precise control over plant growth processes
2. It caused plants to become genetically modified
3. It increased the cost of horticultural practices
4. It reduced the need for sunlight

Why are auxin and giberellin used in horticulture?

1. To control plant growth and development
2. To enhance soil fertility
3. To improve water absorption
4. To kill pests and insects

How do auxin and giberellin compare?

1. Auxin inhibits growth, while giberellin stimulates growth
2. Auxin promotes elongation, while giberellin promotes cell division
3. Auxin promotes cell division, while giberellin promotes elongation
4. Auxin and giberellin have the same effects

Why are auxin and giberellin important to vegetative propagation?

1. Promote root and shoot growth
2. Stimulate flower formation
3. Prevent root and shoot growth
4. Increase fruit yield

What are auxin and giberellin?

1. Plant enzymes
2. Plant hormones
3. Plant nutrients
4. Plant diseases

Stem and Leaf Structure

To reinforce your understanding, how do you think plant hormones are linked to stem and leaf structure?

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Write down 3 things you learned in this lesson.

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Write down 2 things you want to know more about.

Here, students enter two things they would like to know more about. This not only increases involvement, but also gives them more ownership.

Ask 1 question about something you haven't quite understood yet.

The students indicate here (in question form) with which part of the material they still have difficulty. For the teacher, this not only provides insight into the extent to which the students understand/master the material, but also a good starting point for the next lesson.