Auxins (Gr. Auxe — Increase)

Auxins (Gr. Auxe - Increase)

Auxins are plant hormones that stimulate plant growth. They play an important role in the regulation of many physiological processes in plants, such as cell division, elongation and differentiation, the formation of roots and shoots, and the fall of leaves and fruits.

The main representative of auxins is indolyl-3-acetic acid (IAA). It is synthesized mainly in the apical meristems of shoots and roots, and then moves throughout the plant, creating a concentration gradient. Auxins stimulate cell elongation by increasing cell wall plasticity. They also influence cell division, differentiation and protein synthesis.

The growth-regulating effect of auxins is widely used in practice for vegetative propagation of plants, rooting of cuttings, and induction of shoot formation. Auxins are also used in agriculture to stimulate growth and increase crop yields.