What criteria are used to classify plant hormones?

1 answer

Plant hormones, also known as phytohormones, are classified based on their chemical structure, mode of synthesis, transportation, and function. The following criteria are used to classify plant hormones:

1. Chemical structure: Plant hormones are classified into various groups based on their chemical structure. These include auxins, cytokinins, gibberellins, abscisic acid, ethylene, and brassinosteroids.

2. Mode of synthesis: Plant hormones are synthesized in specific tissues or organs, and their synthesis can be induced by various environmental stimuli. Some hormones are synthesized in the meristematic regions, while others are produced in response to stress or developmental cues.

3. Mode of transportation: Plant hormones may be mobile or immobile within the plant. Mobile hormones can be transported within the plant through both the xylem and phloem tissues, allowing them to exert their effects in distant parts of the plant. Immobile hormones act locally and have limited movement within the plant.

4. Function: Each plant hormone has distinct functions in regulating plant growth, development, and responses to environmental stimuli. For example, auxins stimulate cell elongation and regulate phototropism, cytokinins promote cell division and delay senescence, gibberellins promote stem elongation, and abscisic acid regulates dormancy and stress responses.

5. Interactions and crosstalk: The interactions and crosstalk between different plant hormones also play a role in their classification. Plant hormones often act together or in opposition to regulate various physiological processes and responses, and their signaling pathways can be interconnected.

It is important to note that the classification of plant hormones is an ongoing area of research, and new hormones or hormone-like compounds may be discovered and classified in the future based on further exploration and understanding of plant physiology.